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When selecting the cast for a biopic, or biographical movie, the director must walk a fine line between selecting someone for their physical similarity vs. selecting them for having the thespian talent required to play the part. Here's a list of actors who definitely succeeded on the physical similarity side of things.

It's not just the actor who does all the work – casting experts and makeup artists also play a huge role in making these famous figures come to life on the big screen.

Many consider biopics to be some of the most difficult and rewarding roles in Hollywood. Most historical figures have a wealth of information available about them, and it is the actor's job to understand and embody all of this available information, all while portraying a historical figure that many people may have strong feelings about.

(h/t: twistedsifter)

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    Daniel Day‑Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln

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    #3

    Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in The Doors

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    #4

    Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin

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    dayum son
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A good match. Mediocre looks, but RDJ mirrored Chaplin well. Not spectacular, but not dull either. A balanced portrayal.

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    #5

    Ben Kingsley as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in Gandhi

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    #6

    Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler in Downfall

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    Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs In Jobs

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    #9

    Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandella in Invictus

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    #11

    Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla in Selena

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    AngelHu
    Community Member
    10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think she played it very well. I'm not a fan of JLo, but I loved her in this.

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    #12

    Adrien Brody As Salvador Dali In Midnight In Paris

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    #13

    Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady

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    #14

    Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb as Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen in Sid and Nancy

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    AnnaConstantinova
    Community Member
    10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gary Oldman - Yes! But Chloe Webb definitely older and not that type of... of everything. I mean tottaly unsimilar.

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    #15

    Hellen Mirren as HM Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen

    Hellen Mirren as HM Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen

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    StephenESims
    Community Member
    10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know my eyesight isnt as good as it used to be, but im sure Hellen Merron looks nothing like the Queen,, To Slim and To Young.

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    #16

    Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock in Hitchcock

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    #17

    Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo in Frida

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    #18

    Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk

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    #19

    Eddie Redmayne And Felicity Jones as Jane And Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything

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    #21

    Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan in I’m Not There

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    #22

    James Franco As James Dean In James Dean

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    #23

    Geoffrey Rush as Peter Sellers in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

    Geoffrey Rush as Peter Sellers in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

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    Ian Pennick
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No one could play Sellers apart from Geoffrey I hope one day he'll be cast as Ian Fleming

    #24

    Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart in Amelia

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    #25

    Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel in Coco Before Chanel

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    #26

    Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote in Capote

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    #27

    Sam Riley As Ian Curtis In Control

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    #28

    Edie Sedgwick & Andy Warhol (sienna Miller / Guy Pearce)

    Edie Sedgwick & Andy Warhol (sienna Miller / Guy Pearce)

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    #29

    Benicio Del Toro As Ernesto "che" Guevara

    Benicio Del Toro As Ernesto "che" Guevara

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    Elizabeth Strydom
    Community Member
    10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He definitely has strong similar features. And wins because he is Benicio del Toro.

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    #30

    Hannah Taylor-gordon As Anne Frank In Anne Frank: The Whole Story

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    #31

    Michael Douglas as Liberace In Behind The Candelabra

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    #32

    Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn

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    #34

    John Hurt As Joseph Merrick In The Elephant Man

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    GrazielaLeon
    Community Member
    10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I believe this is more a merit of the makeup staff than of the casting.

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    #35

    Glenn Miller And James Steward In The Glenn Miller Story

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    #36

    Reese Witherspoon and Joacquin Phoenix as June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash

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    Sherilyn Fenn As Elizabeth Taylor In Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story

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    #43

    Colin Firth as King George VI in The King's Speech

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    #44

    Nicole Kidman As Virginia Woolf

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    Callie Callie J.
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A prosthetic nose doesn't make them magically look alike. Great actress, but no.

    #45

    Benedict Cumberbatch As Stephen Hawking In "hawking"

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    #46

    James Franco As Allen Ginsberg In Howl

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    #47

    Peter O'toole As Lawrence Of Arabia

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    #48

    John Goodman As Babe Ruth

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    #49

    Ian Curtis As Sam Riley (joy Divivsion) In Control

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    #50

    Óscar Janeada As Cantinflas In Cantinflas.

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    #51

    Bill Hader As Andy Warhol

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    #54

    #21 Jessica Schwarz As Romy Schneider In Romy

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    #55

    Clive Owen As Andrew Hannon In Croupier

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    #56

    Steve Carell As John Du Pony

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    #57

    Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network

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    JamesKinahan
    Community Member
    10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Daniel Bruhl as Niki Lauda in Rush, Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt, same film.

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