It’s no secret — to get a nomination or accolade at some point as an actor, a celebrity will need to undergo a dramatic transformation. Whether it’s insane prosthetics, extreme weight loss or weight gain, this transformation shows a true dedication on the actor or actress’s part and a willingness to fully become the character they’re trying to embody. Here are all the celebs over the past year who have dedicated themselves 100% to their roles.
1. Stellan Skarsgard as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
It’s hard to believe that this character wasn’t totally CGI. In fact, actor Stellan Skarsgard was the famously terrifying Dune character. He admitted in an interview that acting as he normally would was rather difficult when weighed down by an 88-pound prosthetic suit that took over 6 hours and 5 makeup artists to complete. Still, he found it fascinating to watch the experts “paint every vein by hand.”
2. Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp
Sarah Paulson played this role phenomenally in “Impeachment: American Crime Story” but even her stellar acting couldn’t have reached its peak without those unforgettable prosthetics that look absolutely nothing like Sarah Paulson. It took the actress about three and a half to transform, and while she did gain 30 pounds, she also wore extra padding for the role, which was deemed controversial.
3. Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker
Recently, Jessica Chastain transformed herself into the Tammy Faye, creator of an evangelical empire including a Christian ministry and broadcasting network. Chastain turned from her naturally elegant self to the extremely 90s Tammy Faye, with a short perm, prosthetics, and a wild amount of heavy, hot makeup and bronzer. In fact, the makeup, which took 7.5 hours to apply daily, caused “permanent damage” to Chastain’s skin, according to the actress.
4. Andra Day as Billie Holiday
The naturally voluptuous queen Andra Day whittled down by 40 pounds to truly encapsulate the famous blues singer from the 1930s and 40s. Andra even did the singing of Billie in the movie, and to get the role right beyond the weight loss, she had to starve herself, start smoking and drinking, and even not getting sleep. According to Day, she’s naturally a fast mover while Billie was “like molasses.”
5. Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani
Gaga completely erased her iconic self for “House of Gucci,” swapping her usual looks for makeup and permed wigs to make her look older. While she didn’t use prosthetics like some of the other actors and actresses on this list, the transformation was impressive nonetheless, with over 15 wigs being used, Still, Gaga said that the role was not about seething the clothes and looks — it was about seeing her for the authentic person that she was.
6. Jared Leto as Paulo Gucci
Jared Leto might have Gaga beat in terms of transformations for House of Gucci, as the baby-faced boy band member and actor was not recognizable at all in the role — especially with that bald cap and those prosthetics that took nearly 4 hours to put on. From the slim, long-haired beauty that is Jared to the middle-aged, overweight and balding Paolo, we have to say that makeup designer Göran Lundström slayed it.
7. Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones
Just like her co-star Sarah Paulson, Ashford rocked a prosthetic nose for her heartfelt portrayal of Paula Jones in the latest season of “American Crime Story.” Although it took three hours to get into makeup and hair, the sweetly innocent yet vivacious spirit of Paula Jones “came so naturally to me.”
8. Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo
Never would we expect to see Kumail Nanjiana as a beefed up action star in “The Eternals.” However, he spent a full year with the industry’s top nutritions and trainers (funded up course by the world’s biggest studio), and the result was a powerful and muscular hunk. On his dedication to gaining muscle mass, he said it was to make him feel more powerful in the world, telling USA today, “If I’m playing the first South Asian superhero, I want to look like someone who can take on Thor or Captain America.”
9. Emma Stone as Cruella de Vil
In Disney’s “Cruella,” we didn’t get to see Emma Stone in any prosthetics, but it was a vast departure from her usual roles. Instead, she channeled Helena Bonham Carter and went full eccentric, wearing the wig, full makeup, and nails that helped Stone discover her inner “naughtiness” as Nadia Stacy, the hair and makeup designer put it in an interview with Elle Magazine.
10. Vera Farmiga as Livia Soprana
Vera Farmiga starred as Livia Soprano in the prequel to “The Sopranos” dubbed “The Many Saints of Newark.” While she didn’t go too crazy on the makeup front, the makeup artist did apply a prosthetic nose, which was actually Vera’s own ideas. The decision was because of Livia’s “aggressive traits” and “many sharp angles” with “very few curves” as she tells Rolling Stone.
