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Ana de Armas and Marilyn Monroe must be related.
Old Hollywood was an era like no other, filled with stars whose legacies still have us talking about them today. The glamorous outfits, the dramatic feuds, the scandalous relationships—all of it was iconic and has been brought back to life on-screen many times. The actors of today, from Nicole Kidman to Renée Zellweger, have done a phenomenal job keeping the memories and stories alive. See how the film industry’s biggest names transformed into the legends that came before them.
There will always only be one King of Rock and Roll, but Austin Butler came pretty darn close. His performance in 2022’s Elvis—which Priscilla Presley called “mesmerizing“—had fans new and old shake, rattle, and rollin’ their way into theaters.
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Australian actress Olivia DeJonge shined as Elvis Presley’s other half, starring alongside Austin Butler in the 2022 film Elvis. “I mean, stepping into these costumes, that wig and make-up every day, it really made the rest of the job quite easy, because it was so incredibly immersive,” she told British Vogue.
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Ana de Armas looks nearly identical to the Old Hollywood legend in Netflix’s 2022 film Blonde. The transformation included careful treatment of her hairline, as well as several wigs and bald caps. “As you can imagine, it was a massive undertaking,” hairstylist Jaime Leigh McIntosh told Marie Claire.
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The grace. The poise. The fashion. Jennifer Love Hewitt had it all in 2000’s The Audrey Hepburn Story. The film gave fans an in-depth look at Hepburn’s difficult childhood, something that often goes overlooked when it comes to her rise to stardom.
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Don Cheadle stunned audiences as Sammy Davis Jr. But it wasn’t easy preparing to step into the singer’s legendary shoes—in the weeks leading up to filming, Cheadle learned to sing, tap dance, play drums, play trumpet, and twirl six-shooter pistols.
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Somewhere over the rainbow, Renée Zellweger perfected her Judy Garland impersonation. The actress sang all of her own songs and earned her first Best Actress Oscar in 2019’s Judy.
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At just 16 years old, Darci Shaw was mesmerizing as a young Judy Garland in 2019’s Judy. She later told Hunger that working with Renée Zellweger was “a dream come true.”
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In 2008, Beyoncé acted and sang in Cadillac Records, a film about the artists once signed to Chess Records—the blues label of the ’50s and ’60s.
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In 2020, Netflix released Hollywood, which brought many legendary figures back to life. First up: Michelle Krusiec as Anna May Wong, who’s considered to be the first Chinese-American movie star.
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Also found in Hollywood is Vivien Leigh, played by Katie McGuinness. The 2020 show nailed Leigh’s glamorous curls and the red lipstick she was known for.
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Vivien Leigh wasn’t the only Gone with the Wind star to appear in 2020’s Hollywood. Queen Latifah brought her talent to the small screen as Hattie McDaniel, the first Black Oscar winner.
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The last actor on this list from Hollywood is Jake Pickings, who took on the role of Rock Hudson. He’s the spitting image of the ’50s leading man, from his hairstyle to his height.
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Michelle Williams captured the spirit of the legendary blonde bombshell in 2011’s My Week With Marilyn. From her choreographed numbers onstage to her realistic costumes, it’s no surprise she won a Golden Globe for her performance.
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Nicole Kidman showed off her talent in 2021’s Being the Ricardos, where she effortlessly reenacted both the most comical and dramatic parts of the I Love Lucy star’s life.
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Javier Bardem embraced the role of Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos and conquered his fear of singing. He also took guitar, conga, and dialect lessons to prepare.
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The incredible detail that went into Cheryl Ladd’s portrayal of the actress-turned-royal in 1983’s Grace Kelly speaks for itself. It’s as if every inch of lace on her iconic wedding dress was perfectly matched piece by piece.
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It wouldn’t be Frank and Ava without Ava Gardner. Emily Elicia Low—or Jolee Blon’ as she goes by onscreen—brought the iconic actress to life in the film, which details her relationship with Frank Sinatra.
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Joe Mantegna absolutely nailed Dean Martin’s warm smile and ability to light up a room in The Rat Pack. It doesn’t hurt that he was a fan as well, once saying, “…there would have been nothing better than to spend a week with Dean Martin if I could have.”
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Dakota Fanning played the 15-year-old who fell in love with Errol Flynn when he was 48 years old in The Last of Robin Hood. Their shocking relationship rocked Hollywood in the ’50s.
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Kevin Kline admitted he thought he “did too much research” in preparation of playing Errol Flynn in 2013’s The Last of Robin Hood. Either way, he completely embodied the star in the role.
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While Jamie Foxx was a celebrity long before 2004’s Ray, it was this role that earned him his Best Actor Academy Award. “Give it up for Ray Charles and his beautiful legacy,” he emotionally said during his acceptance speech, “Thank you Ray Charles for living.”
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Caroll Baker brought just the right amount of glitz and glam to the big screen in 1965’s Harlow. Her portrayal of the ’30s starlet—and her tumultuous life she led off-camera—impressed fans.
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While Joaquin Phoenix has many film credits under his belt, one of his most memorable performances is as Johnny Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line. He performed all of the songs himself, learned to play guitar for the role, and won a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
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Between her shoulder-length hair and dark brown eyes, Justine Waddell and the late Natalie Wood could be related—hence why Waddell was cast in 2004’s The Mystery of Natalie Wood. The movie dives into Wood’s entire career, from childhood up until her untimely death.
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Playing legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday was so intense, it made Andra Day think about retiring from acting. “I’ve always loved actors and always had respect for them, but now I have a whole new respect for them and how deep they have to go,” she told Variety. Day was nominated for an Oscar, a Grammy, and won a Golden Globe for her performance.
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From their hair down to every facial feature, it’s hard to tell the difference between Lucy Gordon and Jane Birkin. 2010’s Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life told the story of the starlet’s relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg.
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1985’s Sweet Dreams told the story of the famous country singer and what Jessica Lange called her “firecracker” personality. Fun fact: Meryl Streep wanted the role, but later praised Lange for her performance. “I couldn’t imagine doing it as well or even coming close to what Jessica did, because she was so amazing in it,” she shared.
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The late Chadwick Boseman made James Brown proud when he portrayed the singer in 2014’s Get on Up. He trained for two months to learn how to sing and dance like the ’60s legend, and his performance earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.
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In 2018’s Frank and Ava, Rico Simonini embodied the Chairman of the Board in every way. Everything from his piercing eyes to his smooth-as-butter voice was spot-on.
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To look exactly like the Old Hollywood icon in 1983’s Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess, Lynda Carter wore one of the first pairs of brown colored contact lenses ever. She also dyed the front ends of her hair red to match the hairpieces she wore throughout the film.
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