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20 Examples of an Uncanny Resemblance Between Actors and the Famous Real People They Played

Imagine being assigned the task of portraying icons like Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe—the honor would be immense, but so would the pressure.

20 Examples of an Uncanny Resemblance Between Actors and the Famous Real People They Played

An actor's job is to convince an audience that they are an entirely different person. They need to make us believe they are the character they've been assigned, and if they do it well, we can completely forget that they are two different people.

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It's not an easy job by any means, but what is even more challenging is portraying a real-life person that everyone knows. Imagine being tasked with playing the likes of Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando, or Marilyn Monroe—the honor would be great, but the pressure would be immense.

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It takes remarkable talent and hard work for an actor to pull off a role like that. But it also requires good genes and incredible makeup.

When an actor who even slightly resembles the person they're portraying teams up with an amazing makeup artist, magic happens. As the audience, we are fortunate enough to witness that magic unfold on the big screen.

We thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the most impressive matches between actors and their subjects, and there are certainly many. Keep scrolling to see 20 examples of an uncanny resemblance between actors and the famous people they portrayed.

1. Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter

1. Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter© Courtesy Everett Collection, © Coal Miner's Daughter / Universal Pictures
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2. Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in Game Change

2. Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in Game Change© Polaris/East News, © Game Change / HBO Films
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3. Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in Vice

3. Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in Vice© ASSOCIATED PRESS/East News, © Vice / Plan B Entertainment

4. Matthew Broderick as Col. Robert Gould Shaw in Glory

4. Matthew Broderick as Col. Robert Gould Shaw in Glory© Whipple Studio / Wikimedia Commons, © Glory / TriStar Pictures

5. James Franco as James Dean in James Dean

5. James Franco as James Dean in James Dean© EAST NEWS, © James Dean / Turner Network Television

6. Joe Mazzello as John Deacon in Bohemian Rhapsody

6. Joe Mazzello as John Deacon in Bohemian Rhapsody© johndeacon_ / Instagram, © Bohemian Rhapsody / 20th Century Fox

7. Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody

7. Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody© Live Aid / Warner Music Group, © Bohemian Rhapsody / 20th Century Fox

8. Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan in I’m Not There

8. Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan in I’m Not There© ASSOCIATED PRESS/East News, © I'm Not There / The Weinstein Company

9. Eric Elmosnino as Serge Gainsbourg in Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

9. Eric Elmosnino as Serge Gainsbourg in Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life© sergegainsbourgforever / Instagram, © Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life / Universal Pictures France

10. Gwilym Lee as Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody

10. Gwilym Lee as Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody© johndeacon_ / Instagram, © mrgwilymlee / Instagram

11. Adrien Brody as Salvador Dalí in Midnight in Paris

11. Adrien Brody as Salvador Dalí in Midnight in Paris© EAST NEWS/, © Midnight in Paris / Gravier Productions

12. Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk

12. Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk© Associated Press/East News, © Milk / Focus Features

13. Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything

13. Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything© HistoryInPics / Twitter, © The Theory of Everything / Production company Working Title Films

14. Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs in Battle of the Sexes

14. Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs in Battle of the Sexes© ASSOCIATED PRESS/East News, © Battle of the Sexes / Fox Searchlight Pictures

15. Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla in Selena

15. Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla in Selena© Selena / Facebook, © Selena / Q-Productions

16. Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin

16. Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin© Courtesy Everett Collection, © Chaplin / Le Studio Canal+

17. Geoffrey Rush as Alberto Giacometti in Final Portrait

17. Geoffrey Rush as Alberto Giacometti in Final Portrait© Alberto Giacometti Club / Facebook, © Final Portrait / Olive Productions

18. Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln

18. Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln© Courtesy Everett Collection, © Lincoln / DreamWorks

19. Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo in Frida

19. Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo in Frida© fridakahlo / Instagram, © Frida / Miramax Films

20. Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour

20. Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour© KEYSTONE Pictures USA / eyevine/East News, © Darkest Hour / Perfect World Pictures

So, there you have it! 20 epic examples of an uncanny resemblance between actors and the famous people they portrayed.

It's incredible to see the similarities between some of these actors and the individuals they portrayed. However, without the talent of the makeup artists and hairdressers involved, the results surely would not have been quite as impressive.

It takes an entire team of professionals to work that kind of magic. And, of course, a great deal of luck when it comes to similar features, stature, and bone structure.

Who do you think is the best match on our list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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