Ten Best Celebrity Movie Transformations
Stars go barely-recognizable for these film roles.
1 / 10
Mariah Carey in Precious - Celebs are better known for glamming up than dressing down, but when it comes to movie roles, many are willing to go to drastic lengths to fit the part.Mariah Carey, known for rocking false eyelashes even to the grocery store, was downright unrecognizable as a dowdy welfare case worker in Lee Daniels' Precious. The transformation of Mimi paid off: her performance was universally praised. (Photos from left: Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Lionsgate Pictures)
2 / 10
50 Cent in Things Fall Apart - He got to play a character close to home for his acting debut in the semi-autobiographical Get Rich or Die Tryin', but for his part in Mario Van Peebles's drama Things Fall Apart, Fif went straight-up Christian Bale on it. The beefy rapper dropped a reported 80 lbs. to play an aspiring football star diagnosed with cancer. (Photos from left: Dario Cantatore/Getty Images, Cheetah Vision)
3 / 10
Beyoncé in Dreamgirls - Bey's body is widely regarded as the picture of perfection, but the pop superstar had to get her bootylicious curves under control for her role as Deena Jones in Dreamgirls. Blue Ivy's momma reportedly dropped 20 lbs. using the Master Cleanse, aka the Lemonade Diet, before filming. Thankfully, she was able to put the body we all envy back together (with the help of a few extra desserts) after production wrapped. (Photos from left: Jason Merritt/Getty Images For BET, Paramount Pictures)
4 / 10
Charlize Theron in Monster - In order to prove she was more than just a pretty face, Charlize Theron had to, well, get rid of her pretty face for the role of serial murderer Aileen Wuomos in Monster. The make-under, complete with stringy hair and cellulite thighs, paid off: the South African beauty earned herself an Oscar for the performance. (Photos from left: Jason Merritt/Getty Images, Media 8 Entertainment)
5 / 10
Whoopi Goldberg in The Associate - To make it in the cutthroat world of Wall Street, Whoopi Goldberg had to think like a man...and look like a man. The comedienne donned the ultimate power suit to play white male financial guru Robert Cutty in this corporate comedy. (Photos from left: S.Bergman/JPegFoto, Polygram Filmed Entertainment)
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6 / 10
Martin Lawrence in Big Momma's House 2 - It took a styling team nearly as large as Kim Kardashian's to transform middle-aged comedian Martin Lawrence into 300 lb. brick house Big Momma in Big Momma's House 2. For the sequel, they went beyond stuffing styofoam padding under a mumuu and busted out the wigs, prostethics and top-shelf fat suits to show Big Momma in all her semi-naked glory. (Photos from left: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images, Twentieth Century Fox Pictures)
7 / 10
Wesley Snipes in Too Wong Foo - Before metrosexuality became mainstream and gender-bending turned into a must-do for actors, Wesley Snipes risked his action hero reputation to snap on a pair of panty hose and play drag queen Noxeema Jackson in this off-beat road trip movie. Credit goes to Snipes for turning the spectacle into one of his most memorable and heartfelt roles to date. (Photos from left: Ben Rose/PictureGroup, Universal Pictures)
8 / 10
Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder - RDJ took a big chance donning "blackface" to play the role of a white actor playing a Black character in this boundary-crossing comedy. Though the transformation made plenty of people cringe, Downey said he "dove in with both feet" and trusted that the audience would find his character "morally sound." (Photos from left: Jason Merritt/Getty Images, Dreamworks Pictures)
9 / 10
The Wayans Brothers in White Chicks - Before there was S--t White Girls Say, Shawn and Marlon Wayans perfected the art of impersonating the, um, fairer sex in this film about a pair of FBI agents who must go way undercover to protect a couple of heiresses. (Photos: Columbia Pictures)