Actors Who Portrayed Real People in Movies and TV Shows: See the Photos!
Art imitating life. Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Sarah Paulson and more stars made their marks playing real people in movies and TV shows.
Many won awards for their onscreen depictions of both beloved and controversial figures throughout history.
The American Horror Story actress earned an Emmy for her portrayal of famous prosecutor Marcia Clark in September 2016. Paulson won Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie for her role on The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
The actress dedicated the win to the “whip-smart, giant-hearted” attorney. Clark later exclusively told Us Weekly how it felt to see Paulson take home the trophy.
“To have someone as phenomenal as Sarah play me and then win?” she said. “It feels pretty great.”
Three years later, Rami Malek won his first Academy Award for playing late musician Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody.
“Thank you, Queen. Thank you … for allowing me to be the tiniest part of your phenomenal, extraordinary legacy. I am forever in your debt,” he said during his 2019 Oscars speech after winning Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Margot Robbie has a history of taking on real-life characters, having portrayed figure skater Tonya Harding in 2017’s I, Tonya and Queen Elizabeth I in 2018’s Mary Queen of Scots. The following year, Robbie played the late Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson transformed into music legend Aretha Franklin in Respect, which hits theaters in August 2021. Ahead of her death in August 2018, Franklin handpicked Hudson to fill her shoes in the film.
“I am just taking it one step at a time, one day at a time,” the Dreamgirls actress told Sunday Today in December 2019 of the big role. “All I want to do is pay tribute to her and meet her requests, you know? Like, ‘Aretha said do this?’ — ‘Yes, ma’am.’”
Scroll to revisit some of the most iconic onscreen portrayals of real people over the years — including Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers and Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles.
The Oscar nominee will play the legendary composer in Netflix's Maestro, which Cooper also co-wrote and directed. He underwent a massive transformation involving many prosthetics in order to portray Bernstein in his later years. Netflix; AP/Shutterstock
Hathaway and Leto played the founders of WeWork in the Apple TV+ miniseries, which began airing in March 2022. Shutterstock (2)
The miniseries followed Seyfried as Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. The hit Hulu show explored the rise and fall of the entrepreneur who was convicted of criminal fraud for her involvement in the now-defunct health tech company. Beth Dubber/Hulu; Greg Allen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Fanning portrayed the Massachusetts native in the Hulu series that focused on Conrad Roy's death. In 2015, an investigation was started into Michelle's involvement with Conrad's suicide. She was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2017. Steve Dietl/Hulu; Faith Ninivaggi/Shutterstock
Butler was tapped to take on the role of the late Elvis Presley alongside Tom Hanks in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which hits theaters in June 2022. “I feel such a responsibility to Elvis and to [ex-wife] Priscilla and [his daughter] Lisa Marie, and all the people around the world who love him so much,” the actor told The Hollywood Reporter, noting he watched “as much” footage of Presley as he could “over and over” to prepare. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube; Hpm/AP/Shutterstock
Garner is set to play Anna Sorkin/Anna Delvey in Netflix’s 2022 true-crime drama, Inventing Anna. The series, which comes from Shonda Rhimes, will dive into the true story of Sorkin, a woman who pretended to be a German heiress named Anna Delvey and allegedly conned friends and high rollers in New York City out of thousands of dollars while pushing her idea of opening a lavish art club in elite cities across the country. The show will investigate what happened both before and after her plan fell apart and landed her in jail. Shutterstock; Netflix
Kidman is set to play the iconic I Love Lucy star in the December 2021 Amazon Prime movie. Javier Bardem plays her husband, Desi Arnaz. YouTube (2)
After playing Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, the X-Files alum returned stateside to play Eleanor Roosevelt in the Showtime anthology series The First Lady. The show also features Viola Davis as Michelle Obama and Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford. Courtesy of Gillian Anderson/Twitter; Everett/Shutterstock
Stan and James transformed into Lee and Anderson for the Hulu limited series, which focuses on the former couple’s infamous 1995 sex tape. Hulu; Shutterstock
The pop star joined the cast of the biographical crime film in November 2019 after Angelina Jolie, Penélope Cruz and Margot Robbie were in talks to play Reggiani, the Italian socialite who hired a hitman to assassinate her ex-husband, fashion mogul Maurizio Gucci, in March 1995. After filming began in February 2021, Reggiani said she was “rather annoyed” that Gaga was playing her “without having had the consideration and sensibility to come and meet” her first. Ipa/Shutterstock; Simona Chioccia/IPA/INSTARimages.com
In October 2019, the Emmy winner was nabbed for the role of fake heiress Anna Delvey (born Anna Sorokin) in the Shonda Rhimes adaptation of New York Magazine's 2018 article "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People." Filming began one year later — and Garner expertly tapped into her character’s chaotic energy. Richard Drew/AP/Shutterstock; SteveSands/NewYorkNewswire/MEGA
The Florida native teamed up with director Ryan Murphy once again for a dramatic retelling of the impeachment of former president Bill Clinton. "Linda. American Crime Story: Impeachment has begun principal photography," Paulson wrote via Instagram in November 2020, channeling the civil servant in glasses and thick bangs. Roberto Borea/AP/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Sarah Paulson/Instagram
The Game of Thrones alum will step into the shoes of Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Duchess Kate’s daughter, in the upcoming animated parody The Prince, coming to HBO Max in 2021. HBO Max; Annie Lesser/imageSPACE/Shutterstock (inset)
The Walking Dead alum portrays the late “Dreaming of You” singer in a Netflix show premiering in November 2020 titled Selena: The Series. Netflix/YouTube; Davila/Mediapunch/Shutterstock
The Dreamgirls star portrays the iconic singer in the upcoming biopic, Respect, which follows Franklin’s rise from church singer to superstar. The film is set to hit theaters December 2020. YouTube; Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
The Neighbors star portrayed the acclaimed activist in the Hulu mini-series, which chronicled the political movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Sabrina Lantos/FX; Everett/Shutterstock
The Color Purple star portrayed the abolitionist and activist in the acclaimed 2019 biographical film. Glen Wilson/Focus Features; Courtesy Everett Collection/Shutterstock
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?” Lacey Terrell; Wqed/Kobal/Shutterstock
The Silence of the Lambs star played the retired Catholic prelate in the 2019 Netflix flick opposite Jonathan Pryce (Pope Francis). Peter Mountain; Grzegorz Galazka/Sipa/Shutterstock
In Quentin Tarantino's 2019 comedy-drama, the Wolf of Wall Street actress starred as the 1960s movie star and model. Andrew Cooper; Pierluigi/Shutterstock
The Oscar winner flawlessly portrays the anchor in 2019's Bombshell, a film about the takedown of Fox CEO Roger Ailes. Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP; Stephen Lovekin/Variety/Shutterstock
In the same film, Theron "becomes the story" as Kelly when she decides to speak up against Ailes. Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP; Photo Credit:
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. Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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.” David Appleby/Paramount Pictures; Michael Putland/Getty Images
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. David Hindley Courtesy of LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions; Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
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. Courtesy of Jojo Whilden/SHOWTIME; Wesley Mann/FOX News via Getty Images
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.” Adam Rose/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Rich Fury/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of Ray Mickshaw/FX; Inset: H/O/AFP/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of Matt Kennedy / Annapurna Pictures; Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic
The Mr. Robot star earned rave reviews (and an Oscar!) playing Queen’s lead singer in the 2018 film. Courtesy of Alex Bailey/Twentieth Century Fox; Peter Still/Redferns/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of Andrew Cooper/Miramax Films; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of National Geographic/Dusan Martincek; Getty Images
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. Courtesy of Alex Bailey/Netflix; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Foxx earned the best actor Oscar in 2004 after portraying the blind musician in the biopic. Courtesy of Nicola Goode/Universal Pictures; James Kriegsmann/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of 30West; Focus on Sport/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of Jack English / Focus Features; H F Davis/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of Pathe Productions Ltd: The Weinstein Company; Tim Graham/Getty Images
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. Courtesy of David James/Dreamworks Pictures; Alexander Gardner/U.S. Library of Congress via Getty Images
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. Courtesy of HBO; Getty Images
A brunette Witherspoon won her first Oscar playing Johnny Cash’s wife and frequent collaborator in the 2005 film. Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox; ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
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. Tim Graham/Getty Images; Neil Mockford/FilmMagic
Portman was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and more accolades after she played the titular character in the 2016 flick. Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures; CBS/Getty Images
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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