You'd Still Hit It: 7 Hot Actresses Who Uglied It Up

May. 1 3:16 PM by Aaron_Koehn

While good looks can certainly get you into Hollywood, if you want to be taken more seriously as an artist and receive golden, man-shaped trophies, it's going to help if you are also willing to dial down your radiant beauty. In an effort to display their aptitude at their craft, many beautiful actresses ugly themselves up to play the roles of individuals who have been less fortunate in the looks department. Here are the seven best examples.

7- Cameron Diaz as Lotte Schwartz in "Being John Malkovich"

When you're in a forlorn marriage to a very unkempt John Cusak, you live in a dark basement apartment in Manhattan, and your growing need to reproduce has caused you to adopt a number of exotic pets, the chances that you'll be taking home any beauty pageant crowns is slim. And thus, Cameron Diaz's less than flattering appearance in "Being John Malkovich" is explained. Somehow, she still manages to bag both a male puppeteer and a female conniving office worker. But not Malkovich. Technically.

6- Gwyneth Paltrow as Rosemary Shanahan in "Shallow Hal"

Apparently you cannot make a comedy in the 21st century (at least not a successful one) without having an overweight character be the butt of several jokes. In the case of "Shallow Hal," said character was played by Gwyneth Paltrow, and said character was more morbidly obese than overweight. This film capitalized on the fat jokes by putting that "exhausted mother" Gwyneth Paltrow in a role generally reserved for Eddie Murphy and then had her win over our hearts with her selfless personality. Unfortunately, this movie also tried to instill a message about beauty being on the inside or something, which in the end really hurt the overall comedic tone.

5- Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf in "The Hours"

In "The Hours," Nicole Kidman took on the role of well-known and generally revered author, Virginia Woolf. Unlike most films which allow the actors to use their own mugs when portraying characters, whether historical or fictional, The Hours had Ms. Kidman don a large prosthetic nose, with the hope that the more detail paid to authenticity, the better able viewers would be to accept the film's content. Virginia Woolf's notorious depression would have been a tougher sell had she been named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People. However, I question if Ms. Woolf really had legs from here to next Sunday.

4- Uma Thurman as Dr. Pamela Isley in "Batman and Robin"

While most actresses choose to adorn unattractive makeup for deeper, more artistic roles, Uma Thurman bucked the trend by putting on ugly face for the universally panned "Batman and Robin." And while I'm sure she received a massive paycheck for playing the cursory part of the mousy Dr. Pamela Isley (who later became the foxy Poison Ivy,) she was also forever captured in cellulose battling two ice-skating crime fighters in tights. So it's kind of a win-lose situation. She also got to act alongside future California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. So I guess it's win-lose-lose.

3- Daryl Hannah as Annelle Dupuy Desoto in "Steel Magnolias"

There are three easy steps to making the attractive unattractive. First, remove any traces of make-up, and make their skin look peaked and pale, like blood hasn't pumped into their heads for years. Second, take their well-groomed hair and rat it. It should appear frizzy and stringy and capable of swallowing combs whole. Last, put thick-rimmed glasses on their once appealing faces. This makes them seem withdrawn and bookish, and no man likes a woman who reads. In "Steel Magnolias," Daryl Hannah's character initially embodies all of these traits. Fortunately, by the end of the film she receives a makeover. Meaning make-up is applied, her hair is done, her glasses are removed, all her problems disappear, and order is restored to the world.

2- Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo in "Frida"

One condition of feminine beauty is having a meager amount of body hair, especially when it comes to the face. So when Salma Hayek plays the role of a character that sports a thick unibrow, a majority of the people are probably going to see her as being less attractive. When portraying renowned artist Frida Kahlo, Salma Hayek pulled out all the stops, and beyond the copious amounts of makeup applied above her eyes, delivered probably her most dynamic and best performance to date. It is fortunate for Ms. Hayek--and the movie spectators--that a long strip of hair didn't also sit atop her lip.

1- Charlize Theron as Aileen in "Monster"

As an actress, if you are going to drastically alter your appearance for the worse, it had better be for an amazing role, and no better role comes to mind than that of deranged serial killer Aileen Wuornos. After watching "Monster," it's tough not to see all the similarities it shares with that charming and beloved call-girl drama, "Pretty Woman." Like that film, Charlize Theron plays a heavy-hearted prostitute who has fallen onto tough times, but sees possible hope in the arms of a new lover. However, it differs from that cherished film in that Ms. Theron's character is a lesbian, who often ends her tricks with the murder and theft of her customers. Oh, and eventually she's executed in the electric chair.

Comments

mel gibson in "the man without a face." usually, he's such a pretty lady.

If only they could do this in reverse.

That's what they normally look like without having their hair and makeup done for 3 hours. They had some pics on a website awhile back . Well maybe not that bad but still not near what you see in the movies or in magazines.