Benjamin Walker played the famous U.S. president in the action-fantasy film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012). The movie takes huge creative liberties with history, turning Lincoln into a secret vampire slayer. Even setting the fantasy aside, Walker doesn’t closely resemble the real Abraham Lincoln. | © 20th Century Studios
Michelle Williams took on the challenge of portraying Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn (2011). Monroe’s look is one of the most recognizable in pop culture, which makes the role difficult for any actor. Even with a strong performance, it’s hard to fully see Williams as the real Marilyn Monroe. | © The Weinstein Company
Benedict Cumberbatch portrayed the brilliant cryptanalyst in The Imitation Game (2014). His performance captured Turing’s intelligence and social awkwardness during the effort to break the Enigma code. Physically, though, Cumberbatch doesn’t resemble the real Alan Turing. | © StudioCanal
Nicolas Cage played screenwriter Charlie Kaufman in Adaptation (2002), a film that blurs the line between fiction and reality. The story even has Cage portraying both Kaufman and his fictional twin brother. Still, Cage’s unmistakable face makes it hard to see anyone other than Nicolas Cage on screen. | © Columbia Pictures
Michael Shannon portrayed Elvis Presley in the comedy-drama Elvis & Nixon (2016). Considering how often Elvis has been impersonated, audiences are very familiar with his signature look and style. Shannon’s version leaned more toward an impersonation than a close physical match to the real singer. | © Bleecker Street
Hugh Jackman took on the role of circus pioneer P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman (2017). The musical focuses more on spectacle and personality than strict historical accuracy. Visually, though, Jackman looks very little like the real Barnum, making the difference hard to miss. | © 20th Century Studios
Denzel Washington portrayed the real-life drug kingpin in American Gangster (2007). His performance captured the calm, calculated nature of Frank Lucas as the story followed his rise in the criminal world. Appearance-wise, though, Washington looked quite different from the actual mobster. | © Universal Pictures
Angelina Jolie starred as Christine Collins in the historical drama Changeling (2008), playing a mother searching for her missing son. The role required emotional intensity, which Jolie delivered throughout the film. Even so, there is no close resemblance. | © Universal Pictures
Julia Roberts portrayed the real-life legal clerk in Erin Brockovich (2000). The resemblance between the actress and the actual whistleblower wasn’t especially close, something many viewers noticed. Still, Roberts’ performance was so strong that it earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. | © Universal Pictures
Cate Blanchett portrayed one version of Bob Dylan in the experimental biopic I’m Not There (2007). The film used several actors to represent different sides of the musician’s persona. Blanchett delivered a strong performance, but visually, it still takes a moment to accept her as the iconic singer-songwriter. | © Paramount Pictures
Mel Gibson played the legendary Scottish warrior in Braveheart (1995), a film that went on to win multiple Academy Awards. His performance helped turn the historical figure into a larger-than-life movie hero. When it comes to resemblance, though, Gibson didn’t look much like the real William Wallace historians describe. | © 20th Century Studios
Michael Fassbender took on the role of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in Steve Jobs (2015). His performance earned plenty of praise for capturing Jobs’ intensity and personality. Visually, though, Fassbender didn’t resemble the tech icon very closely, which many viewers noticed right away. | © Universal Pictures
Margot Robbie portrayed Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots (2018). The film did attempt to show the queen later in life, including the scars left by illness, but Robbie still looked very different from historical depictions. Even small details like eye color stood out, since the real Elizabeth was known for having dark eyes while Robbie’s remained unmistakably blue. | © Universal Studios
Milla Jovovich played the famous French heroine in The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999). Historians aren’t completely certain what Joan actually looked like, but many believe she likely had darker features and brunette hair. Jovovich’s appearance in the film didn’t really match those descriptions, which made the casting feel a bit off visually. | © Columbia Pictures
Robin Williams took on the role of the real-life doctor in Patch Adams (1998), bringing warmth and humor to the character. The performance captured the doctor’s playful spirit and unconventional approach to medicine. Physically, though, Williams looked quite different from the real Patch Adams, making the casting stand out right away. | © Universal Pictures
Biographical films often try to bring real people to life on screen, but casting doesn’t always match reality. Some actors deliver great performances even though they look very different from the people they portray. In these cases, the acting may be convincing, but the resemblance definitely isn’t.
