21 Real People and the Actors Who Played Them Either on TV or the Big Screen
Pretending to be someone else and nailing it is definitely not an easy job.
Some movie and TV transformations are so convincing that it is hard not to compare the actor with the real person behind the role. From scandal-ridden figures to music legends and political icons, these performances depend on details that can make or break the illusion.
This roundup looks at 21 actors who portrayed real people on screen, from Hulu and Netflix dramas to major biopics and prestige films. The side-by-side comparisons show just how much makeup, styling, and performance can change the final result, especially when the subject is already well known.
Scroll through the list and see which casting choices came closest to the real thing.
1. Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu's The Dropout
Beth Dubber/Hulu; Greg Allen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock2. Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter in Hulu's The Girl From Plainville
Steve Dietl/Hulu; Faith Ninivaggi/Shutterstock3. Renée Zellweger as Pam Hupp in The Thing About Pam
Frank Ockenfels 3/NBC; YouTube
4. Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in Elvis (coming June 2022)
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube; Hpm/AP/Shutterstock
5. Julia Garner as Anna Sorokin in Netflix’s Inventing Anna
Shutterstock; Netflix
6. Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball in Amazon Prime's Being the Ricardos
YouTube (2)
7. Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt in The First Lady
Courtesy of Gillian Anderson/Twitter; Everett/Shutterstock
8. Sebastian Stan and Lily James as Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson in Hulu's Pam & Tommy
Hulu; Shutterstock
9. Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci
Ipa/Shutterstock; Simona Chioccia/IPA/INSTARimages.com
Kaley Cuoco’s tense “Charmed” moment, with the Hollywood star who overlooked her on set, is a reminder of how ruthless auditions and casting can feel.
10. Julia Garner as Anna Delvey in Netflix's Inventing Anna
Richard Drew/AP/Shutterstock; SteveSands/NewYorkNewswire/MEGA
11. Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp in American Crime Story: Impeachment
Roberto Borea/AP/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Sarah Paulson/Instagram
12. Sophie Turner as Princess Charlotte in HBO Max's The Prince
HBO Max; Annie Lesser/imageSPACE/Shutterstock (inset)
13. Christian Serratos as Selena in Netflix's Selena: The Series
Netflix/YouTube; Davila/Mediapunch/Shutterstock
14. Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in Respect
YouTube; Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
15. Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem in Hulu's Mrs. America
Sabrina Lantos/FX; Everett/Shutterstock
16. Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman in Harriet
Glen Wilson/Focus Features; Courtesy Everett Collection/Shutterstock
17. Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Lacey Terrell; Wqed/Kobal/Shutterstock
18. Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI in Netflix's The Two Popes
Peter Mountain; Grzegorz Galazka/Sipa/Shutterstock
19. Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Andrew Cooper; Pierluigi/Shutterstock
20. Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson in Bombshell
Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP; Stephen Lovekin/Variety/Shutterstock
21. Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly in Bombshell.
Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP
I wonder what it feels like to see yourself portrayed in a movie or TV show by a famous and prestigious actor. Most of them probably dislike how they were portrayed since things are often exaggerated and overdramatized in show business to make the story more interesting for the viewer.
The entire process of learning the subject's routines, habits, and quirks, and practicing them every day is quite intense, but that's what it takes to practically become that person and portray them accurately. If you ever think that acting is easy, try doing that yourself.
That kind of transformation is exactly what makes these performances so memorable.
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