16 Actors Who Look So Different in Their Roles It’s Hard to Recognize Them

Sometimes even a different hairstyle can make an actor unrecognizable to a wider audience. But with extra layers of makeup and facial prosthetics, even their devoted fans may not recognize them.

At CHEERY, we admire the talent and acting skills of our favorite movie stars, and decided to look back at the movies where they managed to become completely unrecognizable.

Renée Zellweger

• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
• Judy (2019)
• The Thing About Pam (2022)

Kenneth Branagh

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Death on the Nile (2022)

David Wenham

• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• Elvis (2022)
  

Ian Holm

• The Fifth Element (1997)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Emma Thompson

• Nanny McPhee (2005)
• Cruella (2021)

Lee Pace

• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Lily James

• War & Peace (2016)
• Pam & Tommy (2022)

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

• Kick-Ass (2010)
• Anna Karenina (2012)

Stellan Skarsgård

• Dune (2021)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Hugh Jackman

• Pan (2015)
• The Prestige (2006)

Tilda Swinton

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
• Snowpiercer (2013)

Charlize Theron

• Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
• Monster (2003)

Charlie Creed-Miles

• The Fifth Element (1997)
• Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)

Henry Cavill

• Stardust (2007)
• Man of Steel (2013)
• The Witcher (2019)

Tom Cruise

• Tropic Thunder (2008)
• Knight and Day (2010)

Colin Farrell

• Alexander (2004)
• The Batman (2022)

Have you ever found it difficult to recognize your favorite actor in a movie? Tell us about it in the comments below.