15+ Actors Who Are So Good at Their Jobs We Had to Double-Check If It Was the Same Person
Films
02/22/2021

Actors and actresses always give 100% for a role, going through extreme changes for the movies and TV shows they act in. Gaining or losing weight, getting shredded, going bald, dyeing their hair — these are all relatively big changes that performers undertake to help them get immersed in their new character and successfully impress the audience.
Bright Side has compiled a list of actors who transformed themselves completely, so much so that we couldn’t recognize them until the end credits rolled.
1. Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad vs Malcolm in the Middle
2. Harry Melling in Harry Potter vs The Queen’s Gambit
3. Helena Bonham Carter in the Harry Potter series vs The Crown
4. Johnny Depp in The Professor vs Black Mass
5. Rooney Mara in Mary Magdalene vs The girl with the Dragon Tattoo
6. Charlize Theron in Mad Max vs Monster
7. Cillian Murphy in TRON: Legacy vs Peaky Blinders
8. Jared Leto in The Outsider vs Chapter 27
9. Blake Lively in Gossip girl vs The Rhythm Section
10. Bradley Cooper in Case 39 vs American Sniper
11. Matthew McConaughey in True Detective vs Dallas Buyers Club
12. Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose vs Macbeth
13. Denzel Washington in Training Day vs Roman J. Israel, Esq.
14. Margot Robbie in Mary Queen of Scots vs I, Tonya
15. Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler vs Southpaw
16. Claire Foy in The Crown vs The Girl in the Spider’s Web
Were you aware of these actors’ transformations? Which one was the most impressive change?
Preview photo credit Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets / WarnerBros, The Queen's Gambit / Netflix
Comments
Get notifications
Related Reads
How 20 “Harry Potter” Actors Looked in Their Youth and in the Films

Films
02/13/2020
12 Stories of Animals Showing Love and Empathy Beyond Boundaries

Animals
06/02/2026
10 Acts of Kindness That Remind Us Compassion Still Brings Happiness, Even If Hearts Feel Heavy in 2026

People
06/19/2026
12 Shocking Workplace Stories Where Kindness and Empathy Prevailed, Even When Hope Was Gone

People
04/29/2026
12 Moments That Inspire Us to Choose Forgiveness and Wisdom, Even When Loneliness Feels Overwhelming

People
06/22/2026
10 Moments That Prove the Light of Compassion Is Stronger Than Corporate Greed

People
05/31/2026
14 Trips That Delivered More Emotions Than Anyone Packed For

Curiosities
05/04/2026
10 Moments That Guide Us to Choose Quiet Kindness, Even If We Think Hope and Happiness Are Gone

People
04/28/2026
12 Moments Quiet Kindness Proved More Powerful Than Anyone Expected, Even When No One Was Watching

People
04/23/2026
15+ Real Moments That Quietly Remind Us Being Cheap Can Cost a Small Fortune

Curiosities
06/01/2026
12 Moments That Inspire Us to Lead With Forgiveness and Wisdom, Even When We Have Every Reason to Hold a Grudge

People
06/23/2026
I Won’t Recreate My Late Mom’s Recipes for My MIL’s Party

Family & kids
04/22/2026















