8 Movie Characters You'd Never Guess Were Played By A Famous Actor

By Editorial Staff in Entertainment On 1st July 2016

One of the most important traits of good actors is the ability to transform themselves in a way that leaves them unrecognizable, while still managing to keep their unique talent visible. Some directors take this trait and push it to the limit, when they cast famous actors only to have them under massive layers of make up, strange hairdos and impressive special effects, making them look like a very different person. Some of those cases were done so well, that no one knew it was them behind the mask/make up. In here you will find 9 actors who went through this major change and ended up looking like a total stranger.

#1 Rocky Dennis (Mask, 1985) – Played By Eric Stoltz

Eric Stoltz is a very handsome and talented actor, yet it was decided to cast him as the boy who suffered from the rare disorder known to the public as Lionitis. It leaves the person suffering from it with a face that looks like that of an animal, hence the name of the disorder. Stoltz was phenomenal in his performance and got a Golden Globe nomination for it.

#2 Deadpool (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 2009) – Played by Ryan Reynolds

After guest starring in WolverineâÂ€Â˜s origin movie without many people noticing, Hollywood's favorite Ryan Reynolds tried to bring the popular assassin/hero to life and even shot a short movie of his own. This convinced some Hollywood executives, and now the character, that no one really knew was Reynolds, will get its own movie that will tell the tale of the killer that can't die. And we can't wait to see it.

#3 Gutless (Hook, 1991) – Played by Glenn Close

Steven Spielberg's Hook is an underrated adaptation of the classic book Peter Pan. The film tells the story of the grown up Pan (played by the late and great Robin Williams), who has changed so much he doesn't remember who he is. The film features some actors who went through major changes to become their colorful characters, such as Dustin Hoffman as Hook, Bob Hoskins as Smee, Phil Collins as a police inspector, and most surprising actress Glenn Close as a shameful male pirate who goes against the ways of the dreadful pirate captain and gets a "special" treatment.

#4 Jocasta Ayrs (Cloud Atlas, 2012) – Played by Halle Berry

Another underrated film, The Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer's epic is an adaptation of the famous book by David Mitchell, which tells 6 different stories set in different times and places. All story lines feature the same actors and actresses portraying different characters who change in age, race and gender. One of the most impressive changes is the one which can be seen above. Halle Berry is unrecognizable as Jocasta Ayers, but manages to keep her acting talents visible. We encourage you to try and figure out who the other actors in this film are, and which characters they play.

#5 Pennywise the Clown (It, 1990) – Played by Tim Curry

Stephen King's It scared many children, teens and adults when it made the transformation from book to TV series back in the beginning of the 1990s. The horror mastermind's epic wasn't the best thing to hit the TV screen, but it did the job of scaring the heck out of almost anyone who watched it. The story revolves around a group of friends who dealt with extreme evil in their youth and have to face it again. The evil is manifested as Pennywise the clown, portrayed by Tim Curry, an actor who many remember from his part as Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the cult movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Pennywise is no doctor and no transgender mad scientist, but both characters show the range of the under-appreciated actor's acting skills.

#6 Ari (Planet of the Apes, 2001) – Played by Helena Bonham Carter

Being (now ex) wife of director Tim Burton has many benefits, one of them is getting a part in almost all of his films. Burton's adaptation of Planet Of The Apes had some famous actors in ape costumes and makeup to the point of the unrecognizable. However, Bonham-Carter's character stood above them all, due to the fact that her beauty had to remain, yet also be transformed to ape-ish. The end result can be seen above and the change is very evident. See if you can find out who the other actors in this film are, and how do their ape versions look like.

#7 Mason Verger (Hannibal, 2001) – Played by Gary Oldman

1991's Silence Of The Lambs is considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all times, and generated a few sequels, a prequel and a TV series. 2001's Hannibal was the first sequel, which featured returning star Anthony Hopkins as the dreadful man-eating serial killer and tasteful doctor Hannibal Lecter. In this film he is haunted by a former victim, the mutilated Mason Verger. Many people knew the talented actor Gary Oldman plays in this film, but it was a great surprise to find out he was the man behind the make up of the sadistic victim. Oldman has a tendency to play characters who are very different in appearance from him, but Mason Verger is the pinnacle of all that is Oldman in disguise.

#8 Marlene McFly (Back to the Future Part II, 1989)- Played by Michael J Fox

The modern masterpiece trilogy that is Back To The Future saw many actors going through changes in order to fit as their own younger and older versions, but one change stood above the rest. Protagonist Marty McFly's sister, Marlene, was played by none other than Marty McFly himself, AKA amazing actor and person Michael J. Fox. It was a great example of how a few layers of makeup, a wig and a great acting talent can transform a person completely to the point where people didn't realize it was Michael J. Fox himself till the credit scene. Well played Michael! And he makes quite a handsome woman, might we add.

#9 Sloth (The Goonies, 1985) Played by John Matuszak

Another 1980's classic, The Goonies was directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, and is considered to be one of the greatest movies which marks the transformation from actual effects to computer generated ones. The film featured many future stars such as young Josh Brolin and Sean Astin, but the most memorable character is that of the deformed Sloth, which was played by actor and NFL star John Matuszak, who was hidden under layers of make up, leaving him very unrecognizable yet very lovable.

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