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    1. Culture
    2. TV and Film

    The Best Biopic Transformations, Ever

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

    By Marie Claire
    Published 22 March 2016 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe
    Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)
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    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

    Best Biopics

    Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Rosemary Kennedy

    Rosemary Kennedy

    Rosemary Kennedy
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    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

    Emma Stone

    Emma Stone
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Frida Kahlo

    Frida Kahlo

    Frida Kahlo
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Maverick Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. 

    Salma Hayek

    Salma Hayek

    Salma Hayek
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Salma Hayek played Frida Kahlo in 2002?s Frida.

    Mark Zuckerberg

    Mark Zuckerberg

    Mark Zuckerberg
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

    Jesse Eisenberg

    Jesse Eisenberg

    Jesse Eisenberg
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Zuxkerberg was played by Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network.

    BIOTrumanCapote.jpg

    BIOTrumanCapote.jpg

    Truman Capote
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Philip Seymour Hoffman

    Philip Seymour Hoffman

    Philip Seymour Hoffman
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    The late Philip Seymour Hoffman portrayed the author in Capote.

    Johnny Cash

    Johnny Cash

    Johnny Cash
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Joaquin Phoenix

    Joaquin Phoenix

    Joaquin Phoenix
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Edith Piaf

    Edith Piaf

    Edith Piaf
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    French cabaret singer, songwriter and actress Edith Piaf.

    Marion Coitillard

    Marion Coitillard

    Marion Cotillard
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Marion Coitillard played Edith in La Vie en Rose.

    King George VI

    King George VI

    King George VI
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    BIOColinFirth.jpg

    BIOColinFirth.jpg

    Colin Firth
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Steve Jobs

    Steve Jobs

    Steve Jobs
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Michael Fassbender

    Michael Fassbender

    Michael Fassbender
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Alan Turing

    Alan Turing

    AlanTuring
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    Benedict Cumberbatch
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Joy Mangano

    Joy Mangano

    Joy Mangano
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Entrepreneur and inventor of the Miracle Mop, Joy Mangano.

    Jennifer Lawrence

    Jennifer Lawrence

    Jennifer Lawrence
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Princess Diana

    Princess Diana

    Princess Diana
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Naomi Watts

    Naomi Watts

    Naomi Watts
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    James Dean

    James Dean

    James Dean
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    American actor and enduring cultural icon, James Dean.

    Dane DeHaan

    Dane DeHaan

    Dane DeHaan
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Kris Jenner

    Kris Jenner

    Kris Jenner
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Kardashian family matriarch, Kris Jenner.

    Selma Blair

    Selma Blair

    Selma Blair
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Grace Kelly

    Grace Kelly

    Grace Kelly
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Nicole Kidman

    Nicole Kidman

    Nicole Kidman
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Grace of Monaco starred Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly.

    Marilyn Monroe

    Marilyn Monroe

    Marilyn Monroe
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Marilyn Monroe: the legendary actress and model.

    Michelle Williams

    Michelle Williams

    Michelle Williams
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Mariane Pearl

    Mariane Pearl

    Mariane Pearl
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Angelina Jolie

    Angelina Jolie

    Angelina Jolie
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Sylvia Plath

    Sylvia Plath

    Sylvia Plath
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Gwyneth Paltrow

    Gwyneth Paltrow

    Gwyneth Paltrow
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Virginia Woolf

    Virginia Woolf

    Virginia Woolf
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Nicole Kidman

    Nicole Kidman

    Nicole Kidman
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Edie Sedgwick

    Edie Sedgwick

    Edie Sedgwick
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Sienna Miller

    Sienna Miller

    Sienna Miller
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Etta James

    Etta James

    Etta James
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Beyonce

    Beyonce

    Beyonce
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Margaret Thatcher

    Margaret Thatcher

    Margaret Thatcher
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Meryl Streep

    Meryl Streep

    Meryl Streep
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Queen Elizabeth II

    Queen Elizabeth II

    Queen Elizabeth II
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Queen Elizabeth II is the UK's reigning monarch.

    Helen Mirren

    Helen Mirren

    Helen Mirren
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

    Helen Mirren played HRH in 2006?s The Queen.

    Joan Jett

    Joan Jett

    Joan Jett
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

    Kristen Stewart

    Kristen Stewart

    Kristen Stewart
    (Image credit: REX FEATURES)

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

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