Hollywood’s Most Shocking Actor Makeovers

Sometimes, actors go to great lengths to truly become the characters they play in movies and TV shows. Stars like Zac Efron have had to gain muscle or even change their voices to fit their roles.

Actors are expected to be passionate about their work, but they also need to be willing to make big changes to bring their characters to life. This article looks at how actors like Colin Farrell, Demi Moore, and Nicolas Cage transformed themselves for their roles.

For the HBO Max show “The Penguin,” Colin Farrell plays the lead character, Oz, also known as The Penguin. The show’s executive producer, Matt Reeves, said Farrell loved the script for “The Batman” but wasn’t sure at first about playing The Penguin.

Reeves told makeup designer Mike Marino what he had in mind for The Penguin’s look. After reading the script, Marino came up with a clear idea of how the character should appear.

Reeves then asked Farrell if he had talked with Marino about the transformation.

Farrell said they had sent pictures back and forth, trying to decide on the final look. Reeves then asked if Farrell wanted to see what he would look like in full makeup. That’s when Farrell saw a 360-degree model of his character.

The actor remembered looking at it and seeing a deep story in the character’s face—pain, cruelty, sadness, and aggression. Marino’s goal was to bring those emotions to life through his design.

To do this, Marino gave The Penguin a large scar on his face and a long, beak-like nose. Farrell said he was amazed by Marino and his team’s work.

Each day, Farrell had to spend three hours in the makeup chair.

His transformation started with flattening his hair before putting on a bald cap that was sculpted and painted to look real.

The next step was attaching the neck and cheek prosthetics.

Farrell’s lower earlobes were hooked onto his cheeks, and his chin was reshaped.

Then, the team added a fake nose and upper lip, which changed the way his face looked.

Next, they applied his eyebrows, giving him a sharp, bird-like expression.

This helped create The Penguin’s signature angry look.

To complete the transformation, Marino’s team styled Farrell’s hair to be slicked back with a receding hairline and a side part.

To fully get into character, Farrell even changed the way he walked, giving The Penguin a limp that made him waddle like a real penguin.

Farrell’s incredible transformation made him almost unrecognizable. His performance was so impressive that he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series. On January 6, 2025, DC Studios posted a picture of Farrell as Oz, celebrating his win.

On January 5, 2025, he won Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series at the Golden Globe Awards.

When Farrell isn’t acting, he spends time caring for his son, who has cerebral palsy. The 48-year-old’s son, James, is 21 years old and has a rare genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome.

This condition makes James nonverbal, and he has a caregiver who helps him at home. Farrell shares James with his ex, model Kim Bordenave.

The actor once spoke about his hopes for his son, saying, “I want the world to be kind to James. I want people to treat him with kindness and respect.”

To support people like his son, Farrell started the Colin Farrell Foundation. This organization helps adults with intellectual disabilities by providing support, education, and programs to improve their lives.