Actresses Who Look Nothing Like the Characters They Play

Hollywood loves to incorporate frumpy and ugly characters into movies. It’s primarily done to create some contrast between the primary character and the rest of the cast. Usually, you can still tell who the person is, especially if they are well-known and active in movies and shows.

However, sometimes, the makeup comes off, and you find that the actresses who played those “ugly” roles are actually very beautiful. It’s sometimes crazy to think that they could be changed so much by a little (or a lot) of makeup.

Let’s now take a look at some of the beautiful actresses and their not-as-attractive characters!

Naomi Grossman as Pepper

Naomi is best known for playing Pepper in American Horror Story, a popular television show. To get the part, she had to shave her head completely. Though this is her biggest role to date, she’s appeared in other movies and shows.

Taryn Manning as Tiffany Doggett

Taryn actually plays Tiffany Doggett from Orange Is The New Black. It’s a popular series on Netflix. She’s the woman from Pennsylvania who is proud to be a redneck. For the entire season, the character had missing and rotten teeth!

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

Elisabeth is the office secretary named Peggy Olson in Mad Men. Her character is frumpy and innocent, and she’s described as homely by the co-workers. They commented that she must change her appearance to fit in better.

America Ferrera as Betty Suarez

Ugly Betty was America’s breakthrough for her career. She played Betty Suarez, an ambitious woman with glasses, unruly hair, and crazy outfits. At the end of the show, she did get a makeover to look like herself in real life.

Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee

Emma Thompson played Nanny McPhee, the magical nanny, in 2005. The character suddenly shows up to help parents deal with unruly kids. However, she’s initially hideous and frightening and just progresses throughout the movie.

Judy Greer as Kitty Sanchez

Judy’s famous for many roles, and she’s played bizarre characters. One is Kitty Sanchez from Arrested Development. It was a quirky role that Judy loved because she made people laugh!

Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez

Vanessa played Gabriella in High School Musical, and it made her famous. She was also a struggling teen in Gimme Shelter from 2013. For that role, she truly had to change her appearance.

Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander

Rooney became a star in 2011 when she played Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. However, she had to be transformed to get into character and actually got nominated for the Golden Globes because of the performance.

Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson

Bette Midler played Winifred Sanderson in Hocus Pocus back in 1993. She was the head witch and had to do some serious makeup to get into the part. Overall, the witch sisters got executed and then brought back to life.

Drew Barrymore as Josie Gellar

In 1999, Drew was Josie Gellar in Never Been Kissed. She plays a journalist who goes undercover at a local high school, becoming a student once more. In high school, Josie was also a geek and chose to redeem herself.

Cameron Diaz as Lotte Schwartz

Cameron is known for playing roles that show beautiful women, such as in There’s Something About Mary and The Mask. However, in 1999, she played Lotte Schwartz for Being John Malkovich. She looked nothing like the starlet you’re used to!

Kate McKinnon as Justin Bieber

Kate is a very funny woman who plays skits on Saturday Night Live. In the show, she’s multiple characters and has even impersonated Billie Jean King and Justin Bieber. To get it right, she must dramatically alter her look!

Meryl Streep as the Witch

Meryl Streep was the Witch from Into the Woods, which was released in 2014. The legendary actress had to look the part for the frightening witch, and she was unrecognizable when the hair and makeup were finished.

Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo

Salma Hayek is a Latino beauty who everyone knows. She played Frida Kahlo in Frida. To look the part and represent the character, she had to have a unibrow! It’s true that Frida had an unconventional look, so Salma had to as well.

Linda Cardellini as Velma Dinkley

When the movie version for Scooby-Doo came out, Linda Cardellini was set to play Velma Dinkley. She had to wear thick-lensed glasses and change her hair to a bob. Then, she looked nerdier than she ever was to fit the bill!

Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler

Mayim is quite famous for being on The Big Bang Theory as Amy Farrah Fowler. She’s the frumpy neuroscientist who’s nerdy and intelligent. Though she plays an unattractive character, she’s beautiful in real life!

Mae Whitman as Ann Veal

Mae plays on Arrested Development as Ann Veal. Her character is a plain Jane who’s forgettable and homely. However, in real life, Mae’s beauty shines through and no one can forget her!

Charlize Theron as Aileen Wournos

Charlize has been in many movies, but at the height of her career, she was Aileen Wournos for Monster. Her performance was seen as one of the best in cinema history because of how she got into the character and convincingly portrayed the serial killer!

Thesy Surface as Margaret McPoyle

Though Thesy isn’t as well-known as other Hollywood actresses, you might remember her from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She played Margaret McPoyle, who was a deaf-mute woman with a unibrow who didn’t care about appearances.

Maisie Williams as Arya Stark

Maisie became famous during the hit television series Game of Thrones. She plays Arya Stark and won an Emmy Award for Drama’s Best Supporting Actress. Still, this English actress had to make some changes to fit the part.

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

Tina is well-known for her comedian skits on SNL. However, she also played Liz Lemon on the hit TV show 30 Rock. Her character was a bit nerdy, and that’s far from Tina’s real-life personality and flair.

Lea Michele as Rachel Berry

Lea played as Rachel Berry on Glee, a popular television show. Rachel was in high school and an ambitious glee club singer. However, she had a preppy style sense and an overbearing nature (and was a bit of a nerd).

Anne Hatheway as Mia Thermopolis

Anne played Mia Thermopolis for The Princess Diaries, and this was a geeky girl who desperately needed a makeover. Then, in 2012, Anne had to lose weight to be Fantine for the film Les Miserables.

Patricia Heaton as Debra Barone

Patricia Heaton is an award-winning actress who is most known as being Debra Barone for Everybody Loves Raymond, a popular 90s television show. Overall, she played a quirky, frumpish woman.

Melissa Rauch as Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz

Melissa is a comedian and actress, but she’s most known for being on The Big Bang Theory, playing Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz. She’s the geeky doctor with the squeaky voice.

Sophie McShera as Daisy Robinson

Sophie is an English actress who played Daisy Robinson in Downtown Abbey. She was the plain-Jane kitchen maid and has also played as a step-sister for Cinderella (the 2015 adaptation).

Janel Parrish as Mona Vanderwaal

Janel is an actress, singer, and dancer and rose to fame when she played Mona Vanderwaal for Pretty Little Liars. Her character was a simple and plain girl that some might describe as ugly, which is far from her real-life appearance!

Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly

Jenna Fischer is an American actress who played Pam Beesly on The Office. She dresses plainly to be the office worker and seems to be unappealing and boring. However, she loved playing that role!

Tori Spelling as Violet Bickerstaff

Tori Spelling was on Saved By The Bell, a popular sitcom in the 90s. Her character (Violet) wore braids and glasses. In a sense, she was a nerdy, innocent girl who didn’t dress well. Tori, though, is the opposite that in real life!

Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg

During Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Alyson played Willow, who wasn’t meant to be the hottie in the series. She was Buffy’s sidekick and friend. She’s also played in other movies, such as American Pie and Boys and Girls.

Kaitlin Olson as Deandra Reynolds

Kaitlin’s character on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was Deandra Reynolds. She was a sociopathic drunk and very rude. Olson’s performance is excellent because she was completely committed to the role!

Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Lucy Sketch

Aimee-Ffion is a Welsh actress famous for playing as Lucy Sketch in Skins. She was a stalker-style girl with many personal issues. However, her character was only in the second season because the whole cast changed.

Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth

Gwendoline is Brienne of Tarth, a fearless and robust female knight shown in Game of Thrones. She’s shown as being a fighter, so she’s not interested in pretty things and fancy clothes. Instead, she dons a sword and some armor!

Pauley Perrette as Abby Scuito

Pauley is an amazing actress, writer, and singer. She stared in NCIS as the beloved Abby Scuito. The Alterna-freak character was actually created by Donald P. Belisario, an American screenwriter and producer.

Ellie Kemper as Kimmy Schmidt

Ellie plays Kimmy Schmidt in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a comedy series. Her character was in a cult for 15 years and then rescued to be unleashed into the world, so she’s a bit quirky and odd.

Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang

Everyone knows Cristina Yang from Grey’s Anatomy. Sandra played the heart surgeon, who’s unemotional and frigid. In fact, Sandra won two of the Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe for that role.

Phyllis Logan as Elsie Hughes

Phyllis is a Scottish actress and is well-known for being Elsie Hughes on Downtown Abbey. Her character is a matronly and dowdy housekeeper. In real life, though, Phyllis likes to dress up and be glammed up!

Demi Moore as Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil

Everyone knows Demi Moore because she’s a beautiful actress with long brown hair. However, in GI Jane, she played a Lieutenant, who is a brutal and hardened Army officer. She even had to shave her head to get the role!

Kate Winslet as Sarah Pierce

Kate has been in many films throughout her career. She’s the famous actress who played in Titanic as Rose. However, she was also Sarah Pierce in Little Children, where she was made to appear unattractive.

Delphine Chaneac as Dren

For her part in the movie Splice, Delphine had to have a huge transformation with makeup. She played Dren, and the Canadian science-fiction movie focuses on Frankenstein’s monster.

Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy

Ariel Winter plays Alex Dunphy on Modern Family. She’s a studious and nerdy sister who cares nothing about fashion. However, Ariel in real life is glamorous and always seems dressed to impress.

Uzo Aduba as Suzanne Warren

Uzo had to transform herself to become Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” for Orange Is The New Black, the popular Netflix series. In real life, she’s almost unrecognizable! She’s more put together and polished when she’s not playing that part!

Tilda Swinton as Dianna

Tilda is known for her avant-garde and unique style. That’s why most fans didn’t recognize her when she appeared in Trainwreck with Amy Schumer. Her hair is longer than normal, and her fair complexion is bronzed!

Sophie McShera as Daisy Mason

Sophie gained recognition as a star when she appeared in Downtown Abbey as Daisy Mason. She’s a kitchen maid who must look drab and plain for the show. However, she’s a stunner in real life!

Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark

Sarah Paulson is an award-winning actress and accomplished star. She’s been in tons of TV shows and films. For American Crime Story: People vs. OJ Simpson, she played Marcia Clark and had to transform herself to resemble the prosecutor.

Rachel Brosnahan as Midge Maisel

Rachel stars as Midge Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, an Amazon Prime Video series. Though she must sport a 1950s look for the show, she’s much more modern in real life!

Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven

Millie Bobby Brown captured everyone’s heart at 12 years old when she played Eleven on Stranger Things (Netflix). In real life, though, she has long hair and a happier expression on her face!

Lorraine Stanley as Karen Taylor

Lorraine stars as Karen Taylor on the popular EastEnders soap. Her character is often mocked for having no style at all. However, Stanley is much different in real life and looks much more attractive!

Tilda Swinton as Madame D.

Tilda is at it again! This time, she had to transform herself into Madame D., a rich old woman who was shown in The Grand Budapest Hotel. Here’s another bit of proof to show that she is a chameleon and can play anyone.

Lizzy Caplan as Janice Ian

Lizzy Caplan played Janice Ian in Mean Girls and was unforgettable in the role. She’s unrecognizable in real life because she’s got a mainstream makeup and hairstyle than she did on the show.

Lena Heady as Cersei Lannister

Lena Heady gave a beautiful performance in Game of Thrones as Cersei Lannister. However, in the show, she looked a bit dowdy and had a different hairstyle and color. In real life, she’s a bit more glam with tattoos everywhere!

Laura Gomez as Blanca Flores

Laura Gomez actually plays Blanca in Orange Is The New Black. On the show, she appears wildly unkempt and disheveled. However, she’s a stunner in real life with effortless grace and beauty.

Julie Lake as Angie

Orange Is The New Black brought about a ton of new characters, and another one made the list as being so much different in real life. Julie plays Angie, an inmate on the show, and had to change a lot for the role!

Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore

Julia is known for playing Ruth Langmore on Ozark, a Netflix show. She actually won an Emmy Award for that part, but she looks so much different from her character in real life!

Francesca Curren as Helen

Francesca plays Helen, a skinhead inmate for Orange Is The New Black. If you ended up seeing her on the street, you might not recognize her. She’s transformed for the role and looks so much more beautiful in real life.

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen

Emilia Clark is unforgettable as Daenerys Targaryen for Game of Thrones. Though her character had white-blond hair, Emilia is a natural brunette in real life!

Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket

Elizabeth Banks had to completely transform herself to be Effie Trinket for The Hunger Games films. Effie always has outlandish and crazy outfits with colored makeup and hair. In real life, though, Banks is more sedate with blond hair.

Clair Norris as Bernadette Taylor

Clair plays Bernadette Taylor on the soap EastEnders. This is Karen’s daughter on the show. However, the character is much different than the glamorous red-carpet styling that Clair prefers in real life!

Amy Sedaris as Jerri Blank

Amy plays Jerri Blank, the 45-year-old who goes back to high school in Strangers With Candy. The character looks so much different than Amy in real life.

Alison Brie as Annie Edison

Alison plays Annie Edison, a try-hard know-it-all on Community. In the show, she must dress conservatively and looks a bit nerdy. However, Alison stuns with glamor in real life.

Lady Gaga as Scathach

Lady Gaga is known for her singing, but she also appeared in American Horror Story for the sixth season. She played Scathach, a 15th-century witch. To become her, Lady Gaga had to transform herself, so you might not have recognized her at all.

Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose

Catherine played the dramatic soap star Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek. She liked to wear different wigs each day and looks nothing like the actress in real life.

Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson

Mandy Moore is a pop star teen sensation and actress who continued her Hollywood prowess into adulthood. She was Rebecca Pearson on This Is Us. Though she’s in her 30s, she played someone many decades older!

Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard

Patricia played Dee Dee on The Act, which is a Hulu series. She had to dye her hair brown for the part, but she ended up getting an Emmy Award for her sacrifice!

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II

Claire Foy plays the young Queen Elizabeth on The Crown. Though she did a great job, she doesn’t look anything like the Queen, so they had to use a lot of makeup and hairstyling tools.

Zuzanna Szadkowski as Dorota

If you’re a fan of Gossip Girl, you probably liked Dorota, the confidante and maid for Blair Waldorf. However, Zuzanna had to look proper and prim, but in real life, she’s stylish and radiant.

Madeline Brewer as Janine Ofwarren

Madeline is an amazing actress who portrayed Janine “Ofwarren” for The Handmaid’s Tale. Her character is quite disturbed, and she has a disfigured face. However, Brewer looks nothing like that!

Shannon Purser as Barb Holland

One of the breakout characters for Stranger Things was Barb Holland. Shannon played a frumpy 70s girl with stylized clothing and offbeat hair. However, she’s really adorable in real life.

Hannah Murray as Gilly

Hannah Murray was Gilly in Game of Thrones, which was Sam’s friend and love interest. While the character appeared as a plain Jane, Hannah is actually gorgeous and glamorous when on the red carpet.

Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith

Downtown Abbey was quite a popular television show, and many actresses had to make serious changes to their appearance. One of them was Laura Carmichael, who looks nothing like Lady Edith, her character.

Olivia Colman as Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller

Olivia Colman plays Detective Sgt. Ellie for Broadchurch. She looks nothing like the character in real life, especially with the blond pixie cut she showed at the Academy Awards!

Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria

Jenna plays Queen Victoria in Victoria. During the show, she had to dress in an austere manner. However, in real life, Coleman is quite chic and always dresses to impress.

Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret

Vanessa rocks the blond hair in real life, but to play Princess Margaret, she dyed her hair to be brown for a new and interesting look. Though she looks great as both, the blond hair is more her style.

Dascha Polanco as Dayanara Diaz

Dascha was Dayanara or Daya Diaz in Orange Is The New Black. Though she rocks the brunette style on the show, she enjoys adding color to her outfits and hair in real life. Still, she couldn’t do that as an inmate!

Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly

Stunning makeup was used to transform Charlize into Megyn Kelly, a former reporter for Fox News. Makeup artists had to use colored contacts and eyelid prosthetics to complete her look.

Siobhan McSweeney as Sister Michael

Siobhan donned a nun’s habit with no makeup to become Sister Michael on Derry Girls. While you can see some brown hair peeking from the habit, McSweeney actually has platinum blonde hair in real life.

Paloma Faith as Andrea

Paloma Faith is a great actress and looked nothing like the gothic character she played for St. Trinian’s. In real life, her fashion sense is more brightly colored and vintage.

Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf

You can’t even recognize Nicole Kidman when she played Virginia Woolf in The Hours. It took a lot of makeup and prosthetics to transform her into the writer, who looked nothing like Kidman. Still, she pulled it off well!

Megan Mullally as Karen Walker

Will and Grace‘s Karen Walker is known for her signature hairstyle and upscale clothes. Though Megan Mullally is still fashionable, she’s a bit more understated than the character. Plus, she tends to prefer a down hairstyle that’s easier to maintain!

Ruth Jones as Vanessa Jenkins

Ruth Jones played Nessa Jenkins in Gavin & Stacey. She’s known for tight outfits and a black bob cut, but Jones’ real-life style is more understated than that. Plus, she usually wears her hair a bit longer, too.