Reel vs. Real: Actors and Their Historical Counterparts (24 Photos)

In this roundup, we take a look at real-life historical figures alongside the actors who brought them to life on screen and stage. Thanks to brilliant casting, master makeup artistry, and exceptional performances, some of these stars look almost identical to their real-life counterparts.







Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, "Ray"

To allow Ray Charles to read the script and participate in the filmmaking process, the screenplay was translated into Braille.





Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote, "Capote"

The film was released on September 30, right on Truman Capote's birthday.



Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, "Lincoln"

Liam Neeson was originally cast as Abraham Lincoln, but he dropped out of the project to star in "Taken" and its two sequels.



Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo, "Frida"

Edward Norton rewrote the screenplay several times, though he ultimately went uncredited.



Marion Cotillard as Édith Piaf, "La Vie en Rose"

Marion Cotillard shaved her eyebrows and hairline to match Édith Piaf's look. The makeup process to capture the iconic "Little Sparrow" took nearly five hours each day.



Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, "Malcolm X"

Director Spike Lee felt the film was so culturally important that he urged children to skip school to see it.



Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb as Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, "Sid and Nancy"

All the members of Guns N' Roses appeared in the film as extras.



Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan, "I'm Not There"

Cate Blanchett stuffed a sock down her trousers to help her feel more masculine. The trick reportedly helped her master a male walk, too.



John Hurt as Joseph Merrick, "The Elephant Man"

To make John Hurt's makeup as authentic as possible, the crew used casts taken directly from Joseph Merrick's preserved body.



Gretchen Mol as Bettie Page, "The Notorious Bettie Page"

Hugh Hefner arranged a private screening of the film for Bettie Page. She enjoyed the movie, though she noted that she was never actually "notorious."



Geoffrey Rush as Peter Sellers, "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers"

Geoffrey Rush initially turned down the project, believing it was a role strictly for a character actor.



Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler, "Downfall"

While preparing for the role, Bruno Ganz studied a rare audio recording of Adolf Hitler speaking in his conversational voice. The actor later recalled: "It wasn't the screeching voice we're used to, but rather a soft, pleasant tone—a calm baritone."



Ben Kingsley as Mohandas Karamchand "Mahatma" Gandhi, "Gandhi"

Ben Kingsley's portrayal of the historical leader was so convincing that viewers described him as "Gandhi's ghost."



Johnny Depp as Edward D. Wood Jr., "Ed Wood"

The film cost more to make than all of Ed Wood's actual movies combined.



Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin, "Chaplin"

To prepare for the role, Robert Downey Jr. watched every single movie Charlie Chaplin ever made.



Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos, "Monster"

Charlize Theron put on nearly 30 pounds to fully embody the serial killer.



Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman, "Man on the Moon"

Jim Carrey stayed in character throughout the entire production, insisting everyone address him as Andy.



Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, "Raging Bull"

For the second half of the film, Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds, gorging on pasta, butter, and all kinds of Italian delicacies.



Michael Douglas as Liberace, "Behind the Candelabra"

The role of Liberace was originally intended for Robin Williams.



Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla, "Selena"

To do the role justice, Jennifer Lopez spent time with Selena's family, encouraging them to watch and critique her scenes during filming.



Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock, "Hitchcock"

Makeup artists tested six different prosthetic designs to perfect the actor's look before the first day of shooting.



Chadwick Boseman as James Brown, "Get on Up"

Chadwick Boseman trained five days a week to master James Brown's signature dance moves, performing all of the film's routines himself.



Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones as Stephen and Jane Hawking, "The Theory of Everything"

While preparing for the role, Eddie Redmayne met with Stephen Hawking in person. The actor admitted that portraying the legendary physicist was immensely challenging, particularly because the film was shot out of order. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Redmayne explained: "I had to capture the physical toll of his condition day by day, while still holding on to that spark, wit, and humor that define him."