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| Jennifer Aniston as Claire Simmons in 'Cake' |
It's always inspiring to witness a rare act of transformation, especially when it involves someone we've come to know and admire, in this case Jennifer Aniston. When she first appears onscrean in Daniel Barnz's new film, '
Cake', we are instantly aware that her character will be nothing like the irresistibly fetching Rachel Green she embodied for a decade on NBC's sitcom '
Friends'. Although the actress has taken on many winning movie roles since '
Friends' left the airwaves, stepping into the skin of her character Claire Simmons - a cynical, complicated forty-something woman who is addicted to prescription painkillers as a result of an auto accident that has left her emotionally and physically scarred - was no small feat for Miss Aniston. "To inhabit the role, I gained weight, quit exercising, wore no make-up and hid my famously luxuriant head of hair under a less than flattering short cut," said Jennifer of her role. The physical self-makeover alone is stunning, but even more impressive than her performance is the courage it took her to step up to such a challenging assignment - the leap earned her critical acclaim - a Golden Globe, Critic's Choice, and Screen Actors Guild award nominations for 'Best Lead Actress of the Year' - and a whole new fan base. Of course, Jennifer isn't the first actor to make such a dramatic leap away from the type cast role, but each time it happens it's exciting to see.
Check out more actors who've stepped into "
Transforming Roles" in their careers.
(1982) 'The World According to Garp' - ROBIN WILLIAMS
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| Left: Robin Williams as T.S. Garp and Right: John Lithgow as Roberta Muldoon in 'The World According to Garp' |
Two years before his hit sitcom,
'Mork & Mindy', went off the air, Robin Williams made his jump to the movie screen, playing the cartoony title role in Robert Altman's '
Popeye', but it was his memorable tun as a passionate writer T.S. Garp in
'The Word According to Garp' that showed the world Williams' real acting chops, setting the stage for what would become a remarkable big-screen career.
(1982) 'Frances' - JESSICA LANGE
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| Jessica Lange as Frances Farmer in 'Frances' |
Getting swung around by a giant monkey in (1976)
'King Kong' wasn't exactly the most auspicious film debut for actress Jessica Lange, but five years later, two back-to-back roles would give her the opportunity to show her powerful movie mettle: as they adulterous hash-slinger Cora (1981)
'The Postman Always Rings Twice' opposite actor Jack Nicholson, and as the blacklisted - and ultimately institutionalized - actress Frances Farmer in (1982) '
Frances'.
(1993) 'Philadelphia' - TOM HANKS
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| Tom Hanks as Andrew Beckett in 'Philadelphia' |
For the first lap of his movie career, Tom Hanks specialized in comedy and romance, but in 1993, his portrayal of an AIDS-stricken lawyer in Jonathan Demme's (1993) '
Philadelphia' earned him an Oscar, catapulting him to the upper echelon of movie actors.
(1985) 'The Color Purple' - WHOOPI GOLDBERG
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| Left: Danny Glover as Albert Johnson "Mister" and Right: Whoopi Goldberg as Celie Harris-Johnson in 'The Color Purple' |
Not every actress hits a home run right out of the box, but in 1985, Whoopi Goldberg did exactly that, leaping from stage comedian to Oscar-nominated screen actress with her searing portrayal of the impoverished and abused Celie Harris-Johnson in Steven Spielberg's '
The Color Purple'.
(1989) 'Driving Miss Daisy' - MORGAN FREEMAN
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| Left: Jessica Tandy as Daisy Werthan and Right: Morgan Freeman as Hoke Colburn in 'Driving Miss Daisy' |
For twenty-five years, Morgan Freeman could be depended on to deliver the goods, from his regular spot on television's (1971-1977) '
The Electric Company', to solid supporting roles in big-screen fare such as (1981) '
Eyewitness' and (1988) '
Clean and Sober', but his deft and dignified turn as put-upon chauffer Hoke Colburn in (1989) '
Driving Miss Daisy' - holding his own on camera opposite no less than living legend actress Jessica Tandy - instantly shot him to the top, where he remains today.
(1986) 'Nobody's Child' - MARLO THOMAS
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| Marlo Thomas as Marie Balter in 'Nobody's Child' |
Marlo won our hearts as Ann Marie on (1966-1971) sitcom '
That Girl', but it was her role as Marie Balter playing such a complex character in '
Nobody's Child' based on a true story, which would win her an Emmy for Best Dramatic Actress.
(2003) 'Monster' - CHARLIZE THERON
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| Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuomos in 'Monster' |
Her striking beauty initially kept the roles limited, either as someone's other half (1999)
'The Astronaut's Wife' opposite of actor Johnny Depp, or as the main squeeze in action films (2000) '
Reindeer Games' opposite actor Ben Affleck, but Charlize stepped out on her own with ferocity in 2003 as serial killer Aileen Wuomos in '
Monster' - a role that not only demonstrated her phenomenal breadth as an actress, but also required her to gain thirty-pounds, dye her hair, shave off her eyebrows, and wear prosthetic dentures. She was awarded an Oscar for her performance.
(1999) 'Boys Don't Cry' - HILARY SWANK
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| Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena in 'Boys Don't Cry' |
By the time Hilary Swank debuted on the big screen, she had perfected the skills that had made her a dynamic and stunning regular on (1985-1992) '
Growing Pains' as Sasha Serotsky and (1997-1998) '
0
Beverly Hills 90210' as Carly Reynolds, but her heroic and heartbreaking turn as twenty one-year old transgender man Brandon Teena born Teena Renae Brandon in (1999) '
Boy's Don't Cry' demonstrated a whole new dexterity that was instantly recognized by critic's and moviegoers across the country. She won an Oscar for her performance.
(1976) 'Sybil' - SALLY FIELD
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| Left: Sally Field as Sybil Dorsett and Right: Joanne Woodward as Dr. Cornelia Wilbur in 'Sybil' |
She came of age as an America television sweetheart, but two closely-spaced roles in film would firmly establish Sally Field as an actor to be reckoned with: as a young woman suffering from multiple-personality disorder in the 1976 television miniseries '
Sybil', and three years later on the big screen, as stormy union organizer in (1979) '
Norma Rae', which earned her an Oscar.
(2013) - 'Dallas Buyers Club' - MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY
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| Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof in 'Dallas Buyers Club' |
Until 2013, Matthew McConaughey was best known for an even-keeled career that had taken him from a dazed and confused Texas teen to the hunky leading man in legal-thrillers to his reign as the Prince of Rom-Com (romantic comedies), but two years ago McConaughey stunned critic's and moviegoers with his explosive turn as a wily and temperamental AIDS victim in '
Dallas Buyers Club'. The role earned him an Oscar along with a whole new following.
