Actors Who Portrayed Real People in Movies and TV Shows: Pics
Art imitating life. Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Sarah Paulson and more stars made their marks playing real people in movies and TV shows. Scroll to revisit some of the most iconic portrayals.
The Color Purple star portrayed the abolitionist and activist in the acclaimed 2019 biographical film.
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The Forrest Gump star stepped into Mr. Rogers’ shoes — and iconic red cardigan! — for the lead role in the 2019 drama, which was based on the 1998 Esquire article “Can You Say … Hero?”
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The Silence of the Lambs star played the retired Catholic prelate in the 2019 Netflix flick opposite Jonathan Pryce (Pope Francis).
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In Quentin Tarantino's 2019 comedy-drama, the Wolf of Wall Street actress starred as the 1960s movie star and model.
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The Oscar winner flawlessly portrays the anchor in 2019's Bombshell, a film about the takedown of Fox CEO Roger Ailes.
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In the same film, Theron "becomes the story" as Kelly when she decides to speak up against Ailes.
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The Carrie Diaries alum landed the role in the Baz Luhrmann film, which will follow the late Presley’s journey from poor singer to icon, through the view of his manager Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks). Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort and Harry Styles were also in the running for the title role.
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The Kingsman star not only portrayed the music icon in the 2019 biographical film, he also sang live for the musical numbers (unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, in which Rami Malek lip-synched as Freddie Mercury). “Our movie is a musical,” Egerton noted to Variety. “It requires an actor who can sing in the lead role. For a biopic, that’s not necessary.”
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The Chicago star completely transformed into icon Judy Garland for Judy, the film that follows the actress’ life and what happened 30 years after The Wizard of Oz.
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The Academy Award winner underwent an unnerving transformation for The Loudest Voice, the Showtime miniseries about the rise and fall of late Fox News boss Roger Ailes.
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Britton wowed audiences when she took on the leading role in Bravo’s adaptation of the popular L.A. Times podcast “Dirty John.” Newell told Us Weekly in November 2018 that the Friday Night Lights alum’s interpretation “was pretty spot-on. The way she spoke, her hand gestures and the way she dressed.”
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The Glee alum took home an Emmy for his scary turn as the man who killed Gianni Versace. “The whole thing is a shocking experience!” he told Us of his win in September 2018.
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Bale was unrecognizable after adding 40 pounds to his frame for his role as George W. Bush’s vice president. “I had more fun gaining the weight than losing it!” he told reporters in December 2018.
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The Mr. Robot star earned rave reviews (and an Oscar!) playing Queen’s lead singer in the 2018 film.
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The Titanic star's first best actor Oscar nomination stemmed from his role as eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes in the 2005 movie. However, he would not get his hands on the trophy until 2016 for The Revenant.
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The Dawson’s Creek alum garnered a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical and an Academy Award nomination for her work in the 2011 flick, in which the actress spent a week traveling around London with Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne).
Courtesy of Laurence Cendrowicz/ The Weinstein Company; Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Banderas took the reins from Geoffrey Rush — who played Albert Einstein during season 1 — in season 2 of the National Geographic series.
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Season 1 of Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series was filled with standout performances from Sterling K. Brown, Courtney B. Vance, John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr. and David Schwimmer. Paulson racked up the most awards, including a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a Screen Actor’s Guild Award, for her 2016 role as lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. “To have someone as phenomenal as Sarah play me and then win?” Clark told Us of the actress’ Emmy Award in September 2016. “It feels pretty great.”
Courtesy of Ray Mickshaw/FX; Lee Celano/WireImage
The actress won a Golden Globe, an Emmy and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for her work as the longest-reigning British monarch, which spanned two seasons of the Netflix show.
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Foxx earned the best actor Oscar in 2004 after portraying the blind musician in the biopic.
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The Wolf of Wall Street actress revisited Harding’s 1994 attack on figure skating rival Nancy Kerrigan. Robbie received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination following the 2017 movie.
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Oldman disappeared beneath a mountain of prosthetics that made him more Churchill-esque. The actor took home the trifecta of statues for the 2017 film: a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Academy Award.
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Though Streep has been nominated for an Oscar 21 times, she took home only her third trophy in 2012 for portraying the late British prime minister.
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Day-Lewis won over critics in his part as the 16th president in the 2012 film. The actor won his third Academy Award before announcing his retirement in June 2017.
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The Scandal alum starred as Hill to Wendell Pierce’s Clarence Thomas in the 2016 HBO movie based on the Supreme Court justice’s confirmation hearings.
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A brunette Witherspoon won her first Oscar playing Johnny Cash’s wife and frequent collaborator in the 2005 film.
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The Australia native took on the role of the late princess for the 2013 biopic, which depicted Diana’s final two years before her death. However, the movie was not well received.
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Portman was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and more accolades after she played the titular character in the 2016 flick.
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Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe all received recognition for their roles as African American women who overcame the odds to become integral to NASA’s operations.
Photo Editor: Nicole Mazza
Courtesy of Hopper Stone/Twentieth Century Fox; Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
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