33 Real-Life People and the Actors Who Earned Accolades for Playing Them

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Andra Day as Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday (L); Andra Day.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Takashi Seida/Paramount Pictures/Hulu

The latest actress to take on the role of the famed singer stars in Lee Daniels’The United States vs. Billie Holiday -and in early 2021, earned a Golden Globe nomination for her work.

“I didn’t anticipate I would go into acting this soon or start with a role like this,” shesaid, viaUSA Today.“I didn’t want to do this when it was first brought to my attention -becauseI love Billie Holiday … I was nervous, I was terrified. I said ‘no’ multiple times.”

02of 33Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam CookeRobin L Marshall/Getty; Jess Rand/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyNot only did Odom Jr. earn a 2021 Golden Globe nomination for his role as Cooke inOne Night in Miami …,he scored a second for penning the music and lyrics to one of its tunes, “Speak Now.““I did not see Sam Cooke in me,“Odom Jr. toldEWof initially considering the role. “I was not inclined to pick up those very large shoes and fail.“Eventually, however, “I gave the script a second look, and I saw beyond that. I saw beyond my fear … I was willing to take the leap.”

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Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Cooke

Robin L Marshall/Getty; Jess Rand/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Not only did Odom Jr. earn a 2021 Golden Globe nomination for his role as Cooke inOne Night in Miami …,he scored a second for penning the music and lyrics to one of its tunes, “Speak Now.”

“I did not see Sam Cooke in me,“Odom Jr. toldEWof initially considering the role. “I was not inclined to pick up those very large shoes and fail.”

Eventually, however, “I gave the script a second look, and I saw beyond that. I saw beyond my fear … I was willing to take the leap.”

03of 33Cate Blanchett as Phyllis SchlaflySabrina Lantos/FX; CBS via Getty ImagesIn 2020’sstar-studdedMrs. America,Blanchett played Schlafly, a conservative author ofA Choice Not an Echofull of political ambitions who started the movement to stop the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972 (and succeeded). The ERA would have granted legal equality to all people regardless of sex.Blanchett - who led the FX miniseries - is nominated for a Golden Globe in 2021 for her work on the show.

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Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly

Sabrina Lantos/FX; CBS via Getty Images

In 2020’sstar-studdedMrs. America,Blanchett played Schlafly, a conservative author ofA Choice Not an Echofull of political ambitions who started the movement to stop the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972 (and succeeded). The ERA would have granted legal equality to all people regardless of sex.

Blanchett - who led the FX miniseries - is nominated for a Golden Globe in 2021 for her work on the show.

04of 33Jim Parsons as Henry WilsonJim Parsons, Henry Wilson.Netflix; ANL/ShutterstockThe late Wilson started out in Hollywood in the 1930s as a journalist reporting on rising stars. He went on to discover Lana Turner, Joan Fontaine and Natalie Wood. Like in the seriesHollywood, Wilson also dabbled in producing, but he was most known as an agent.Hollywoodalso highlights his troubling relationship with his clients, specifically Rock Hudson.In the series, Parsons is shown sexually harassing Hudson’s character as well as threatening to out him as gay. Of Wilson’s reputation,Hollywood’s creator Ryan Murphy toldVanity Fair, “He had dirt on everybody that he would weaponize. And he would find these young guys who almost all came from horrible home situations - with broken marriages and absent fathers - and take them on as clients … He was a tormented gay man who preyed on tormented gay men.“Parsons earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Wilson in 2021.

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Jim Parsons as Henry Wilson

Jim Parsons, Henry Wilson.Netflix; ANL/Shutterstock

The late Wilson started out in Hollywood in the 1930s as a journalist reporting on rising stars. He went on to discover Lana Turner, Joan Fontaine and Natalie Wood. Like in the seriesHollywood, Wilson also dabbled in producing, but he was most known as an agent.Hollywoodalso highlights his troubling relationship with his clients, specifically Rock Hudson.

In the series, Parsons is shown sexually harassing Hudson’s character as well as threatening to out him as gay. Of Wilson’s reputation,Hollywood’s creator Ryan Murphy toldVanity Fair, “He had dirt on everybody that he would weaponize. And he would find these young guys who almost all came from horrible home situations - with broken marriages and absent fathers - and take them on as clients … He was a tormented gay man who preyed on tormented gay men.”

Parsons earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Wilson in 2021.

05of 33Tom Hardy as Al CaponeAnthony Harvey/Getty; BRON Studios/YoutubeHardy is nearlyunrecognizableas notorious mobster Al Capone in the Josh Trank-directed film,Capone.Caponeis a biopic that chronicles the final chapter of the infamous gangster’s life, and Hardy takes on the man himself,donning old-age makeup, a receeding hairline and scars on his face to transform into the role.

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Tom Hardy as Al Capone

Anthony Harvey/Getty; BRON Studios/Youtube

Hardy is nearlyunrecognizableas notorious mobster Al Capone in the Josh Trank-directed film,Capone.

Caponeis a biopic that chronicles the final chapter of the infamous gangster’s life, and Hardy takes on the man himself,donning old-age makeup, a receeding hairline and scars on his face to transform into the role.

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Taron Egerton as Elton John

Egerton tackled the role of the living legend that is Elton John inRocketman. His performance earned him the Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy.

Egertontold PEOPLEthat the part was not an easy one to tackle. “The transformation he goes through, the character in that story, in the script, from shy, retiring plump teenager to Rock God, to midlife addict and someone who was incredibly jaded and angry… it was just such a great acting challenge because he has three or four versions of who he is in the first half of his life.”

07of 33Jennifer Hudson as Aretha FranklinGettyThoughRespectisn’t slated to be released until August 2021, we’ve already gotten a glimpse of Hudson playing the late Queen of Soul.After years of development to bring the project together, Hudson said shesimply wants to get it rightand honor Franklin, whodiedin August 2018 at age 76 due to pancreatic cancer.“Those are huge shoes to fill,” she toldSunday Today. “I am just taking it one step at a time, one day at a time. All I want to do is pay tribute to her and meet her requests, you know? Like, ‘Aretha said do this?'- “Yes, ma’am.'““We were in talks a long time about me playing her,” she added, “so I just hope I make her proud [and] do her justice.”

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Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin

Getty

ThoughRespectisn’t slated to be released until August 2021, we’ve already gotten a glimpse of Hudson playing the late Queen of Soul.

After years of development to bring the project together, Hudson said shesimply wants to get it rightand honor Franklin, whodiedin August 2018 at age 76 due to pancreatic cancer.

“Those are huge shoes to fill,” she toldSunday Today. “I am just taking it one step at a time, one day at a time. All I want to do is pay tribute to her and meet her requests, you know? Like, ‘Aretha said do this?'- “Yes, ma’am.'”

“We were in talks a long time about me playing her,” she added, “so I just hope I make her proud [and] do her justice.”

08of 33Renée Zellweger as Judy GarlandDavid Pollick; GettyThey may not seem like an obvious pairing, but Renée Zellweger’s portrayal of the late icon towards the end of her life inJudyearned her raves for embodying the star’s talent and fragility.Her take on the star was so successful that Zellweger swept the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards in 2020.

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Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland

David Pollick; Getty

They may not seem like an obvious pairing, but Renée Zellweger’s portrayal of the late icon towards the end of her life inJudyearned her raves for embodying the star’s talent and fragility.

Her take on the star was so successful that Zellweger swept the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards in 2020.

09of 33Emma Corrin as Princess DianaEmma Corrin; Princess Diana.Des Willie/Netflix; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty ImagesThoughmany actresses have taken on the complex partof the Princess of Wales, Corrin received a Golden Globe nomination in 2021 for her work onThe Crown.The British starlet is just one ofa handful ofThe Crowncast members who’ve completely transformed into their counterparts - and scored awards recognition because of it.During a 2020 appearance on theTamron Hall Show, the actress reacted to reports that the royal family and even members of British Parliament are unhappy with the Netflix drama’s characterization of Princess Diana andPrince Charlesin the fourth season.“I understand why people would be upset because this is history. And even with Diana, it’s still very much fresh, everything that happens,“Corrin said. “So I do really understand if people would be upset.”

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Emma Corrin as Princess Diana

Emma Corrin; Princess Diana.Des Willie/Netflix; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Thoughmany actresses have taken on the complex partof the Princess of Wales, Corrin received a Golden Globe nomination in 2021 for her work onThe Crown.The British starlet is just one ofa handful ofThe Crowncast members who’ve completely transformed into their counterparts - and scored awards recognition because of it.

During a 2020 appearance on theTamron Hall Show, the actress reacted to reports that the royal family and even members of British Parliament are unhappy with the Netflix drama’s characterization of Princess Diana andPrince Charlesin the fourth season.

“I understand why people would be upset because this is history. And even with Diana, it’s still very much fresh, everything that happens,“Corrin said. “So I do really understand if people would be upset.”

10of 33Rami Malek as Freddie MercuryAlex Bailey/Fox; Steve Jennings/WireImageThis transformation will rock you. Malek won an Academy Award, a Golden Globeanda SAG Award for his portrayal of the late Queen frontman inBohemian Rhapsody.The film itself won the Golden Globe for best picture in 2019.

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Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury

Alex Bailey/Fox; Steve Jennings/WireImage

This transformation will rock you. Malek won an Academy Award, a Golden Globeanda SAG Award for his portrayal of the late Queen frontman inBohemian Rhapsody.The film itself won the Golden Globe for best picture in 2019.

11of 33Margot Robbie as Tonya HardingNeon; Focus on Sport/GettyMargot Robbie went for gold when she portrayed disgraced professional figure skater Tonya Harding inI, Tonya. Her ability to somehow pull off those fluffy bangs alone should have earned Robbie the Golden Globe and Oscar nominations she got for her role.

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Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding

Neon; Focus on Sport/Getty

Margot Robbie went for gold when she portrayed disgraced professional figure skater Tonya Harding inI, Tonya. Her ability to somehow pull off those fluffy bangs alone should have earned Robbie the Golden Globe and Oscar nominations she got for her role.

12of 33Natalie Portman as Jacqueline KennedyCBS Photo Archive/Getty; Pablo Larrain/Twentieth Century FoxPortman washardly the firstto portray the First Lady, though she is among the most recent. And in 2016, she scored an Oscar nod for her performance inJackie.“Her voice and her accent and her movements are very, very specific,“Portman saidof her transformation into the icon. “I was reading everything I could find and then I was working with a great dialect coach, Tanya Blumstein. We just listened and watched the White House tour specifically, but also some of her audio tapes of her interviews, over and over and over again. I was really learning exactly the way she said it, with the pauses in the same places and the breaths in the same places and the hesitations and all of that.”

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Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy

CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Pablo Larrain/Twentieth Century Fox

Portman washardly the firstto portray the First Lady, though she is among the most recent. And in 2016, she scored an Oscar nod for her performance inJackie.

“Her voice and her accent and her movements are very, very specific,“Portman saidof her transformation into the icon. “I was reading everything I could find and then I was working with a great dialect coach, Tanya Blumstein. We just listened and watched the White House tour specifically, but also some of her audio tapes of her interviews, over and over and over again. I was really learning exactly the way she said it, with the pauses in the same places and the breaths in the same places and the hesitations and all of that.”

13of 33Kristen Stewart as Jean SebergAmazon Studios; Everett CollectionInSeberg, theCharlie’s Angelsstar playedBreathlessactress Jean Seberg who, because of her connections with the Black Panther Party, became a target of the FBI.

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Kristen Stewart as Jean Seberg

Amazon Studios; Everett Collection

InSeberg, theCharlie’s Angelsstar playedBreathlessactress Jean Seberg who, because of her connections with the Black Panther Party, became a target of the FBI.

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Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez

Warmer Bros; Corbis

In a role that secured her a Golden Globe nomination - and catapulted her to superstardom - Lopez played the late Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

Since Lopez’s turn,a slew of stars have followed suit.

15of 33Meryl Streep as Julia ChildJonathan Wenk/Columbia Pictures; GettyIn 2010, Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe for her performance of the famous chef inJulie & Julia, the Nora Ephron film. Streep gained fifteen pounds to play Child and was also nominated for an Academy Award and a SAG Award for her transformation.

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Meryl Streep as Julia Child

Jonathan Wenk/Columbia Pictures; Getty

In 2010, Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe for her performance of the famous chef inJulie & Julia, the Nora Ephron film. Streep gained fifteen pounds to play Child and was also nominated for an Academy Award and a SAG Award for her transformation.

16of 33Denzel Washington as Malcolm XWarner Bros; GettyThe powerful 1992 film earned Washington a NAACP Image Award for his portrayal of the human rights activist inMalcolm X.

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Denzel Washington as Malcolm X

Warner Bros; Getty

The powerful 1992 film earned Washington a NAACP Image Award for his portrayal of the human rights activist inMalcolm X.

17of 33Diana Ross as Billie HolidayGetty (2)For Diana Ross’s acting debut in the 1972 filmLady Sings the Blues, the singer took on the role of Holiday and was rewarded for her efforts with an Academy Awards nomination in 1973.

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Diana Ross as Billie Holiday

Getty (2)

For Diana Ross’s acting debut in the 1972 filmLady Sings the Blues, the singer took on the role of Holiday and was rewarded for her efforts with an Academy Awards nomination in 1973.

18of 33Reese Witherspoon & Joaquin Phoenix as June Carter & Johnny Cash20th Century Fox; GettyReese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix stepped into the shoes of famed couple June Carter and Johnny Cash for the 2005 film,Walk the Line. Witherspoon won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance, while her costar won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar.The film itself won the Golden Globe for best motion picture - musical or comedy.

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Reese Witherspoon & Joaquin Phoenix as June Carter & Johnny Cash

20th Century Fox; Getty

Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix stepped into the shoes of famed couple June Carter and Johnny Cash for the 2005 film,Walk the Line. Witherspoon won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance, while her costar won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar.

The film itself won the Golden Globe for best motion picture - musical or comedy.

19of 33Gary Oldman as Winston ChurchillOldman made a chameleon-like transformation into Winston Churchill inDarkest Hour.Becoming the former British prime minister took 200 hours of make-up work, according toDeadline.The sinewy actor also told the outlet he “carried around half my body weight” in prosthetics to look more like the heavier Churchill.

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Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill

Oldman made a chameleon-like transformation into Winston Churchill inDarkest Hour.

Becoming the former British prime minister took 200 hours of make-up work, according toDeadline.The sinewy actor also told the outlet he “carried around half my body weight” in prosthetics to look more like the heavier Churchill.

20of 33Christian Bale as Dick CheneyTheImageDirect/Carley Margolis/FilmMagicBale is well known for the lengths he’ll go when it comes to physical transformation for a role. (He infamously lost 60 lbs. to play an insomniac inThe Machinist.) But his latest may be his most unrecognizable yet: He played the former vice president inVice,a 2018 movie about Cheney’s life, and the makeover was so drastic that even the on-set photos had us doing a double-take.

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Christian Bale as Dick Cheney

TheImageDirect/Carley Margolis/FilmMagic

Bale is well known for the lengths he’ll go when it comes to physical transformation for a role. (He infamously lost 60 lbs. to play an insomniac inThe Machinist.) But his latest may be his most unrecognizable yet: He played the former vice president inVice,a 2018 movie about Cheney’s life, and the makeover was so drastic that even the on-set photos had us doing a double-take.

21of 33Benjamin Kingsley as Mohandas GandhiColumbia Pictures/Everett; Rühe/ullstein bild/GettyIn the epic three-hour-plus biopic of the life of Indian leader Gandhi, who stood against British rule without violence, Kingsley won an Oscar, as did the film itself, for Best Picture.

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Benjamin Kingsley as Mohandas Gandhi

Columbia Pictures/Everett; Rühe/ullstein bild/Getty

In the epic three-hour-plus biopic of the life of Indian leader Gandhi, who stood against British rule without violence, Kingsley won an Oscar, as did the film itself, for Best Picture.

22of 33Emma Stone as Billie Jean KingMS Gordon/20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; GettyStone put on 15 lbs. of pure muscle to play tennis superstar King in this fall’sBattle of the Sexes.The hard work was worth it: She received a Golden Globe nomination for the role.

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Emma Stone as Billie Jean King

MS Gordon/20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Getty

Stone put on 15 lbs. of pure muscle to play tennis superstar King in this fall’sBattle of the Sexes.The hard work was worth it: She received a Golden Globe nomination for the role.

23of 33Taylor Kitsch as David KoreshMark Davis/Getty Images; Miller Mobley/Courtesy Paramount Network and Weinstein TelevisionThe actor earned raves - and chills - for his work as cult leader Koresh inWaco.

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Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh

Mark Davis/Getty Images; Miller Mobley/Courtesy Paramount Network and Weinstein Television

The actor earned raves - and chills - for his work as cult leader Koresh inWaco.

24of 33Michelle Williams as Marilyn MonroeEverett; GettyWilliams is all ’50s bombshell inMy Week with Marilyn, in which she played Monroe (like many a star!) during the filming of Laurence Olivier’sThe Prince and the Showgirl.

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Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe

Everett; Getty

Williams is all ’50s bombshell inMy Week with Marilyn, in which she played Monroe (like many a star!) during the filming of Laurence Olivier’sThe Prince and the Showgirl.

25of 33Charlize Theron as Aileen WuornosNewmarket Releasing/Everett; News-Journal/APIn an Oscar-winning portrayal, Theron played real-life serial killer Wuornos - and went through quite a makeover to do so. She gained weight and had her face transformed (through makeup and prosthetics) for the role, and was practically unrecognizable inMonster.

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Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos

Newmarket Releasing/Everett; News-Journal/AP

In an Oscar-winning portrayal, Theron played real-life serial killer Wuornos - and went through quite a makeover to do so. She gained weight and had her face transformed (through makeup and prosthetics) for the role, and was practically unrecognizable inMonster.

26of 33Sarah Paulson as Marcia ClarkFX; GettyInAmerican Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, Paulson played prosecutor Clark, a role that won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Paulson bonded with the real-life Clark while filming, and even took her as her date to the Emmys and thanked Clark in her acceptance speech.

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Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark

FX; Getty

InAmerican Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, Paulson played prosecutor Clark, a role that won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Paulson bonded with the real-life Clark while filming, and even took her as her date to the Emmys and thanked Clark in her acceptance speech.

27of 33Sterling K. Brown as Christopher DardenMaarten de Boer/NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty; Paul Harris/GettyJust beforeThis Is Uscatapulted him to fame, Brown stunned as attorneyAmerican Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,winning an Emmy for his portrayal.“I watched so much footage of the trial,” Brown, who was in college when the verdict was announced,toldDeadlineof his prep for the role.“Even when we were on set, if I wasn’t shooting, I would just go hook up my iPhone or my computer and just watch as much as I could. I would watch interviews of Darden’s - two in particular, one from Charlie Rose and one fromOprah Winfrey- and just try to get his cadences down, speech patterns, etc.”

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Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden

Maarten de Boer/NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty; Paul Harris/Getty

Just beforeThis Is Uscatapulted him to fame, Brown stunned as attorneyAmerican Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,winning an Emmy for his portrayal.

“I watched so much footage of the trial,” Brown, who was in college when the verdict was announced,toldDeadlineof his prep for the role.“Even when we were on set, if I wasn’t shooting, I would just go hook up my iPhone or my computer and just watch as much as I could. I would watch interviews of Darden’s - two in particular, one from Charlie Rose and one fromOprah Winfrey- and just try to get his cadences down, speech patterns, etc.”

28of 33Eddie Redmayne as Stephen HawkingLiam Daniel/Focus Features; Leon Neal/AFP/GettyRedmayne won an Oscar forThe Theory of Everything, in which he played Hawking as he made his way to the top of his field, despite the fact that he was increasingly unable to use his body while battling ALS.

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Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking

Liam Daniel/Focus Features; Leon Neal/AFP/Getty

Redmayne won an Oscar forThe Theory of Everything, in which he played Hawking as he made his way to the top of his field, despite the fact that he was increasingly unable to use his body while battling ALS.

29of 33Jamie Foxx as Ray CharlesJean Claude PierdetINA via Getty; EverettFoxx shined as Charles inRay, a movie about his life and domination of the genre of soul music. And, oh yeah: He won an Oscar.

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Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles

Jean Claude PierdetINA via Getty; Everett

Foxx shined as Charles inRay, a movie about his life and domination of the genre of soul music. And, oh yeah: He won an Oscar.

30of 33Meryl Streep as Margaret ThatcherAlex Bailey/Everett; Tim Graham/GettyStreep’s long-awaited third Oscar came for her portrayal of Britain’s first female prime minister Margaret Thatcher, both during her tenure in office and near the end of her life as she was dealing with dementia, inThe Iron Lady.

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Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

Alex Bailey/Everett; Tim Graham/Getty

Streep’s long-awaited third Oscar came for her portrayal of Britain’s first female prime minister Margaret Thatcher, both during her tenure in office and near the end of her life as she was dealing with dementia, inThe Iron Lady.

31of 33Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham LincolnEverett; Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/GettySeemingly every role Day-Lewis touches turns to (Oscar) gold, including his turn as the 16th president of the United States inLincoln, which focused on the end of the Civil War and the passage of the 13th amendment.

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Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln

Everett; Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty

Seemingly every role Day-Lewis touches turns to (Oscar) gold, including his turn as the 16th president of the United States inLincoln, which focused on the end of the Civil War and the passage of the 13th amendment.

32of 33Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard HughesMiramax/Everett; GettyDiCaprio has played several real-life figures, from fur trapper Hugh Glass inThe Revenantto conman Frank Abagnale, Jr. inCatch Me If You Can.But one of the best-known people he played is aviator, filmmaker and businessman Howard Hughes inThe Aviator.Also not to be missed in the film: Cate Blanchett’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Katharine Hepburn.

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Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes

Miramax/Everett; Getty

DiCaprio has played several real-life figures, from fur trapper Hugh Glass inThe Revenantto conman Frank Abagnale, Jr. inCatch Me If You Can.But one of the best-known people he played is aviator, filmmaker and businessman Howard Hughes inThe Aviator.Also not to be missed in the film: Cate Blanchett’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Katharine Hepburn.

33of 33Michael Fassbender as Steve JobsUniversal Pictures/Everett; Justin Sullivan/GettyAs the late black turtleneck-wearing Apple innovator Jobs, Fassbender earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

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Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs

Universal Pictures/Everett; Justin Sullivan/Getty

As the late black turtleneck-wearing Apple innovator Jobs, Fassbender earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

source: people.com