#20. America Ferrera
America Ferrera had a major makeover when starring in Ugly Betty.
As the title of the show hints, she had to de-beautify herself for the typical geeky look.
#19. Rooney Mara
Rooney Mara kissed her eyebrows goodbye and welcomed a dark, Gothic look for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
It was this memorable look and her amazing performance that skyrocketed Mara to fame. But this is nothing compared to the next one in our list…
#18. Uzo Aduba
Uzo Aduba left her girly style and long hair when she played Crazy Eyes in Orange Is the New Black.
Fans of the show have a hard time separating her from her iconic character, not only because of her performance, but because she looks so different!
#17. Taryn Manning
Aduba wasn’t the only lady on Orange Is the New Black who went through a major makeover. Just take a look at Taryn Manning.
Manning is unrecognizable when she’s playing Pensatucky, especially because of her teeth.
#16. Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik has a nerdy look when playing the beloved Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory.
In real life, Bialik goes for a chic, stylish look and doesn’t wear glasses. And she’s not the
only comedy actress on our list…
#15. Eden Sher
Eden Sher looks nothing like her character Sue from The Middle.
The biggest difference, aside from the obvious fake braces, is that Eden has natural blond hair.
#14. Madeline Brewer
Madeline Brewer took on many roles that required a makeover. The biggest change came with her role on The Handmaid’s Tale, where she’s missing an eye.
Not only that, but she was also on —yup, you guessed it— Orange Is the New Black, sporting blond cornrows.
#13. Maisie Williams
Maisie Williams looks nothing like her character Arya on Game of Thrones.
Unlike Arya, Maisie goes for longer hair, and wears dresses mostly. And she’s not the only Game of Thrones actress on our list.
#12. Hannah Murray
Hannah Murray has dark hair when she’s playing Gilly on Game of Thrones.
In real life, however, Murray has long, blond hair, and, obviously…she doesn’t dress like a peasant.
#11. Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie not only had to change her appearance but also her voice and mannerisms when playing real-life figure skater Tonya Harding.
When she was cast, the public was very skeptical, as she had to go through a major change, but she proved everyone wrong in the end.
#10. Jaime Pressly
Since we mentioned Margot Robbie, let’s talk about her lookalike, Jamie Pressly.
Pressly got extensions and a complete wardrobe makeover to play Joy on My Name Is Earl, along with an extra-thick southern accent.
#9. Ariel Winter
Modern Family‘s Alex is a nerdy, not-so-fashionable girl. But in real life, Ariel Winter looks completely different.
Off-camera, Ariel goes for tight dresses and high heels. Gorgeous!
#8. Lena Headey
It’s hard to recognize Lena Headey when she’s not playing Cersei on Game of Thrones.
In real life, Lena sports short, wavy black hair and dark clothes. Both looks suit her well anyway! But the next one on our list is even more shocking.
#7. Millie Bobby Brown
It’s not easy for a girl to give up her locks for a role, but 12-year-old Millie Bobby Brown said goodbye to her long her to play Eleven in Stranger Things.
After filming, Millie let her hair grow back again, although she looks good with a shaved head too.
#6. Shannon Purser
Shannon Purser, who also appears on Stranger Things looks very different off-camera.
When playing Barb, she cut her hair short and wore glasses. However, in real life, she usually goes for a more chic look and long locks.
#5. Kate McKinnon
Kate McKinnon is not afraid to change her looks drastically, all for the sake of comedy.
The glamorous star looks completely different from her characters on Saturday Night Live, right?
#4. Demi Moore
Another celeb who let her long hair go for a role was none other than Demi Moore.
She shaved her head for her role on G.I. Jane, which was truly iconic. But our top 3 choices are the most shocking on our list.
#3. Tatiana Maslany
Where to begin? Tatiana plays over 12 different characters on Orphan Black, and has adopted so many looks we can’t keep up.
Her different looks and her amazing performance makes viewers forget they’re all being played by the same actress.
#2. Charlize Theron
One of the most drastic transformations in Hollywood took place when Charlize Theron starred in Monster.
It’s impossible to realize it’s actually Charlize who’s starring in the movie, and it was this wonderful performance that got her the Oscar for Best Actress.
#1. Naomi Grossman
Naomi Grossman takes the cake when we’re talking about shocking transformations.
When playing Peeper in American Horror Story: Asylum, Grossman had to go through extensive hours of makeup, and her look actually didn’t involve any CGI. Impressive!