Art demands sacrifice. Preparing for a new movie part, actors confirm this every time. Trying to get closer to a perfect image, they put on heavy, voluminous costumes, wear wigs, and put up with several layers of makeup on their faces. But that isn’t all. Sometimes they have to stand even more, including piercings, new hair colors, and even put on and losing up to 60 pounds.
SmallJoys gives you a chance to remember 20 of the most fabulous actor transformations. Some of these are hard to believe!
1. Johnny Depp — James “Whitey” Bulger
Black Mass, 2015
2. Tilda Swinton — Madame Céline Villeneuve Desgoffe und Taxis
The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014
3. Glenn Close — Albert Nobbs
Albert Nobbs, 2011
4. Jared Leto — Mark Chapman, John Lennon’s murderer
Chapter 27, 2006
5. Rooney Mara — Lisbeth Salander
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, 2011
6. Hugo Weaving — Nurse Noakes
Cloud Atlas, 2012
7. Halle Berry — Jocasta Ayrs
Cloud Atlas, 2012
8. Matthew Fox — Picasso
Alex Cross, 2012
9. Javier Bardem — Ramón Sampedro
The Sea Inside, 2004
10. Cate Blanchett — Jude Quinn (Bob Dylan in 60s)
I’m Not There, 2007
11. Anthony Hopkins — Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock, 2012
12. Stanley Tucci — George Harvey
The Lovely Bones, 2009
13. Nicole Kidman — Virginia Woolf
The Hours, 2002
14. Christian Bale — Trevor Reznik
The Machinist, 2004
15. Charlize Theron — Aileen Wuornos
Monster, 2003
16. Vanessa Hudgens — Agnes “Apple” Bailey
Gimme Shelter, 2013
17. Joel Edgerton — Ramses
Exodus: Gods and Kings, 2014
18. Marion Cotillard — Edith Piaf
La Vie en rose, 2007
19. Tom Cruise — Les Grossman
Tropic Thunder, 2008
20. Matthew McConaughey — Ron Woodroof
Dallas Buyers Club, 2013
Bonus. Obvious Movie Mistakes You Most Likely Missed
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
In ’The Hobbit,’ Legolas has dreamy blue eyes, but in the ’Lord of the Rings’ trilogy they were almost black.
In ’The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ one of the staircases suddenly disappears along with Frodo.
Harry Potter
This is no sorcery: the wires that the candles hang from are plainly visible.
You can see the camera man in this scene of ’Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’
In ’Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,’ Harry’s T-shirt gets changed in his sleep from a rounded-neck one to one with buttons.
Harry has always been told that he had his mother’s green eyes. So why do we see her having brown eyes in ’Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’?
Spider-Man
In this scene, Mary Jane slips on some spilled juice, but in the next frame the spill is gone. Self-cleaning floors?
Star Trek
Captain Robau is seen wearing a Starfleet badge but, as soon as he sits in his chair, the badge magically disappears.
Twilight
The camera’s reflection is visible in the car window.
You can clearly see a wire passing through Bella’s jeans.
Sleepy Hollow
Here you can see Christopher Walker’s real teeth behind the prosthetic ones.
Pulp Fiction
Who doesn’t remember this iconic scene. But have you ever noticed that the bullet holes are already in place before the shots are even fired?
Men in Black II
Agent K’s safety harness can be clearly seen here.
Pirates of the Caribbean
A crew member got caught in the frame.
In the ’Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,’ Captain Hector Barbossa’s teeth go from presentable to super-gross in a matter of minutes.
Gladiator
In the scene of an epic battle, one of the chariots gets turned over, and you can see a gas cylinder strapped in the back of it.
Avengers
Looks like Iron Man’s suit can heal minor wounds.
…And so can Captain America’s.
Star Wars
One of the stormtroopers (far right) is too high, so he hits his head on the door. Look closely. It’s impossible to unsee.
Hunger Games
Katniss might be doing something wrong here.
Pretty Woman
In this episode, Julia Roberts is eating a croissant, which in the next frame suddenly turns into a pancake.