To play a historical figure, Hollywood icon, or - in this case - a famous athlete, actors must immerse themselves into the role. If lucky, they might share a few similar features that help construct a portrait of the person, but most celebrities rely on heavy makeup, intense character study, and disciplined, constant training to transform their physique from mere mimic to chiseled perfection.
Here are a few stars who morphed themselves into famous figures of the sports world through hard work - and a little movie magic. Vote up the best transformations!
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John Robinson As Stacy Peralta In 'Lords of Dogtown'
When actor John Robinson got the opportunity to audition for Dogtown skater-turned-filmmaker Stacy Peralta, he was lucky enough to already have a few aces up his sleeve. Mostly, he was already a fan of board sports - he had grown up snowboarding in the winter and lake wakeboarding during the summer. The real issue in portraying Peralta was the hair; Robinson wore extensions that he revealed were rather annoying:
It was mostly extensions, which was difficult because I spent three hours a day in the hair trailer putting more extensions in because they’d fall out. And you’re skateboarding and sweating everywhere and there’s so much hair everywhere. It’s definitely a huge hair movie.
Amazing transformation? To portray the “James Dean of Track,” Oscar-winner Jared Leto trained for six weeks and copied Steve Prefontaine's upright style of running. Leto said the rigorous training regimen had both positive and negative effects on his body:
I had become a runner. I was in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life. My knees weren’t used to training like this, and I tore my knee up almost right away and couldn’t run for two and a half weeks. Precious time when you’re on a schedule.
Amazing transformation?- 3
Sean Patrick Small As Larry Bird In 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty'
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Sean Patrick Small's transformation into “The Hick from French Lick” took more than an hour a day in the makeup chair for application of the wig, the mustache, the stained teeth, and the skim blemishes Larry Bird had in his youth. Small also studied Bird's mannerisms on YouTube to get his voice down:
A lot of people think of him as the player and trash talker they saw on the court, but there’s more to him than that… He’s very blunt and straightforward. I hope (in my portrayal) he comes across as human, with flaws and intricacies.
Amazing transformation? - 4
Solomon Hughes As Kareem Abdul-Jabbar In 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty'
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Stepping into the high-tops of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was Solomon Hughes's very first acting gig - a big jump for the former educator. To play the former 6-foot-11 Lakers center, Hughes studied game footage to copy his hooks and shots. Once he had Abdul-Jabbar's game play and demeanor down, it was just a matter of applying the wig and signature eyewear. Even Hughes's own family was impressed:
Especially when the goggles came on, I was like, “Wow.”… My daughter FaceTimed me when I was in costume and thought someone had stolen my phone.
Amazing transformation? To become tennis legend Billie Jean King for Fox Searchlight’s Battle of the Sexes, Oscar-winner Emma Stone used tanning, faux freckles, eyebrow shaping, shading, and the perfect haircut to alter her appearance. Once the basics where down, only King's signature eyeglasses were needed to complete the look.
Amazing transformation?To play Great Depression boxer James J. Braddock, Russell Crowe faced the challenge of slimming down to 176 pounds from the 228 pounds needed from his previous film role:
It was… the hardest training I've ever done, and I'm over 40 now, so it was probably the wrong time to start, you know. And there's a lot of old war wounds that came back… because as we know, I've been on the battlefield since 185 A.D.
Amazing transformation?
