10+ Things We Honestly Didn’t Notice While Watching Our Favorite Movies

From Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody to Virginia Woolf in The Hours, practical effects and makeup have been pivotal in bringing beloved movie characters to life. These transformations have often gone unnoticed, blurring the lines between fiction and reality on the silver screen. Here are 14 remarkable instances where actors underwent stunning makeovers to portray their iconic roles.

1. Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody

To capture the essence of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, Rami Malek had to nail both the look and the voice. Jan Sewell, the head of hair and makeup for Bohemian Rhapsody, crafted multiple sets of artificial teeth for Malek to wear as prosthetic dentures for a year to perfect his speech and singing.

2. Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

Renowned actress Meryl Streep underwent a remarkable transformation to portray former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Prosthetics artist Mark Coulier used lifelike silicone masks and prosthetic teeth to create realistic aging versions of Thatcher’s features, which Streep wore for every scene.

3. Robert Pattinson in Twilight

Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of the vampire, Edward Cullen, in the Twilight Saga required meticulous attention to detail. In addition to extensive hair and makeup, Pattinson wore golden contact lenses throughout the films to match the character’s distinct golden eyes, despite having naturally blue eyes.

4. Nikki Reed in Twilight

Nikki Reed, who played Edward’s sister Rosalie Hale in Twilight, also underwent a dramatic transformation. She dyed her hair blonde and wore wigs on set to achieve Rosalie’s iconic golden locks, despite being a natural brunette.

5. Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones

Stanley Tucci’s portrayal of the antagonist, George Harvey, in The Lovely Bones required a significant departure from his natural appearance. Tucci wore a blonde wig and blue contact lenses to transform into the character whose physical traits differed from the actor’s dark brown eyes.

6. Austin Butler in Elvis

In the recent biopic, Elvis, actor Austin Butler underwent a remarkable transformation to portray the legendary singer. The hair and makeup team used prosthetics to give Butler a chiseled jawline reminiscent of Elvis Presley’s, and they dyed and styled his naturally blonde hair to match the iconic look.

7. Ashley Tisdale in High School Musical

Ashley Tisdale’s portrayal of Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical franchise required a drastic change in her appearance. As a natural brunette, Tisdale dyed her hair golden blonde to become synonymous with the character’s iconic blonde locks.

8. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Looper

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s role as the younger version of Bruce Willis’ character in Looper called for subtle prosthetic enhancements. This included lip pieces, a nose attachment, false eyebrows, and blue contact lenses to resemble the older actor, resulting in a seamless transformation.

9. Charlize Theron in Monster

In her Oscar-winning role as Aileen Wuornos in Monster, Charlize Theron underwent a remarkable transformation. Through the use of makeup and prosthetic teeth, Theron physically transformed herself to become the complete opposite of her glamorous Hollywood image.

10. Orlando Bloom in The Lord of the Rings

Orlando Bloom’s portrayal of the elf, Legolas, in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and subsequent Hobbit films required a significant transformation. Bloom wore bright blue contact lenses to achieve Legolas’s iconic blue eyes, despite having naturally brown eyes.

11. Rachel McAdams in The Notebook

Rachel McAdams’ portrayal of Allie Hamilton in The Notebook included an iconic strawberry blonde hairdo, which became widely recognized. Many may not realize that McAdams is actually a natural brunette, and she had to dye her hair to achieve the character’s signature look in the film.

12. Ryan Gosling in The Notebook

Just like his on-screen partner, actor Ryan Gosling underwent a transformation for his role in the romantic film. He wore brown contact lenses to match the eye color of the elderly version of his character, Noah, played by James Garner, despite having blue eyes in real life.

13. Nicole Kidman in The Hours

In The Hours, Nicole Kidman played the role of English writer Virginia Woolf and had to undergo a transformation with a prosthetic nose to match the author’s appearance. The process took nearly 3 hours each day, but Kidman enjoyed the anonymity it provided while the cameras were rolling.

14. Halle Berry in Cloud Atlas

Halle Berry’s role in the epic science fiction film, Cloud Atlas, required her to undergo multiple transformations. One of her more notable appearances was as Jocasta Ayrs, where she had blonde hair, a prosthetic nose, and golden brown eyes that differed from her natural look. Berry showcased her versatility as an actress through these remarkable transformations.