Naomi Grossman – Pepper
Best known for her role as Pepper in the television series American Horror Story, Naomi had to shave her head bald for this role. This is to date her biggest role, even though she has appeared in other shows and movies.
Naomi Grossman – Pepper
Taryn Manning – Tiffany Doggett
Tarryn plays the role of Tiffany Doggett in Orange Is The New Black. She plays a woman from western Pennsylvania who proudly calls herself a redneck. For the first season, her character had some rotten teeth and some were even missing.
Taryn Manning Tiffany Doggett
Elisabeth Moss – Peggy Olson
Elisabeth plays the role of office secretary Peggy Olson on the hit series Mad Men. Her character is innocent and frumpy and was described as too homely by her co-workers. They even comment on how she needs to change her appearance to fit in more.
Elisabeth Moss – Peggy Olson
America Ferrera – Betty Suarez
The role of Betty Suarez on the series Ugly Betty, was America’s career breakthrough. Her character was an ambitious young woman who had unruly hair, wore glasses, braces, and eccentric outfits. Towards the end of the show, she got a makeover and looked more like her real self.
America Ferrera Betty Suarez
Emma Thompson – Nanny McPhee
In 2005 Emma Thompson played the role of a magical nanny in the movie Nanny McPhee. Her character suddenly appears in people’s homes to help parents with unruly children. Her character starts off frighteningly hideous and progresses throughout the movie.
Emma Thompson – Nanny McPhee
Judy Greer – Kitty Sanchez
Judy is famous for many different roles but has also played some bizarre characters such as Kitty Sanchez on the show Arrested Development. This was such a quirky role and which she loved paying because she could make people laugh.
Judy Greer – Kitty Sanchez
Vanessa Hudgens – Gabriella Montez
Vanessa’s character as Gabriella in Disney’s High School Musical made her famous. In 2013 she played the role of a struggling teen that was in and out of foster care in an independent drama called Gimme Shelter. She had to drastically change her appearance for that role.
Vanessa Hudgens – Gabriella Montez
Rooney Mara – Lisbeth Salander
Rooney Mara rose to stardom in 2011 after playing Lisbeth Salander in the movie The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. She had to undergo an intense transformation in order to get into character for this movie. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.
Rooney Mara – Lisbeth Salander
Bette Midler – Winifred Sanderson
In 1993 Bette Midler played one of her most iconic roles in the Disney movie Hocus Pocus. She played Winifred Sanderson, who was the head witch of the Sanderson sisters. She and her witch sisters were executed and brought back to life in the movie.
Bette Midler – Winifred Sanderson
Drew Barrymore – Josie Gellar
In 1999 Drew starred in Never Been Kissed as Josie Gellar, who was a cop that gets to go back to high school as a student for an undercover operation. In high school she was quite a geek so this was her opportunity to redeem herself.
Drew Barrymore – Josie Gellar
Cameron Diaz – Lotte Schwartz
Cameron was always known for playing the roles of beautiful women in movies like The Mask and There’s Something About Mary. In 1999 however, she broke the mold and played Lotte Schwartz in Being John Malkovich, where she looked nothing like that pretty starlet everyone was used to.
Cameron Diaz – Lotte Schwartz
Kate McKinnon – Justin Bieber
Kate is one of the funny women on Saturday Night Live. On the show, she plays all different kinds of characters. She has impersonated people like Justin Bieber, Billie Jean King, and many others. In order to get it right, she has to alter her look drastically.
Kate McKinnon – Justin Bieber
Meryl Streep – The Witch
Meryl Streep played The Witch in the film Into The Woods that was released in 2014. This legendary actress played the role of a frightening witch so she had to look the part. Hair and makeup did such a great job of it that she was unrecognizable.
Meryl Streep – The Witch
Salma Hayek – Frida Kahlo
This Latin beauty played the role of Frida Kahlo in the biopic 2002 film Frida. In order to truly represent her character, Salma had to don a unibrow. Frida was known for having an unconventional look so she had to play the part.
Salma Hayek – Frida Kahlo
Linda Cardellini – Velma Dinkley
In 2002, Linda Cardellini was cast as Velma Dinkley in the movie version of Scooby-Doo. She had to wear her hair in a bob with a pair of thick-lensed glasses. She was made to look nerdy so had to wear unsightly outfits.
Linda Cardellini – Velma Dinkley
Mayim Bialik – Amy Farrah Fowler
Mayim is famous for her role as Amy Farrah Fowler on the hit series The Big Bang Theory. She plays the role of a frumpy neuroscientist who is highly intelligent and stereotypically nerdy. She plays an unattractive character but is far from unattractive in real life.
Mayim Bialik – Amy Farrah Fowler
Mae Whitman – Ann Veal
Mae plays the role of Ann Veal on the show Arrested Development. Her character is meant to be a plain Jane, who is homely, and forgettable because of the way she looks. In real life, her beauty shines through and she’s anything but forgettable.
Mae Whitman – Ann Veal
Charlize Theron – Aileen Wournos
At the height of her career, Charlize landed the role of Aileen Wournos for the movie Monster. Her performance as Aileen was seen as one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema. She portrayed the role of a serial killer.
Charlize Theron – Aileen Wournos
Thesy Surface – Margaret McPoyle
She may not be as well known as other Hollywood actresses but you’d know her as Margaret McPoyle from the series It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. She played the role of a deaf-mute woman who has a unibrow and doesn’t care much about her appearance.
Thesy Surface – Margaret McPoyle
Maisie Williams – Arya Stark
Maisie is an English actress and became well-known to the rest of the world for her role as Arya Stark on the hit series Game Of Thrones. She even won an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Drama.
Maisie Williams – Arya Stark
Tina Fey – Liz Lemon
Tina has been known for her comedic skits on SNL. More recently she’s known for her role as Liz Lemon on the show 30 Rock. Her character on the show is a bit of a nerd which is far from what she is in real life.
Tina Fey – Liz Lemon
Lea Michele – Rachel Berry
Lea Michele played the role of Rachel Berry on the television show Glee. Rachel was a high school student, who was an ambitious singer in the glee club. However, she wasn’t very popular because of her overbearing nature and her over-preppy sense of style.
Lea Michele – Rachel Berry
Anne Hathaway – Mia Thermopolis
In The Princess Diaries, Anne’s character, Mia Thermopolis was a geeky girl that was in serious need of a makeover. In 2012, she had to lose a lot of weight for her role as Fantine for the film adaptation of Les Miserables.
Anne Hathaway – Mia Thermopolis
Patricia Heaton – Debra Barone
Award-winning Patricia Heaton is known for her role as Debra Barone on the show Everybody Loves Raymond, as well as her role as Frances Heck on The Middle. All the roles she has played portray her as a frumpish, quirky woman.
Patricia Heaton – Debra Barone
Melissa Rauch – Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz
Melissa is not only an actress but a comedian too. But she’s known more for her role as Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on the hit series Big Bang Theory. She plays the role of a geekish doctor with an annoyingly squeaky voice.
Melissa Rauch – Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz
Sophie McShera – Daisy Robinson
This English actress plays the role of Daisy Robinson who is a plain kitchen maid on the award-winning period drama Downton Abbey. She has also played the role of one of Cinderella’s ugly step-sisters in Kenneth Branagh’s 2015 adaptation of Cinderella.
Sophie McShera – Daisy Robinson
Janel Parrish – Mona Vanderwaal
Janel is an American singer, dancer, and actress. She rose to fame with her role as Mona Vanderwaal in Pretty Little Liars. Her character was portrayed as a plain and simple girl that could even be described as ugly, which is far from her real-life look. It is pretty unclear why she would ever be considered unattractive, even on the show!
Janel Parrish – Mona Vanderwaal
Jenna Fischer – Pam Beesly
American actress Jenna Fischer is known and loved for her role as Pam Beesly on the popular comedy, The Office. Pam is the plain office-worker, who is described as boring, and unappealing. She has told NPR that she loves the character that she plays.
Jenna Fischer – Pam Beesly
Tori Spelling – Violet Bickerstaff
On the sitcom Saved By The Bell, Tori Spelling’s character wore glasses and braids. Her character, Violet Bickerstaff was an innocent, nerdy girl with a bad dress sense. In real life, Tori is the opposite of that. She’s more like her character on 90210.
Tori Spelling – Violet Bickerstaff
Alyson Hannigan – Willow Rosenberg
On the set of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Alyson ‘s character wasn’t meant to be a hottie. Willow Rosenberg was Buffy’s witch friend and side-kick. She also starred in movies like American Pie, its sequels, and Boys and Girls.
Alyson Hannigan – Willow Rosenberg
Kaitlin Olson – Deandra Reynolds
Kaitlin Olson’s character, Deandra Reynolds, on the show It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, is described as a rude and borderline sociopathic drunk. Her performance is spectacular because she’s fully committed to the role. She’s naturally a funny woman so this role fits her perfectly.
Kaitlin Olson – Deandra Reynolds
Aimee-Ffion Edwards – Lucy Sketch
This Welsh actress is famous for her role as Lucy Sketch in the television series Skins. She played the role of a weird stalker-type girl who had some personal issues. Her character only appeared in the second season when the entire cast changed.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards – Lucy Sketch
Gwendoline Christie – Brienne Of Tarth
Gwendoline plays the role of Brienne of Tarth, a robust and fearless female knight on the epic series Game Of Thrones. She’s portrayed as being a powerful fighter. She’s not interested in fancy clothes and pretty things, instead, she wears her armor and dons a sword.
Gwendoline Christie – Brienne Of Tarth
Pauley Perrette – Abby Scuito
Pauley is not only a great actress, but she’s also a well-known singer, writer, and civil-rights activist. She stars in the hit series NCIS as the much loved Abby Scuito. Her ‘alterna freak’ character was created by American producer and screenwriter, Donald P. Belisario.
Pauley Perrette – Abby Scuito
Ellie Kemper – Kimmy Schmidt
Ellie plays the role of Kimmy Schmidt in the comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Her character is a woman who was held in a cult for the last 15 years and unleashed out into the world after being rescued.
Ellie Kemper – Kimmy Schmidt
Sandra Oh – Cristina Yang
Everybody knows who Cristina Yang was on the hit prime-time series Grey’s Anatomy. She played the role of world-renowned heart surgeon Cristina Yang, who is frigid and unemotional. Sandra has won two Screen Actors Guild Awards as well as a Golden Globe for her role as Cristina.
Sandra Oh – Cristina Yang
Phyllis Logan – Elsie Hughes
Scottish actress, Phyllis Logan is known for her role as Elsie Hughes on the British television series, Downton Abbey. Her character Elsie is a dowdy matron house-keeper. In real life she likes to dress up and get glammed up for award ceremonies at least.
Phyllis Logan – Elsie Hughes
Demi Moore – Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil
We all know Demi Moore as the beautiful actress with long, luscious, brown hair. In the movie GI Jane, Demi plays the role of Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil, who is a hardened and brutal army officer. She even shaved her head bald for the role.
Demi Moore – Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil
Kate Winslet – Sarah Pierce
Kate has starred in many American films as well as other films. She’s a famous English actress who is well known for her role as Rose in Titanic. She has also starred in Little Children as Sarah Pierce where she was made to look unattractive.
Kate Winslet – Sarah Pierce
Delphine Chanéac – Dren
Delphine had to go a huge transformation with the help of the best makeup artists to achieve the look for her role as Dren for the movie Splice. The Canadian science-fiction movie is yet another cautionary tale about Frankenstein’s monster.
Delphine Chanéac – Dren
Ariel Winter – Alex Dunphy
Ariel Winter plays the character of Alex Dunphy on the hit comedy show Modern Family. Alex is the nerdy and studious sister who does not care about fashion. However, in real life Ariel Winter is quite glamorous and is always dressed to impress.
Ariel Winter – Alex Dunphy
Uzo Aduba – Suzanne Warren
Uzo Aduba transforms herself into Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on the Netflix hit show Orange Is The New Black. She is almost unrecognizable in real life. She’s definitely looking very polished and put together in real life.
Uzo Aduba – Suzanne Warren
Tilda Swinton – Dianna
Tilda Swinton is known for her unique and avant garde signature style. That’s why when she appeared in the movie Trainwreck, alongside Amy Schumer, many fans didn’t even recognize her at all. Her hair is much longer than usual and her typically fair complexion is given a bronzed tan.
Tilda Swinton – Dianna
Sophie McShera – Daisy Mason
Sophie McShera first gained recognition when she appeared as Daisy Mason on the series Downton Abbey. As she plays a kitchen maid, she is made to look very plain and a little drab on the show, but in real life she is truly a stunner.
Sophie McShera – Daisy Mason
Sarah Paulson – Marcia Clark
Award winning actress Sarah Paulson is quite the accomplished star. She has starred in countless films and TV shows. For her role as Marcia Clark on American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, she totally transformed her look to resemble the real life prosecutor.
Sarah Paulson – Marcia Clark
Rachel Brosnahan – Midge Maisel
Rachel Brosnahan stars as the titular role of Midge Maisel in the Prime Video series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. While she sports a classic 1950’s look on the show, in real life, Brosnahan sports a much more modern look.
Rachel Brosnahan – Midge Maisel
Millie Bobby Brown – Eleven
Millie Bobby Brown first captured our attention when at only twelves years old she starred as the character named Eleven on Netflix’s show Stranger Things. In real life, Millie has long, beautiful hair and tends to have a much happier expression on her face than Eleven does!
Millie Bobby Brown – Eleven
Lorraine Stanley – Karen Taylor
Lorraine Stanley stars on the massively popular soap EastEnders as Karen Taylor. Her character is frequently mocked on the show for having absolutely no style. In real life, Stanley is quite the opposite.
Lorraine Stanley – Karen Taylor
Tilda Swinton – Madame D.
Tilda is back at it again! This time, she transforms herself into a rich old woman named Madame D. in the Wes Anderson film The Grand Budapest Hotel. Here is more proof that Swinton is truly a chameleon.
Tilda Swinton – Madame D.
Lizzy Caplan – Janice Ian
Lizzy Caplan played the absolutely unforgettable Janice Ian in 2004’s Mean Girls, starring alongside Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. She is completely unrecognizable in real life, as she sports a more mainstream haircut and makeup style in her everyday life.
Lizzy Caplan – Janice Ian
Lena Heady – Cersei Lannister
Lena Heady gives an absolutely brilliant performance as Cersei Lannister in the much beloved HBO series Game of Thrones. However, Heady could not look more different from her character in real life. For one, she is covered in tattoos.
Lena Heady – Cersei Lannister
Laura Gómez – Blanca Flores
Laura Gomez plays Blanca Flores in Orange Is The New Black. On the show, she looks disheveled and wildly unkempt. However, in real life she really is a stunner with effortless beauty and grace.
Laura Gómez – Blanca Flores
Julie Lake – Angie
Yet another cast member of Orange Is The New Black makes the list. Julie Lake plays Angie, one of the inmates, on the show, and she certainly looks like a whole other person in real life!
Julie Lake – Angie
Julia Garner – Ruth Langmore
Julia Hargner is known for her role of Ruth Landmore on the Netflix show Ozark. She has won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the role. She looks quite different in real life from her character.
Julia Garner – Ruth Langmore
Francesca Curren – Helen
Francesca Curren plays Helen, one of the skinhead prison inmates in the show Orange Is The New Black. We guarantee that if you saw her on the street, you would not be able to recognize her. She completely transforms her look for the role.
Francesca Curren – Helen
Emilia Clarke – Daenerys Targaryen
Emilia Clarke gives an unforgettable performance as Daenerys Targaryen on the hit show Game of Thrones. While her character is known for her white-blonde hair, in real life Emilia is a natural brunette.
Emilia Clarke – Daenerys Targaryen
Elizabeth Banks – Effie Trinket
Elizabeth Banks makes a total transformation in order to play Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games film series. Effie is known for her crazy and outlandish outfits as well as crazy colored hair and makeup. In real life, Banks sports a beautiful blonde look.
Elizabeth Banks – Effie Trinket
Clair Norris – Bernadette Taylor
Clair Norris plays Bernadette Taylor, Karen’s daughter, in the soap EastEnders. She looks super different from her glamorous red carpet look, it’s almost like she’s a whole different person!
Clair Norris – Bernadette Taylor
Amy Sedaris – Jerri Blank
Amy Sedaris plays Jerri Blank, a 45 year old woman who decides to return to high school, in the show Strangers With Candy. She looks completely different from her usual self.
Amy Sedaris – Jerri Blank
Alison Brie – Annie Edison
Alison Brie plays Annie Edison, a know-it-all try-hard on comedy show Community. On the show she dresses very conservatively as she tend to be on the nerdier side. However, in real life, Alison Brie stuns in glamour and is definitely not nerdy at all.
Alison Brie – Annie Edison
Lady Gaga – Scathach
Grammy award winning singer Lady Gaga decided to join the world of acting when she appeared in the sixth season of American Horror Story. She starred as Scathach, a bloodthirsty 15th century witch. If you didn’t know that it was the songstress, you’d never have recognized her in this role.
Lady Gaga – Scathach
Catherine O’Hara – Moira Rose
Catherine O’Hara plays the overly dramatic ex-soap star Moira Rose on the TV series Schitt’s Creek. Moira enjoys wearing a different wig every day of the week and looks nothing like Catherine O’Hara does in real life.
Catherine O’Hara – Moira Rose
Mandy Moore – Rebecca Pearson
Pop star teen sensation slash actress Mandy Moore has been able to continue to be a part of the Hollywood scene through adulthood. She plays family matriarch Rebecca Pearson on beloved show This Is Us. Even though Moore is in her 30’s, she is almost unrecognizable as Rebecca, who is many decades older.
Mandy Moore – Rebecca Pearson
Patricia Arquette – Dee Dee Blanchard
Patricia Arquette plays Dee Dee Blanchard in Hulu series The Act. Arquette had to dye her signature blonde hair to brown for the role, which eventually earned her an Emmy Award.
Patricia Arquette – Dee Dee Blanchard
Claire Foy – Queen Elizabeth II
Claire Foy plays a young version of Queen Elizabeth on hit show The Crown. While she does an excellent job, in real life, she looks absolutely nothing like the Queen looked like when she was younger!
Claire Foy Queen Elizabeth II
Zuzanna Szadkowski – Dorota
Any fan of Gossip Girl has a special place in their heart for Dorota, Blair Waldorf’s maid and confidante. While on the show, Zuzanna looked prim and proper, in real life she is quite radiant and stylish.
Zuzanna Szadkowski Dorota
Madeline Brewer – Janine Ofwarren
Actress Madeline Brewer did a fantastic job portraying Janine “Ofwarren” on Hulu hit series The Handmaid’s Tale. Her character is deeply disturbed, and her face is disfigured. In real life, Brewer’s face is quite beautiful.
Madeline Brewer – Janine Ofwarren
Shannon Purser – Barb Holland
One of the breakout characters from the first season of Netflix series Stranger Things was certainly Barb Holland, played by actress Shannon Purser. Her stylized clothes and hair made her look like a frumpy 70’s girl, but Purser is quite adorable in real life.
Shannon Purser – Barb Holland
Hannah Murray – Gilly
Actress Hannah Murray joined the cast of Game of Thrones as Gilly, Sam’s friend turned love interest. While her character looks a bit like a plain Jane, in real life Hannah Murray is quite gorgeous and is always glamorous on the red carpet.
Hannah Murray – Gilly
Laura Carmichael – Lady Edith
As with many other actresses on Downton Abbey, in real life, Laura Carmichael barely resembles her character of middle sister Lady Edith.
Laura Carmichael Lady Edith
Olivia Colman – Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller
Actress Olivia Colman portrays Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller on Broadchurch. She looks absolutely nothing like her character in real life, especially with her blond pixie haircut which she showcased at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Olivia Colman – Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller
Jenna Coleman – Queen Victoria
Jenna Coleman plays title character Queen Victoria on the series Victoria. On the show, she is dressed in a rather austere manner, while in real life, Coleman is very chic and always dressed to impress.
Jenna Coleman Queen Victoria
Vanessa Kirby – Princess Margaret
Actress Vanessa Kirby rocks her blonde hair in real life, but in order to portray Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister’ on the first two season of The Crown, Kirby actually dyed her hair brown, giving her a totally different look.
Vanessa Kirby Princess Margaret
Dascha Polanco – Dayanara “Daya” Diaz
Dascha Polanco plays Dayanara “Daya” Diaz on Netflix series Orange Is The New Black. While she rocks a natural brunette look on the show, in real life Dascha loves to add color to her hair as well as her outfits.
Dascha Polanco – Dayanara “Daya” Diaz
Charlize Theron – Megyn Kelly
Stunning makeup work transformed Charlize Theron into former Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly. Makeup artists used colored contacts as well as eyelid prosthetics in order to complete this incredible look.
Charlize Theron Megyn Kelly
Siobhán McSweeney – Sister Michael
Siobhán McSweeney dons a nun’s habit and no makeup to portray Sister Michael on TV show Derry Girls. Although you can see a bit of brown hair peeping out of the habit, in real life, McSweeney rocks platinum blonde locks.
Siobhán McSweeney – Sister Michael
Paloma Faith – Andrea
Actress Paloma Faith looks absolutely nothing like her gothic character on St. Trinian’s. Paloma’s real life fashion sense leans much more towards vintage and brightly colored.
Paloma Faith As Andrea
Nicole Kidman – Virginia Woolf
Nicole Kidman is completely unrecognizable while in character as Virginia Woolf in film The Hours. A lot fo prosthetics and makeup were used to transform Kidman into the writer, who does not look much like Kidman at all.
Nicole Kidman – Virginia Woolf
Megan Mullally – Karen Walker
Karen Walker from Will & Grace is known for her signature hairstyle as well as her upscale attire. Actress Megan Mullally is just as fashionable but in a more understated way, and she certainly does not style her hair like her character.
Megan Mullally Karen Walker
Ruth Jones – Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins
Actress Ruth Jones plays Nessa Jenkins on British TV series Gavin & Stacey. Nessa is known for her blunt black bob and tight outfits, but Ruth Jones’ real life personal style is way more understated, while her hair is also usually longer.
Ruth Jones – Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins
