Hey movie fans and tech lovers! If you think superhero costumes are the coolest part of their look, think again. We’ve put together a list of the most amazing prosthetic transformations in Hollywood. These prosthetics don’t just make actors look different—they make them completely unrecognizable.
Ryan Reynolds / Deadpool
Ryan Reynolds is known for his charm, but in Deadpool, he transformed into the scarred anti-hero. The makeup team used nine silicon pieces on his head to create the look. That’s some serious commitment!
Johnny Depp / Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp helped design his Mad Hatter look in Alice in Wonderland. Inspired by Hatter’s Disease, his makeup included pale skin and orange highlights to show the effects of toxic chemicals.
Angelina Jolie / Salt
In Salt, Angelina Jolie disguised herself as a man, even fooling her son Maddox on set. Her transformation was so convincing that Brad Pitt reportedly refused to kiss her in full makeup.
Richard Brake / Game of Thrones
The Night King’s look in Game of Thrones took six weeks to design. Actor Richard Brake spent hours in makeup, showing how much effort went into creating this chilling character.
Naomi Grossman / American Horror Story
Naomi Grossman’s transformation into Pepper in American Horror Story was a masterpiece. She embraced the process, appreciating the artistry behind the intricate look.
Roddy McDowall / Planet of the Apes
Transforming actors in Planet of the Apes was no small task. Many actors declined the role due to the long makeup process, but those who stayed made sure viewers could still connect with the characters.
Johnny Depp / Black Mass
In Black Mass, Johnny Depp became James “Whitey” Bulger using prosthetics and blue contacts. The makeup team used bald caps to avoid touching his famous hair, making his transformation complete.
Jack Nicholson / Batman
For his role as the Joker in Batman, Jack Nicholson’s makeup had to strike a balance between eerie and realistic. The team worked hard to avoid making him look like a ghost on the dark set.
Steve Carell / Foxcatcher
Steve Carell’s transformation in Foxcatcher involved a large prosthetic nose and makeup to create a sickly appearance. The prosthetics blended so well that they looked natural, helping him nail the character.
Richard Armitage / The Hobbit
Richard Armitage spent three hours in makeup to become Thorin in The Hobbit. Each delicate prosthetic cost around $2,000, showcasing the movie’s high attention to detail.
Mila Kunis / Oz the Great and Powerful
Mila Kunis played the wicked version of Theodora in Oz the Great and Powerful. The transformation required a team of makeup artists, with her entire face covered in prosthetics, leaving only her upper lip exposed.
Eddie Murphy / Coming to America
In Coming to America, Eddie Murphy transformed into several characters, with one of the most intricate being Saul. The makeup artists covered his entire body, and Murphy was amused by his comical appearance during the test run.
Charlize Theron / Monster
In Monster, Charlize Theron’s transformation was striking. She gained weight for the role and used prosthetics to make her face appear weathered, with wild eyebrows and discolored veins, making her look unrecognizable.
Eddie Redmayne / The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything involved significant prosthetic work. The makeup artist studied photos of Hawking’s various life stages to create accurate transformations for each period
Nicole Kidman / The Destroyer
In The Destroyer, Nicole Kidman’s transformation was incredible, making her look like a middle-aged woman who’s faced years of stress, sun damage, and sleepless nights.
Kelly Stables / The Ring Two
In The Ring Two, Kelly Stables looked haunting, with prosthetics that made her appear like a small, eerie figure.
Ralph Fiennes / Harry Potter
In Harry Potter, the makeup team took on the challenge of making Voldemort look nearly unrecognizable, with a nearly see-through skin tone and slits instead of nostrils.They used prosthetics, fake teeth, and vein tattoos to bring the Dark Lord to life
Jim Carrey / How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey’s dedication to becoming the Grinch was shown in the extensive use of prosthetics and makeup to give him his iconic look. The process involved layers of prosthetics, a green base, and hairpieces to complete the Grinch’s appearance.
Emma Thompson / Nanny McPhee
In Nanny McPhee, Emma Thompson was transformed into an entirely different character using prosthetics to create a hag-like appearance with a mole, snaggle-tooth, and unibrow. Thompson’s ability to shine through such heavy makeup shows her impressive acting talent.
Jennifer Lawrence / X-Men
Jennifer Lawrence spent seven hours in the makeup chair to become Mystique in X-Men. Her whole body had to be painted blue, with a team of six people working on her. J-Law was a bit concerned about the paint getting into her nose and eyes, but the final result was worth it.
Ian McKellen / Lord of the Rings
For Lord of the Rings, Ian McKellen’s transformation into Gandalf included a large prosthetic nose and a long hair and beard combo. McKellen even requested a smaller nose after sculptors made the first one too big.
Brendan Gleeson / Harry Potter
Brendan Gleeson’s Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter involved hours of makeup, with silicon prosthetics and an animatronic eye. Makeup artist Nick Dudman had to speed up the process to fit within Gleeson’s working hours, but it all came together.
Jared Leto / Suicide Squad
Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad required three hours of makeup every day to achieve that wild look. Leto’s dedication was key, with a whole team working on his makeup, making his process longer than other actors in the same role.
Nicholas Hoult / X-Men: First Class
Nicholas Hoult’s Beast in X-Men: First Class had a lion-like look with fur and feline textures, a change from the earlier portrayal by Kelsey Grammer. The makeup team added warm tones in post-production to make Beast’s skin appear more lifelike, and the final result was stunning.
Karen Gillan / Guardians of the Galaxy
Karen Gillan’s Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy was so dramatic that even her friends wouldn’t recognize her! Makeup artist David White described it as a five-piece puzzle. Gillan had to shave her head for the role, but after a few screen tests, she realized it was a permanent change.
Johnny Depp / Edward Scissorhands
Johnny Depp’s transformation into Edward Scissorhands took only an hour and 45 minutes. Makeup artist Ve Neill added scars and simple makeup to create the character. Let’s not forget the scissor hands costume — that took a bit more time!
Brad Pitt / The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt underwent multiple makeup transformations as he aged backward, from old to young and back again. All the makeup work was essential to telling the character’s unique story, with Pitt looking great no matter his age.
Val Kilmer / Citizen Twain
In Citizen Twain, Val Kilmer became Mark Twain with prosthetics and silicone for the famous mustache. The process took two hours. Kilmer was amazed by the transformation, snapping photos along the way.
Ian Holm / The Lord of the Rings
Ian Holm underwent a major transformation to become Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. With layers of prosthetics, he barely recognized himself! Bilbo’s different ages meant multiple makeup looks were needed, with the WETA Workshop in New Zealand taking about four hours to complete each one.
John Rhys-Davies / Lord of the Rings
John Rhys-Davies spent hours in prosthetics to become Gimli, but did you know he initially doubted the film’s success? He wasn’t keen on spending years in makeup for a potential flop. He was wrong, though! Rhys-Davies, who’s missing a finger in real life, even pranked the crew with a fake one and some fake blood. Classic!
Robin Williams / Mrs. Doubtfire
Robin Williams went all out with prosthetics for Mrs. Doubtfire, wearing eight layers of foam latex on his head that had to be rebuilt weekly. The process was long, but totally worth it for that iconic look!
Josh Brolin / Deadpool 2
Josh Brolin’s Cable in Deadpool 2 was a challenging task for the makeup team, especially with his biomechanical body look. Brolin’s skin was made to look like it was mutating into metal, a unique challenge, but the end result was epic!
Tilda Swinton / The Grand Budapest Hotel
Tilda Swinton’s grandma look in The Grand Budapest Hotel was achieved with a silicone rubber that matched her skin perfectly. The transformation earned the team an Oscar! Plus, hairstylist Frances Hannon gave her the perfect sloppily applied lipstick for added realism.
Angelina Jolie / Maleficent
Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent look involved tight hair braids, prosthetics, and fangs to create the iconic villain. The result was jaw-dropping, making her almost unrecognizable after the transformation!
Heath Ledger / The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger’s Joker look in The Dark Knight was created without a specific concept for the scars, so makeup artist Conor O’Sullivan just improvised. The lower lip was covered with prosthetics, and the rest of the makeup was intentionally rough to match the Joker’s chaotic style
