Unrecognizable: 12 celebrities who went too far for movie roles

While thinking about unrealistic transformations in Hollywood, several actors come to mind, like Oscar Isaac in X-Men: Apocalypse, Karen Gillan in Guardians of the Galaxy, and Christian Bale, who underwent significant weight loss for his role in The Machinist. 

However, these stars are not the only ones who transform themselves into unrecognizable figures. Charlize Theron’s Oscar-winning role in Monster, to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s shocking bulk-up for The Smashing Machine, proves just how far the actors will go to reflect the aesthetics that the role demands.

Below, check out some of the most amazing celebrity transformations, the ones that made these stars nearly unrecognizable.

Sydney Sweeney in Christy

Sydney Sweeney shocked fans when she gained 30 lbs. of muscle to play professional boxer Christy Martin.

Her training routine included hours of weightlifting, kickboxing, and strength conditioning each day. Sweeney said the process made her “crazy strong” and completely changed her body.

Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine

For his upcoming movie, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had to get bigger and “puffier” to play MMA fighter Mark Kerr. He trained like a real wrestler, changing his body to match Kerr’s power and build.

Johnson admitted it was tough but said, “When Benny Safdie tells me to do something, I try it.”

Zac Efron in The Iron Claw

Zac Efron had to bulk up significantly to play wrestler Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw.

He admitted the role “took over” his life, as his focus was completely on achieving the perfect wrestler’s physique.

Colin Farrell in The Penguin

Colin Farrell’s good looks disappeared completely under prosthetics and makeup for his role as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in HBO’s The Penguin.

Farrell said the transformation was so intense that even he didn’t recognize himself in the mirror at first.

Nicolas Cage in Madden

Nicolas Cage is stepping into the shoes of NFL legend John Madden in an upcoming biopic. Set photos already show him looking almost unrecognizable, and fans can’t wait to see the full transformation on screen.

Christian Bale in The Machinist

Perhaps Hollywood’s most extreme makeover, Bale lost over 60 lbs. to play an insomniac in The Machinist.

He reportedly survived on just one apple and a can of tuna a day. Later, for American Hustle, he went the other way, gaining 43 lbs. to play a conman.

Lily James & Sebastian Stan in Pam & Tommy

Lily James and Sebastian Stan looked nothing like themselves in Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, where they played Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee.

The transformation shocked fans with how accurate and uncanny the looks were.

Tom Hardy in Capone

Tom Hardy gained weight, wore prosthetics, and completely altered his appearance to portray infamous gangster Al Capone in his later years, struggling with dementia.

Charlize Theron in Bombshell

For Bombshell, Theron became nearly identical to news anchor Megyn Kelly. With makeup, prosthetics, and her natural talent, she earned another Oscar nomination.

Margot Robbie in I, Tonya

Margot Robbie transformed into figure skater Tonya Harding, perfectly capturing her mannerisms, voice, and struggles.

The role scored Robbie her first Oscar nomination.

Ron Perlman in Hellboy

Ron Perlman spent hours each day in prosthetics and makeup to become the comic book antihero Hellboy. With bright red skin, horns, and heavy body suits, he was almost impossible to recognize.

Nicole Kidman in The Hours

Nicole Kidman wore a artificial nose and heavy makeup to transform into author Virginia Woolf. The change was so drastic that many viewers didn’t even recognize her.