The Best Biopic Transformations, Ever

Celebrities playing other well-known people: we give you the best biopic makeovers in the history of film.

Human beings are endlessly fascinating, and biopics are a great way of letting us appreciate this, with popcorn.

Biographical films that tell the real life stories of cultural leaders, musicians, artists, actors and other movers and tastemakers are, as a rule, totally gripping.

It s a straightforward formula for utterly compelling watching: real stories that happened to real people, reenacted by our favourite celebrities.

Cue 90 minutes of flawless impersonating.

OK, sometimes it s not flawless.

But when they re good they re really good. Sometimes the actors tasked with taking on the identity of other well-known people achieve an uncanny likeness. And the resulting films are a remarkable tribute to the person who inspired them see Eddie Redmayne s Oscar-winning turn as Stephen Hawking.

In recent years there s seems to have been a flood of brilliant biopics and everyone who s anyone in Hollywood is taking on the challenge. Both Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender were recognised at this year s Academy Awards for the roles they took on in the retelling of real-life stories.

And recently, the star-studded cast of The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story (Selma Blair, David Schwimmer, John Travolta and Cuba Gooding Jnr.) have been making waves for their portrayls of the key players in that notorious murder investigation.

And now Emma Stone is set to star in Letters from Rosemary, which will tell the story of Rose Marie Rosemary Kennedy, the eldest sister of President John F. Kennedy.

Rosemary was kept secret from a young age, hidden away from the world, as she exhibited behavioral issues and intellectual disabilities. At 23 she was forced to undergo a pre-fontal lobotomy, intended to improve her developmental disabilities.

However, the procedure went badly wrong and left her with the mental capacities of a toddler, unable to live independently.

Best Biopics

Read on for more info and to see the best biopic makeovers the entertainment industry has to offer...

Rosemary Kennedy

Rosemary Kennedy, eldest sister of President John F. Kennedy was kept secret by her family because she suffered from developmental disabilities - but her story, from her perspective is finally set to be told.

Emma Stone

Rosemary Kennedy will be played by Emma Stone in Letters from Rosemary.

Frida Kahlo

Maverick Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. 

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek played Frida Kahlo in 2002?s Frida.

Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Jesse Eisenberg

Zuxkerberg was played by Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network.

BIOTrumanCapote.jpg

American writer Truman Capote, known for Breakfast at Tiffany?s and In Cold Blood. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman portrayed the author in Capote.

Johnny Cash

The influential country star Johnny Cash remains one of the best selling musicians of all time.

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix took on the role of Johnny in Walk The Line, alongside Reese Witherspoon as June Carter.

Edith Piaf

French cabaret singer, songwriter and actress Edith Piaf.

Marion Coitillard

Marion Coitillard played Edith in La Vie en Rose.

King George VI

George VI served as king of the UK during World War II.

BIOColinFirth.jpg

Colin Firth played the King as he prepared to address the nation for the first time in The King?s Speech

Steve Jobs

The man who helmed the Apple empire until his death in 2011, Steve Jobs.

Michael Fassbender

In the film, Steve Jobs, Michael Fassbender portrayed the digital pioneer. 

Alan Turing

This man cracked the enigma code, his name is Alan Turing.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch played Turing in the big screen adaptation of the maths genius? story, The Imitation Game.

Joy Mangano

Entrepreneur and inventor of the Miracle Mop, Joy Mangano.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence was Oscar nominated for her role as the gamechanging inventor in Joy.

Princess Diana

The ?People?s Princess?, Diana of Wales.

Naomi Watts

In the 2013 film, Diana, Naomi Watts played the late princess.

James Dean

American actor and enduring cultural icon, James Dean.

Dane DeHaan

Dane DeHaan took on the role of Dean in Life, co-starring with Robert Pattinson.

Kris Jenner

Kardashian family matriarch, Kris Jenner.

Selma Blair

Selma Blair does her best Kris in The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.

Grace Kelly

The American actress Grace Kelly became Princess of Monaco in 1956 whe she married Prince Rainier III.

Nicole Kidman

Grace of Monaco starred Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe: the legendary actress and model.

Michelle Williams

In My Week With Marilyn, Michelle Williams played the brilliant but troubled star.

Mariane Pearl

Journalist Mariane Pearl launched a desperate effort to find her husband after he was kidnapped by terrorists.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie starred as Mariane in 2007?s A Mighty Heart.

Sylvia Plath

American poet and writer Sylvia Plath, known for her fiercely autobiographical work.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwenyth Paltrow played Plath in Sylvia, alongside Daniel Craig as Plath?s fellow poet husband, Ted Hughes.

Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf, one of the greatest British writers, is know for her novels Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse.

Nicole Kidman

In The Hours, Nicole Kidman portrays the celebrated and tragic author.

Edie Sedgwick

60s icon and one of Andy Warhol?s superstars, Edie Sedgwick.

Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller took on the role of Sedgwick in Factory Girl.

Etta James

Etta James, one of the most influential female singers to date.

Beyonce

In Cadillac Records, Etta was portrayed by a fellow Grammy-winning star, Beyonce.

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep gave a critically acclaimed performance as Thatcher in The Iron Lady. 

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is the UK's reigning monarch.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren played HRH in 2006?s The Queen.

Joan Jett

Pioneering female American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, Joan Jett.

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart transformed herself in to Jett for the 1970s-set film, The Runaways.