24 Photos Of Actors Alongside The People They Played That Prove Makeup Artists Need A Raise

    Meryl Streep can transform into anyone.

    Hannah Marder
    by Hannah Marder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    One of the most interesting types of movies are biopics, which are based on real people and real-life events.

    Focus Features International

    It's so interesting to see an actor transform into a historical figure or person who already exists, and it can be especially freaky to see the real person and the actor portraying them side by side! Below, I've rounded up some of the most impressive examples!

    Margot Robbie and Tonya Harding at the I, Tonya premiere
    Vivien Killilea / Getty Images

    1. Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly in Bombshell

    Lionsgate, Ben Gabbe / Getty Images

    The makeup and hairstyling team for Bombshell won an Oscar.

    2. Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady

    20th Century Fox, William Lovelace / Getty Images

    Silicone prosthetics were used to help Streep transform into Thatcher.

    3. Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour

    Focus Features /Courtesy Everett Collection, Central Press / Getty Images

    Makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji, who had helped turn Jim Carrey into the Grinch, left retirement to work on Darkest Hour.

    4. Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in Vice

    Annapurna Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection, Saul Loeb / Getty Images

    Makeup designer Greg Cannom used a combination of makeup, prosthetics, and wigs that took hours to apply for this transformation.

    5. Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn

    Weinstein Company /Courtesy Everett Collection, Baron / Getty Images

    Michelle Williams IS Marilyn.

    6. Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in Invictus

    Warner Bros. Pictures, Trevor Samson / Getty Images

    Spot the difference.

    7. Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln

    20thcentfox / ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection, National Archives / Getty Images

    Makeup artist Lois Burwell used makeup not just to make Day-Lewis look like Lincoln, but also to reflect the growing stress of his presidency on his face.

    8. Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown

    Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection, Larry Ellis / Getty Images

    The younger version of Queen Elizabeth (played by Claire Foy) was great too!

    9. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in Ray

    Universal Pictures, Express Newspapers / Getty Images

    To become Ray Charles, Foxx studied Braille, lost 35 pounds, and wore eye prosthetics that made him blind half the day.

    10. Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo in Frida

    Miramax / ©Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection, Dieter Nagl / Getty Images

    The makeup team won an Oscar for this film!

    11. Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name

    Netflix /Courtesy Everett Collection, Getty Images

    This is...the same person.

    12. Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland in Judy

    Roadside Attractions /Courtesy Everett Collection, R. Powell / Getty Images

    Renée Zellweger rightfully won an Oscar for this portrayal. The makeup team 100% would've won an Oscar if the Bombshell makeup hadn't been so amazing!

    13. Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

    Sony Pictures Releasing, Getty Images

    Half of this one is really just the personality, but still.

    14. Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

    FX / Courtesy Everett Collection, Pool / Getty Images

    The hair!

    15. Selma Blair as Kris Jenner on The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

    FX, E!

    It's really uncanny.

    16. Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden on The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

    FX / Courtesy Everett Collection, Pool / Getty Images

    Amazing *chef's kiss* casting.

    17. Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy in Jackie

    Fox Searchlight Pictures/ Courtesy Everett Collection, Getty Images

    Makeup artist Miwoo Kim studied newsreels to help her achieve the look.

    18. Denzel Washington as Malcolm X in Malcolm X

    Warner Bros., Express Newspapers / Getty Images

    (Kardashian voice) Wild.

    19. Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor in Liz & Dick

    Lifetime, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

    While I think the makeup and hair is good, it's the wardrobe I really love.

    20. Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla-Perez in Selena

    Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection, EMI Latin

    Lopez actually slept in Selena's bed to prepare for the role.

    21. Meryl Streep as Julia Child in Julie & Julia

    Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection, Hulton Archive / Getty Images

    Makeup artist and hair stylist J. Roy Helland has worked with Streep on all her movies since the '80s.

    22. Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis in Feud

    FX, Keystone / Getty Images

    They didn't use digital makeup or reverse aging — it was all done with makeup!

    23. Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford in Feud

    Fx Networks / ©FX Networks/Courtesy Everett Collection, Hulton Archive / Getty Images

    The makeup team used what Crawford herself would've used in the '60s: wet-setting and rollers!

    24. And finally, Sam Rockwell as Bob Fosse in Fosse/Verdon

    FX /Courtesy Everett Collection, Evening Standard / Getty Images

    The facial hair is spot on.