Copy and original: movie images of historical figures and their real prototypes

In this issue you will find portraits of real personalities and actors who played them in films, TV series and performances. Some of these talented actors look like real prototypes like two drops of water, and all this is thanks to the work of makeup artists, careful casting, and of course, brilliant acting.

Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, the movie "Ray"

In order for Ray Charles to read the script and take part in the process of working on the film, the script was translated into Braille.

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote, the film "Capote"

The film was released on September 30, just in time for Truman Capote's birthday.

Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, the film "Lincoln"

Initially, Liam Neeson was approved for the role of Abraham Lincoln, who left the project, preferring filming in the film "Hostage" and its two sequels.

Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo, the film "Frida"

Edward Norton rewrote the script several times, but was never listed in the credits.

Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, the film "Life in Pink"

Marion Cotillard shaved off her eyebrows and part of her hair above her forehead to look like Edith Piaf. The whole procedure of applying makeup for the authenticity of the image of the "Parisian sparrow" took almost five hours.

Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, the movie "Malcolm X"

Director Spike Lee considered the picture "Malcolm X" so significant that he even urged children to skip school to watch this film.

Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb as Sid Vicious and Nancy Spanjen, the movie "Sid and Nancy"

All the members of the Guns N’ Roses band starred as extras in the film.

Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan, the movie "I'm Not There"

Cate Blanchett stuffed a stuffed sock into her pants to feel like a man. By the way, this sock helped her learn how to walk "like a man".

John Hurt as Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man

In order to make makeup for John Hurt as reliably as possible, the film crew used casts from the alcohol-soaked body of the "elephant man" Joseph Merrick.

Gretchen Mol as Betty Page, the movie "Obscene Betty Page"

Hugh Hefner organized a special private screening of the film for Betty Page. She liked the picture, but she noted that she had never been "obscene".

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

At first, Geoffrey Rush rejected the project, believing that it was "a role only for a very characteristic actor."

Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler, The Bunker movie

Preparing for the role, Bruno Ganz studied a single recording of Adolf Hitler: the one where he speaks in his usual, normal voice. The actor later said, "It wasn't the shrill, screaming voice we're used to, but rather a soft, attractive timbre, a calm baritone."

Ben Kingsley as Mohandas Karamchand "Mahatma" Gandhi, the movie "Gandhi"

Ben Kingsley so successfully got used to the role of this outstanding historical figure that the audience called him "the ghost of Gandhi".

Johnny Depp as Edward D. Wood Jr., the movie "Ed Wood"

The production of this film cost more than all of Ed Wood's films combined.

Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin, the movie "Chaplin"

In preparation for this role, Robert Downey Jr. watched absolutely all films with Charlie Chaplin.

Charlize Theron as Eileen Vuornos, the movie "Monster"

Charlize Theron deliberately gained almost 15 kg in order to fully enter the image of a serial killer.

Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman, the movie "Man on the Moon"

Jim Carrey remained "in character" throughout the filming process and demanded to be called exclusively by Andy's name.

Robert De Niro as Jake Lamotta, the movie "Raging Bull"

For the second half of the film, Robert De Niro gained 27 kg; he intensively consumed pasta, butter and all sorts of Italian delicacies.

Michael Douglas as Liberace, the movie "Behind the Candelabra"

The role of Liberace was originally intended for Robin Williams.

Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla, the movie "Selena"

To adequately play this role, Jennifer Lopez met Selena's family members, whom she asked to watch and criticize all her scenes.

Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock, the movie "Hitchcock"

Make-up artists and make-up artists tried six different versions of prosthetic pads in order to achieve the perfect appearance of the actor in this image by the first day of filming.

Chadwick Boseman as James Brown, the film "The Way Up"

Chadwick Bozeman trained five days a week to be able to reproduce Brown's specific "signature" movements; he performs all the dance numbers in the film on his own.

Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones as Stephen and Jane Hawking, The Theory of Everything

While preparing for the role, Eddie Redmayne met with Stephen Hawking; the actor also admitted that it was extremely difficult to play a genius, especially because the filming was not conducted in chronological order. Redmayne gave an interview to Entertainment Weekly magazine, in which he said: "I had to try to reliably show his work to wear, entering the image day after day, but at the same time and keep this spark, this wit and humor, which is so inherent in him."