Putting On The Ritz
There’s method acting… and then there’s makeup acting. While some actors prep for roles by studying dialects or losing 50 pounds, others endure grueling hours in the makeup chair, morphing into aliens, monsters, and the occasional homicidal Christmas icon.
Here are some of the most impressive, outrageous, and eyebrow-gluing transformations in movie history.
Jim Carrey—How The Grinch Stole Christmas
It took eight and a half hours to transform Jim Carrey into the Grinch. The green fur. The yellow contact lenses. The full-body yak hair suit. Carrey later compared the experience to being “buried alive every day” and had to be trained by a Navy SEAL to endure the psychological torment. It's equal parts impressive and just a little bit terrifying.
Best Of Jim Carrey's Grinch, Eric Danielsen
Ryan Reynolds—Deadpool
Who knew that underneath Deadpool’s red-and-black suit was a full-body burn scar prosthetic that took up to eight hours to apply? Reynolds had to endure layers of textured latex to play the Merc with a Mouth. It’s no wonder most of his scenes are fully suited—every second without the mask was a marathon for makeup.
Once Upon A Deadpool | Official Trailer, 20th Century Studios
Brad Pitt—The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Playing a man who ages in reverse is no easy feat. Brad Pitt’s transformation into elderly Benjamin involved a blend of prosthetics, CGI, and makeup wizardry. In the earliest scenes—when Benjamin is supposed to be in his 80s but looks like a shriveled raisin—it took around five to six hours of makeup before a single camera roll.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Dave Bautista—Guardians Of The Galaxy
Turning a former wrestler into the grey-and-red-skinned Drax took over five hours of daily makeup—and that’s with an entire team of artists. The prosthetics had to be hand-glued and airbrushed every day, covering Bautista from neck to boot. At least he got to sit around shirtless on set all day.
Meet the Guardians of the Galaxy: Drax, Marvel Entertainment
Zoe Saldana—Guardians Of The Galaxy
Gamora’s emerald hue required hours of daily transformation—and this didn’t include hair or wardrobe. Zoe Saldana's entire body was airbrushed, then detailed with layers of contouring and shimmer to give her that lethal assassin glow. Being green has never looked so glamorous.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Zoe Saldana is Gamora | HD, Marvel UK
Jon Travolta—Hairspray
You may not recognize him, but yes—that's John Travolta as Edna Turnblad. The transformation into a 300-pound Baltimore housewife involved a fat suit, facial prosthetics, and a hefty dose of hairspray. The look took about six hours to apply, and even more time to emotionally process.
Hairspray (2007) Official Trailer #1 - John Travolta Movie HD, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Rebecca Romijn / Jennifer Lawrence—X-Men
Mystique wasn’t just blue. She was scaly, sticky, and very, very time-consuming. Rebecca Romijn’s transformation took up to nine hours for the earlier films, requiring over 100 prosthetic pieces. Jennifer Lawrence later inherited the role, and while the makeup process was streamlined, it still clocked in around six to seven hours a day. Turns out shapeshifting is hard work.
Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) - All Scenes Powers | X-Men Movies Universe, Explore Wh!te
Peter Weller—RoboCop
You’d think a man in a suit of armor wouldn’t need much makeup—but think again. Weller’s transformation included facial prosthetics, mechanical enhancements, and even body padding under the suit. The full look took about six hours—and walking in it looked only slightly more comfortable than being mugged in Detroit.
Best of Peter Weller as Robocop | Robocop 1 & 2 | MGM, Amazon MGM Studios
Tim Curry—Legend
Want to know what pure movie magic looks like? Check out Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness in Legend. His towering horns, crimson skin, and demonic hooves took over seven hours of makeup and prosthetics to apply. The transformation was so intense, Curry reportedly had a panic attack while removing the suit.
We Are All Animals My Lady, Sir Philip of Weatherhamshire
Marion Cotillard—La Vie En Rose
Oscar-winning transformations don’t come easy. Cotillard’s portrayal of Edith Piaf involved aging makeup, dental prosthetics, and delicate facial contouring—sometimes taking six to eight hours. Cotillard completely vanished into the role, proving that you don’t need scales or scars to have a jaw-dropping makeover.
La Vie en Rose (2007) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Arnold Schwarzenegger—Terminator 2: Judgement Day
In this sequel, the T-800 gets increasingly battle-damaged, which meant layers of prosthetic wounds, exposed metal skull plates, and scorched synthetic skin. At the height of his damage, Schwarzenegger’s makeup took more than six hours to complete. That’s a lot of work for a robot who only says ten lines.
Jeff Goldblum—The Fly
This 1986 sci-fi horror classic features one of the grossest transformations ever put to screen. Goldblum’s slow mutation into a human-insect hybrid took up to five hours per stage, with multiple makeup phases as he disintegrated into Brundlefly. If you’ve ever lost your appetite watching this film, blame the brilliant (and nauseating) makeup team.
The Fly (1986) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
John Matuszak—The Goonies
Sloth from The Goonies wasn’t just a lovable brute—he was a six-hour prosthetic masterpiece. Matuszak had to wear a full facial appliance with animatronic parts for the eye movement, as well as padding and costume layers. And yes, he still managed to be the emotional heart of the movie under all that rubber.
The Goonies (5/5) Movie CLIP - Sloth's Baby Ruth (1985) HD, Movieclips
Doug Bradley—Hellraiser
The iconic Pinhead look wasn’t just a few facial piercings—it was a multi-hour process involving a bald cap, white base makeup, blacked-out eyes, and individual nail placements. Doug Bradley endured this for eight films, which is either devotion or an unusual level of pain tolerance.
Interview with Doug Bradley a.k.a Hellraiser's Pinhead, WatchMojo.com
Gary Oldman—Hannibal
As the grotesquely disfigured Mason Verger, Oldman was literally unrecognizable. The character’s scarred face required layers of prosthetics and a voice so distorted, most viewers had no clue it was Oldman. The look reportedly took about six hours to apply—longer if you count the nightmares that followed.
The Origins of Mason Verger | Hannibal (2001), Fear: The Home Of Horror
Arnold Schwarzenegger—Batman and Robin
Ah yes, the notorious Mr. Freeze. While the puns were chilly, the makeup process was hot with frustration. Arnold’s icy blue skin and shimmering suit took over six hours, including a bald cap and LED-enhanced armor. “What killed the dinosaurs? The Ice Age!” may be a terrible line—but the look was commitment.
Mr. Freeze at home | Batman & Robin, Flashback FM
John Hurt—The Elephant Man
This transformation is a milestone in movie makeup history. Hurt’s prosthetic look as Joseph Merrick required 7–8 hours to complete, and was based on real medical data and cast molds of Merrick’s actual skeleton. The hauntingly beautiful design earned an honorary Oscar for makeup design and changed the industry forever.
The Elephant Man movie HD (1980) - Best Film Scene -, Bobzeda
Christian Bale—Vice
While known for his intense weight changes, Bale also relied on some major makeup work to become Cheney. His facial prosthetics, bald cap, and neck padding took six hours to perfect. Combine that with his legendary commitment, and you get a frighteningly accurate Cheney.
Christian Bale as Dick Cheney: Vice - That Sounds Good Clip, IGN
Halle Berry—Cloud Atlas
In this genre-spanning film, Berry played several characters—across races, ages, and centuries. One of her most intense transformations involved playing a male Korean doctor, which took upward of six hours of prosthetics, reshaping her nose, eyelids, and jawline. The result? Uncanny, controversial, and oddly compelling.
Cloud Atlas Extended Trailer #1 (2012) - Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Wachowski Movie HD, Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
Rod Steiger—The Illustrated Man
This 1969 film required Steiger’s body to be covered with actual illustrations, some of which were hand-painted directly onto his skin. The process often took six to seven hours daily and involved painstaking precision. It’s a transformation that doubles as living art.
The Illustrated Man (1969) Trailer HD | Rod Steiger | Claire Bloom, Film Trailer Channel
Final Thoughts
What do all these transformations have in common? Pain, patience, and a whole lot of glue. From intergalactic warriors to tormented legends, these looks prove that sometimes the hardest-working actor on set isn’t even breathing—it’s made of silicone and spirit gum.
Deadpool & Wolverine | Official Trailer | In Theaters July 26, Marvel Entertainment
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