Some movie roles ask actors to do much more than act. They require a complete change in appearance, movement, and sometimes even voice. In 10 Wild Movie Transformations that Left Stars Unrecognizable, we look at well-documented performances where makeup, body language, and acting choices made famous stars hard to recognize on screen.

1 Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder

Tom Cruise played Les Grossman, an angry and powerful Hollywood studio executive.

To play the role, Cruise wore heavy prosthetic makeup, a bald cap, enlarged hands, and a padded body suit. These changes made him look very different from his usual on-screen image. At the time of release, many critics described the performance as hard to recognize.

The role arrived during a period of intense media attention around Cruise’s personal life. Film writers later pointed to Les Grossman as a role that helped shift public focus back to his acting and showed his willingness to mock authority.

2 Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster

Charlize Theron transformed herself to play real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. She gained weight, wore dental prosthetics, and changed her posture and facial expressions. Her eyebrows were shaved, and makeup was used to closely match Wuornos’s real appearance from photographs.

Critics praised Theron for focusing on the character’s mental state rather than turning the role into a shock performance. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the role, with many reviews noting that her transformation supported a deeply serious performance.

3 Colin Farrell as the Penguin in The Batman

Colin Farrell played Gotham crime boss Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin. His transformation involved facial and neck prosthetics, altered teeth, and a heavier build. The makeup process took several hours each day.

Farrell has said in interviews that the heavy makeup helped him focus fully on the character without worrying about how he looked. Many viewers were surprised to learn it was Farrell, as the role relied more on voice, movement, and attitude than on recognizable facial features.

4 Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Jessica Chastain played televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker over several stages of her life. The makeup team used prosthetics that were adjusted gradually to show aging over time. The look was based on real photos and TV footage.

Chastain focused on portraying Bakker’s public kindness and emotional struggles rather than exaggerating her appearance. Her performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

5 Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci in House of Gucci

Jared Leto used facial prosthetics, wigs, and body padding to play Paolo Gucci, a member of the famous fashion family. Because the makeup significantly changed his face, many viewers did not immediately realize that Leto was playing the role.

The performance received mixed reactions, but the physical transformation was widely discussed after the film’s release.

6 Lily James as Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy

Lily James transformed into Pamela Anderson using facial prosthetics, body makeup, and custom wigs. She also worked closely on matching Anderson’s voice, posture, and mannerisms.

Makeup artists involved in the series have explained that the goal was to create a believable likeness without copying every detail exactly. Many viewers were surprised by how closely James captured Anderson’s screen presence.

7 Eddie Murphy as Saul in Coming 2 America

Eddie Murphy played multiple characters in Coming 2 America, including Saul, an elderly man at the barbershop. He wore full prosthetic makeup designed to allow natural facial movement.

Murphy has a long history of using makeup to play different characters, and this role continued that tradition while keeping the performance grounded in conversation and timing.

8 Tilda Swinton as Mason in Snowpiercer

Tilda Swinton played Mason, a strict government official, using exaggerated dental prosthetics, glasses, and stiff body movement. Director Bong Joon-ho has said the character was meant to look uncomfortable and slightly unsettling.

Swinton’s controlled speech and posture helped make Mason memorable, even with limited screen time.

9 Ben Stiller as “Laaa” in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Ben Stiller returned as Larry Daley, the night guard at the center of the Night at the Museum series, and also played a second role as Laaa, a Neanderthal who acts as Larry’s primitive double.

Stiller has said the Laaa role was especially challenging because it required him to perform scenes with himself for the first time. He later described it as one of the most technically involved experiences of his career.

10 Steve Carell as John Eleuthère du Pont in Foxcatcher

Steve Carell used subtle prosthetics, including a false nose, along with a stiff posture and quiet speaking style to portray millionaire John du Pont. The changes were designed to support the character rather than distract from the story.

The role was very different from Carell’s usual comedy work and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.