Performers have the uncanny ability to embody a character with nothing more than their acting talents. But sometimes, a role requires the skills of a makeup artist. Throughout film history, there have been many instances when an actor became unrecognizable for a project. In recent years, that has become easier, thanks to motion capture technology and visual effects. For example, Josh Brolin was wearing tennis balls and a bodysuit -- not purple paint -- while playing Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which made the character much less terrifying behind the scenes.

However, it's always more impressive when the work is a combination of an actor's abilities and the makeup team's prowess. Whether they turned into a creature of the night or a real-life serial killer, the actors on this list are just some of the stars who became unrecognizable for one of their roles.

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