Bridging the gap between fiction and reality, “Downton Abbey” stars often prove their transformative prowess. It’s not just the humble servants – Lady Edith herself takes the cake. Witnessing Laura Carmichael’s enchanting makeover from the old-fashioned allure of the show to the red carpet glamour is truly remarkable.
Who knew a mere hairstyle could wield such power? While the estate’s residents might sport a vintage charm, Laura Carmichael unleashes a contemporary dazzle that’s a far cry from her on-screen persona. It’s as if time travel has gifted her a modern-day elegance, leaving us in awe of the chameleon-like magic actors possess beyond the boundaries of period drama.
Janine Ofwarren (Madeline Brewer)
"The Handmaid's Tale" is not an easy show to watch and the trials the characters go through are extremely troubling. The women who wear the red robes and white hoods are stripped of everything and are barely recognizable. That goes for Madeline Brewer, especially, who plays Janine Ofwarren.
Throughout the show, the actress is missing an eye and is deeply disturbed by the events of the story (no spoilers!). The actress of course (thankfully) very much has both eyes and looks like a completely different person when she's not playing Ofwarren. She also had a minor role in "Orange is the New Black."
Shannon Purser (Barb Holland)
We saw Barb for a hot second. The loveable nerdy redhead sadly got swallowed by the Upside Down far too soon. When fans found out who she was, they were all shocked to see that she barely resembles her character on TV.
OK, obviously her character is from the 80s, but still, actress Shannon Purser looks rather different from Barb and is nowhere near as frumpy. And of course, the corpse of Barb made a haunting return later on in the series. She still looks just as sweet though! And we can't wait to see what she ends up doing next in the world of TV and beyond.
Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman)
In reality, actress Olivia Coleman sports a very fun blonde pixie do. Not at all like the serious Ellie Miller, the detective sergeant from the hit British show "Broadchurch," in which she stars alongside David Tennant.
The actress keeps blowing us away. Whether it be as a wicked stepmom in "Fleabag," the frail Queen Anne in "The Favorite," or once again, another queen (Queen Elizabeth) in "The Crown." In more recent times, Colman has even joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having an enigmatic role in the series "Secret Invasion." Ironically she plays someone hunting down Skrulls - a shapeshifting alien race.
Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby)
If you're a British actor, you inevitably end up playing a royal family member at some point in your career. That generally comes with a huge makeup and wardrobe team. For actress Vanessa Kirby, her time for that was during the first season of Netflix's "The Crown." After a six-month search, Kirby was chosen for the role, and she shows us why.
The actress completely immersed herself in the part, sharing an uncanny likeness to the young Princess Margaret (the Queen's wild sister) in both looks and signature mischievous demeanor. Of course, out of costume, she's the gorgeous Vanessa Kirby.