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4 days ago
9
The rumors are true!!! I love movie magic. And it's astounding to me when an actor goes into a project and becomes a totally different person on screen.
Vanity Fair / youtube.com
A lot of this is all thanks to the extremely talented makeup, hair, and prosthetic teams, of course.
So, here are some of the wildest (and my favorite) celeb TV/movie/music video transformations:
1. Jacob Elordi as The Creature from Frankenstein (2025):
Julian Hamilton / Getty Images / Netflix
The artists who made this happen: Mike Hill served as the prosthetic head for the film. To achieve the full look, Mike and his five-person team had to apply 42 individual silicone prosthetic pieces —14 just for the head and neck. The film even won the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
2. John Travolta as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (2007):
Jeff Vespa / WireImage / New Line Cinema / Everett
The artists who made this happen: Tony Gardner served as the film's makeup effects designer and special effects makeup artist, along with an SFX team from Alterian for this transformation. Yolanda Toussieng was John's personal hairstylist.
3. Tommy Dewey as Monster in Your Monster (2024):
Getty Images / Vertical
The artists who made this happen: David Anderson oversaw Monster's look and prosthetics. In creating the vibe, he was inspired by The Wizard of Oz. He said, “In coming up with this design, I was inspired by all of those characters. I think he dresses like the Scarecrow, looks like the Cowardly Lion, and acts like the Tin Man."
4. Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons (2025):
Warner Bros. Pictures / Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
The artists who made this happen: The team that created Gladys's iconic look is special makeup effects designer Jason Collins, makeup department head Leo Satkovich, and hair department head Melizah Wheat.
5. Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok in Nosferatu (2024):
Focus Features / John Lamparski / Getty Images
The artists who made this happen: Prosthetic makeup designer David White, makeup designer Traci Loader, and hair designer Suzanne Stokes-Munton were the ones who are credited with making Orlok's look.
6. Karen Gillan as Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and the MCU (2014-present):
Karwai Tang / WireImage / Marvel / Everett
The artists who made this happen: David White served as the special makeup effects designer for the first Guardians movie, and he worked alongside a team of about 50 stylists and artists.
7. Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two (2023):
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images / Warner Bros.
The artists who made this happen: Donald Mowat served as the head of the makeup, hair, and prosthetics department for Dune and Dune: Part Two, and worked alongside his handpicked team.
8. Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003):
Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty Images / Newmarket / Everett
The artists who made this happen: Toni G worked as Charlize's makeup artist and Yoichi Art Sakamoto made her prosthetic teeth.
9. Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour (2017):
David M. Benett/Dave Benett / Getty Images for Apple / Focus Features / Everett
The artist who made this happen: Kazuhiro Tsuji came out of retirement just to work on the transformation in this movie.
10. Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in Vice (2018):
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images / Annapurna / Everett
The artist who made this happen: Greg Cannom earned an Oscar nomination for his work with Christian Bale.
11. Taylor Swift as Tyler Swift in "The Man" music video (2019):
Jon Kopaloff / WireImage / Republic / youtube.com
The artist who made this happen: Bill Corso served as the music video's makeup designer, who'd previously worked with Taylor on the "Look What You Made Me Do" video.
13. Lily James as Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy (2022):
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images / Hulu / Everett
The artist who made this happen: Abby Lyle was Lily's personal prosthetic makeup artist for the series.
14. Donald Glover as Teddy Perkins in Atlanta Season 2, Episode 6, "Teddy Perkins" (2018):
Theo Wargo / Getty Images / FX
The artists who made this happen: Denise Tunnell served as the show's makeup department head along with Stephen Prouty as the special effects makeup artist, and their team of artists and stylists.
15. Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci in House of Gucci (2021):
Momodu Mansaray / Getty Images / MGM / Everett
The artists who made this happen: Göran Lundström, AnnaCarin Lock, and Federica Castelli were the prosthetic artists who worked directly with Jared on this transformation.
16. Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan in I'm Not There (2007):
Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic / TWC / Everett
The artists who made this happen: Peter Swords King and Rick Findlater worked as the makeup and hair designers along with a team of artists and stylists.
17. Tilda Swinton as Dianna in Trainwreck (2015):
Chris Saucedo / Getty Images for SXSW / Universal Everett
The artist who made this happen: Kyra Panchenko served as the movie's makeup department head and worked alongside a team of stylists and artists.
18. Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008):
Sean Gallup / Getty Images / Warner Bros. / Everett
The artist who made this happen: John Caglione Jr. served as Heath's personal makeup artist for this film.
20. Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993):
Bob Riha, Jr. / Getty Images / 20th Century Fox
The artists who made this happen: Ve Neill served as the film's key makeup artist and worked with a team from Cannom Creations to make Robin's transformation happen.
21. Jake Epstein as Alphonso Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season 3 (2022):
Jon Kopaloff / WireImage / Netflix
The artists who made this happen: Zane Knisely serves as the series' prosthetic supervisor and worked alongside a team of stylists and artists.
22. Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980):
Ira Wyman/Sygma via Getty Images / United Artists / Everett
The artist who made this happen: Michael Westmore served as the movie's makeup creator, and he sculpted a replica of Jake LaMotta's nose for Robert to wear in the movie.
23. Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021):
Steven Simione / FilmMagic / FX / Everett
The artists who made this happen: Robin Beauchesne served as the series' makeup department head along with her team of stylists and artists. Yoichi Art Sakamoto made her prosthetic teeth.
24. Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in Stranger Things Season 4 (2022):
Tommaso Boddi / WireImage / Netflix
The artists who made this happen: Barrie Gower and Duncan Jarman serve as the series' makeup effects department heads and worked alongside a huge team of stylists and artists for Jamie's transformation.
25. Glenn Close as Gutless in Hook (1991):
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images / TriStar Pictures
The artists who made this happen: Christina Smith served as the film's makeup supervisor, and she worked alongside a team of artists and stylists.
26. David Harbour as Hellboy in Hellboy (2019):
Gabe Ginsberg / WireImage / Summit / Everett
The artist who made this happen: Joel Harlow served as the film's special character and makeup designer, and he worked with a team of stylists and artists for David's transformation.
27. And finally, Jim Carrey as the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000):
SGranitz / WireImage / Universal / Everett
The artists who made this happen: Angelina Avallone served as the movie's makeup department head and worked alongside stylists, artists, and a team from Cinovation Studios for Jim's transformation.
English (US)