For some who hadn't read much about The Batman before going to watch the latest DC Comics movie, it is possible that Colin Farrell's name popping up in the credits was a surprise. The Irish actor was virtually unrecognizable as Penguin in the movie, thanks to loads of prosthetics, make-up, and a persona that was different from any other fans had seen him portray on screen.
Farrell isn't alone in being in a role that people did not recognize was him. Sometimes actors gain or lose tremendous amounts of weight for a role, which makes them unrecognizable. But some actors have donned so much make-up, prosthetics, and other gear that fans completely missed it was them.
Colin Farrell – Penguin (The Batman)
For the iconic role of Penguin, Farrell wore tons of prosthetics, including a nose that was designed to resemble one on an actual penguin. The actor told ET Online that it took close to four hours to get him in full make-up and suited up, ready to go as the character.
Despite all the work, however, Farrell, who some believe is the best Penguin yet for The Batman series, also told ET Online that it was one of the "most fun gigs I've had." He also noted that the transformation was so major, even his co-stars didn't recognize him on set.
Mark Ruffalo – Hulk (The Avengers)
With so many movies under his belt in the franchise now, fans know that Mark Ruffalo plays Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. But when the first movie The Avengers was released in 2012, some fans might not have realized it was Ruffalo unless they saw promotional materials ahead of time – at least when he was in Hulk form.
Technically, Ruffalo portrays Bruce Banner, Hulk's human alter-ego. But he does indeed also play the Hulk through the use of motion-capture CGI. It's also Ruffalo's voice that is used for any of Hulk's speaking lines.
Tilda Swinton – Various (Suspiria)
Tilda Swinton is a talented actor, so it's no surprise she took on a number of roles in the Italian horror film Suspiria, a remake of the 2018 classic. In the movie, she played Madame Blanc, who was a choreographer at a dance academy, and an old male psychologist named Dr. Klemperer.
She also played another character, but to avoid spoilers, it's best to watch the movie to find out. Interestingly, the film made it even more difficult for fans to figure out that it was Swinton behind the make-up, dark-rimmed glasses, and wrinkled skin of Dr. Klemperer: the character was credited as being played by a fictional person known as Lutz Ebersdorf.
Jennifer Lawrence – Mystique (X-Men: First Class)
The role on Jennifer Lawrence was the best version of Mystique in X-Men. While her face might have been recognizable to fans of the actor, all the blue make-up along with the bright red hair likely threw some people off who didn't figure out it was her.
While starring in this role in multiple X-Men films, Lawrence also starred in Joy.
Tom Hardy – Bane (The Dark Knight Rises)
Not only did Tom Hardy gain a ton of weight and muscle to play Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, according to Men's Health, including a total of 30 lbs., but his face was also covered with a muzzle that made him unrecognizable.
Combine that with the shaved head and his infamous Bane voice, and if fans weren't aware that it was Hardy, they never would have guessed. The role was particularly contrasted by others he has played, including Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights for ITV and his role in the romantic comedy This Means War.
Gerard Butler – The Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera)
It's usually tough to pinpoint the actor playing the iconic character from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera, which was turned into a musical romantic drama movie in 2004. His face was half covered by a white mask. Since Butler wasn't a singer, fans would never have guessed it was he in the role after he belted out the song "The Music of the Night."
Butler had previously been known for plenty of action movies, including the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, and Timeline. He also starred as Count Dracula in Dracula 2000.
Eddie Murphy – Mr. Wong And Rasputia (Norbit)
Eddie Murphy is not only great at impressions, he can also amazingly transform himself into a variety of characters so convincingly that fans don't realize it's him. As one of two entries on this list for the comedian and actor, he played the title character in Norbit, ranked as one of Eddie Murphy's worst movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
But he also played Mr. Norbit, owner of The Goldon Wonton Chinese restaurant that doubled as an orphanage. In the movie, Norbit meets a girl named Rasputia who helps protect him from bullies on the playground and eventually becomes his wife. Murphy also plays Rasputia.
Charlize Theron – Megyn Kelly (Bombshell)
Fans were mesmerized at how convincingly Charlize Theron transformed into journalist, attorney, political commentator, and TV show host Megyn Kelly in the 2019 movie Bombshell, which won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Almost unrecognizable, just as she was in the role of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 movie Monster, Theron tackled this role with just as much commitment as well. From the voice down to the mannerisms alongside the dress and look, if fans didn't know better and didn't do a double take, they might have believed it was Kelly herself.
Michael Keaton – Betelgeuse (Beetlejuice)
It's unforgettable that Michael Keaton was once Batman, but some fans completely forget that the person in the black and white striped outfit with the dark eyes, pasty white skin, and scraggly hair was actually the actor as well.
Beetlejuice was a hit in 1988 and remains a movie worth seeing to this day. The character was engaging, fun, and creepy all at the same time, so it's no surprise a talented actor like Keaton was commissioned to play him. And with all the make-up, fans could easily miss that it was him.
Eddie Murphy – Various (Coming To America)
If smartphones existed back in 1988 when best movies where actors play multiple characters, according to IMDb.
Indeed, Murphy not only played the lead character Prince Akeem, but also three other characters who appeared in a scene or two: a soul singer, a barbershop owner, and a Jewish grandpa. Thanks to amazing hair and make-up and his knack for doing impressions, it was almost impossible to tell it was Murphy. He reprised a few of the roles in the later sequel Coming 2 America.
