As a lifelong Star Wars fan, Simon Pegg was thrilled to play the junkyard dealer Unkar Plutt in The Force Awakens. He was buried under so much prosthetics and costume that he's completely unrecognizable. The experience was brutal, though, he said the suit was like a 122-degree oven, and he could literally pour sweat out of his rubber gauntlets. | © Walt Disney Studios
Pom Klementieff brought the empathetic Mantis to life in the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel. She wore a simple prosthetic piece on her forehead, but her iconic antennae and big black eyes were added later with CGI. The team experimented with wilder looks, including drawn-on veins, before settling on a more human-like design for the character. | © Walt Disney Studios
Director Taika Waititi didn't just helm Thor: Ragnarok; he also voiced the rock alien, Korg. He based Korg's surprisingly gentle voice on some "lovely" Polynesian bouncers he knew from New Zealand. Waititi performed on camera in a motion-capture suit, improvising many of the character's best lines before being transformed into the final seven-foot-tall Kronan. | © Walt Disney Studios
Dave Bautista's journey from the wrestling ring to playing Drax the Destroyer meant a grueling daily makeup process. He’d spend five hours having 18 prosthetic pieces applied and sealed to his body. To get it all off, he had to sit in a sauna for nearly an hour until the adhesive melted, before crews could finally remove it with chemicals. | © Walt Disney Studios
Josh Brolin was initially hesitant about playing the fully CGI villain Thanos, worried it might feel like doing "practically nothing" on a green screen. He changed his mind after seeing the serious acting work involved in motion capture performances. He had to perform with his face painted and cameras everywhere, which was nerve-wracking at first. | © Walt Disney Studios
Karen Gillan underwent a major transformation to play the blue, cybernetic Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy. Her costume was a full prosthetic suit glued to her skin, which she joked helped prevent her from overacting since she could barely move her face. After long days in the makeup chair, she’d watch behind-the-scenes footage of Zoe Saldana’s process to make hers feel "not so bad." | © Walt Disney Studios
Gemma Chan, known for Crazy Rich Asians, joined the Marvel universe as the Kree sniper Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. As a member of the elite Starforce, her character was considered the team's star before Carol Danvers showed up. Chan described Minn-Erva as feeling "slightly threatened" by someone new who was just as talented. | © Walt Disney Studios
Vincent D’Onofrio is known for his incredible character work, like his unforgettable role as Edgar the Bug in Men in Black. He starts as a simple farmer whose body is taken over by the sinister alien, creating one of the film's best villains. The performance was so good that it earned him a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. | © Sony Pictures Releasing
The comedy Paul gave us a hilarious alien, voiced by Seth Rogen. Due to his schedule, Rogen wasn't on set; instead, co-star Joe Lo Truglio stood in for him during filming. Rogen later performed all the motion capture and voice work, creating lines on the spot: Nick Frost even admitted he kept forgetting it was Rogen behind the character. | © Universal Pictures
Zoe Saldana is a sci-fi icon, though fans often don't see her actual face. She brought the Na'vi warrior Neytiri to life in Avatar and later became Gamora in the Marvel universe. Saldana has said she appreciates how these CGI roles allow her artistry to be "colorblind and gender-blind," moving beyond just being seen as eye-candy. | © Walt Disney Studios
Natasha Henstridge rocketed to fame with her debut role in the 1995 sci-fi thriller Species. She played Sil, a genetically engineered hybrid who escapes a lab and goes on a dangerous search for a mate. The film was a major box office hit, launching a franchise and cementing her place in the genre. | © MGM
Cate Blanchett completely owned the role of Hela, the Goddess of Death, in Thor: Ragnarok. Fans agreed she absolutely nailed the powerful and menacing performance. In her own words, she believes the real attraction comes from being comfortable in your own skin and trying to be your best self. | © Walt Disney Studios
Zachary Quinto is best known for taking on the iconic role of Spock in the modern Star Trek film series. He perfectly captured the character's logical demeanor and distinctive look across three major movies. As one of the franchise's central figures, his performance became a cornerstone of the new adventures. | © Paramount Pictures
Even fans of Lee Pace would struggle to spot him as Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy. His face was painted blue and black under heavy prosthetics, and a large hood covered most of his head. This isn't his first major transformation, either; he famously portrayed a transgender woman in the 2003 film Soldier's Girl. | © Walt Disney Studios
Mads Mikkelsen is no stranger to playing chilling antagonists, from Hannibal Lecter to a Bond villain. To transform into the zealot Kaecilius in Doctor Strange, his striking features were enhanced with dark, raccoon-like eye makeup and dyed hair. His naturally prominent bone structure did the rest, perfectly selling this otherworldly and menacing role. | © Walt Disney Studios
Hollywood's most beautiful stars often undergo incredible transformations to play aliens. These roles challenge our ideas of allure, hiding famous faces behind prosthetics, paint, and CGI. Here are the actors who brought otherworldly beauty to the screen.
