After all, the “What Was I Made For?” singer proved she can shed her pop star aesthetic while shootingThe Bell Jar in Toronto Aug. 2.
On set, Eilish ompletely transformed into Esther Greenwood, the protagonist of the Sylh a short-sleeved red sweater, a blue and red grid skirt and delicate pearl earrings
The 24-year-old’s typically colored hair—which was most recently jet black—was also dyed a subtle, natural-looking brown and pinned up on one side. Eilish’s typically nude lip was also swapped for a bold, bright red—fit for the period piece’s era.
While the Grammy winner has not shared any details on her latest career venture, her casting in the film, directed by Sarah Polley, was first reported in March. Carey Mulligan was later confirmed to be cast as Esther’s mom Mrs. Greenwood, whileHeated Rivalry‘sConnor Storrie and Ella Beattyare also rumored to be among the film’s ensemble.
The Bell Jar,based on the 1963 novel,follows 19-year-old Esther as she navigates an internship at a women’s magazine in the first summer after her freshman year of college. In tandem with her professional venture, Esther, an aspiring poet, finds herself spiraling into a severe depression and is eventually hospitalized.
Although the dramatic role marks Eilish’s feature film debut, her first foray into acting came back in 2023 with Donald Glover‘s horror seriesSwarm. At the time, Eilish—who played cult leader Eva—called it a “dream.”
“I was on some management call, and I remember being told, ‘There’s this show, but it’s during a period of time where you’re not available. It’s a pass,'” Eilish recalled to Varietyafter appearing in the critically-acclaimed role. “I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, what the f–k are you talking about?
Sean O’Neill / BACKGRID
Indeed, the two-time Oscar winner admitted that before she started producing music with her brotherFinneas, she initially thought she’d go into acting.
“It’s always been a deep thing,” Eilish explained, “that I’ve been reluctant to talk about because I thought I was really bad.”
But she proved herself wrong with Swarm, and later teased that she saw more acting roles in her future. As she toldVarietyof acting, “I like it!”
For more stars who have had grand makeovers for roles, keep reading…
Christian Bale, American Hustle &Vice
The British actor packed on more than 40 pounds for his Oscar-nominated performance as a beer-bellied con artist in 2013’s American Hustle. He put on the same amount to play former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in the 2018 movie Vice, which also earned him an Oscar nomination.For his 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari, Bale dropped dropped 70 pounds to play slender race car driver Ken Miles. And it wasn’t his first time losing weight for a role, having also lost about 30 pounds while filming the 2011 film The Fighter.To transform the actress into her role of real life Appalachian grandmother Mamaw Vance in the 2020 film, makeup and special effects artist Matthew Mungle pulled Close’s head cast from 2011’s Albert Nobbs and sculpted her a new set of false ears and a false nose, according to Variety. The actress received an Oscar nomination for her role.
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
For his role as Donald Trump, not only did the actor work with the same hairstylist and makeup artists who transformed him into Tommy Lee for 2022’s Pam & Tommy, but he also packed on the pounds to fill out the reality star-turned-president’s frame.Stan said he gained around 15 pounds by eating instant ramen mixed with soy sauce—a dish recommended by his nutritionist to look bloated in the face—and drinking soda.
Andra Day, The United States vs Billie Holiday
The actress lost almost 40 pounds to play the iconic jazz singer in the 2021 film, which earned her an Oscar nomination.Was eating, as his onscreen wife Emily Bluntjoked “like, an almond every day,” a bit nutty? Sure. But the Irish star really wanted to nail atomic bomb scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s appearance.”Oppenheimer had a very distinct physicality and silhouette, which I wanted to get right,” he explained to The New York Times. “I had to lose quite a bit of weight, and we worked with the costume and tailoring; he was very slim, almost emaciated, existed on martinis and cigarettes.”
Charlize Theron, Monster
At the 2004 Academy Awards, the gorgeous A-lister was honored with a Best Actress win for her chilling portrayal of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos.The actor lost 52 pounds to play the deeply disturbed Arthur Fleck, the man who would become Batman’s adversary. The won the Best Actor Oscar in 2020 for his performance.
Nicole Kidman, The Hours
It took three hours (and an infamously large prosthetic nose) for makeup artists to render the Best Actress winner completely unrecognizable for the 2002 drama.
Tom Hanks, Philadelphia
The actor shed 35 pounds and shaved his head to play an HIV-stricken attorney suing his former firm for wrongful termination. Hanks took home Best Actor at the 1994 Oscars, and made a similar transformation for his Oscar-nominated performance in 2000’s Cast Away.
Renee Zellwegger, Judy
The actress, who famously gained a reported 17 pounds to play the title role in Bridget Jones’s Diary, did not have to change her physique to transform into Judy Garland for the 2019 film Judy, for which she won her first Oscar. You can thank the makeup and costume department for her transformation.”Renée was extremely emotionally and artistically involved in Judy, the movie’s costume designer, Jany Temime, who also worked on the Harry Potter films, told Vulture. “It was her film. I think she really got into Judy’s skin.”Zellweger told the outlet, “Jany fit the costumes to Judy’s posture. So the dresses didn’t fit me unless I stood like I was supposed to stand. The zipper wouldn’t go up.”
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Quite a departure from Robbie’s sultry character in The Wolf of Wall Street, several prosthetics, braces and wigs helped the Best Actress nominee bring disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding’s career-ending scandal to life in the 2017 flick.
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
The Academy recognized McConaughey’s extreme commitment to playing an HIV/AIDS stricken electrician with a Best Actor win during the 2014 ceremony.
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
The late actor received a posthumous Oscar in 2008 for his chilling and mesmerizing performance as The Joker in the second film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. His look as the iconic villain differed greatly from those previously seen on past actors onscreen.”What would it be if this guy slept in his makeup, this psychopath?” makeup artist John Caglione Jr. told IGN. “If he didn’t spruce up his makeup for two or three weeks? He never changes his clothes It’s those kinds of organic details that really helped.”He continued, “You think of a clown’s makeup and for the most part, they’re pretty detailed with sharp lines. But this had to be the opposite of that.”
Hilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry & Million Dollar Baby
The two-time Oscar winner dramatically altered her appearance to play real-life transgender man Brandon Teena in the 1999 drama, and then again in Clint Eastwood’s 2004 Best Picture winner.
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
In order to play British prime minister Winston Churchill, the 2018 Best Actor nominee spent upwards of four hours in the makeup chair every day and wore a “Victorian corset” style bodysuit.
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Before taking home Best Actress at the 2011 Oscars, the petite actress shed 20 pounds and trained up to 16 hours a day for her role as a mentally ill ballerina.
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Ever the chameleon, the 2014 Best Supporting Actor winner prepared to play a HIV-positive transgender woman by losing 40 pounds and only staying in character on set.”I had done similar things with weight, but this was different,” Leto told E! News in 2013. “I think the role demanded that commitment…It was about how does that effect how I walk, how I talked, who I am, how I feel. You know, you feel very fragile and delicate and unsafe.”
Brie Larson, Room
The Best Actress winner gained 15 pounds of muscle to play a mother who escapes years of captivity with her 5-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay) in the 2015 film. Larson said she even limited her exposure to the outside world, restricted nutrients like Vitamin D and tailored her eating habits to better grasp what her character experienced.
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
At the 2012 Academy Awards, the typically fresh-faced starlet was honored with a Best Actress nomination for her performance in the thriller. Mara went as far as to pierce multiple body parts, bleach her eyebrows and chop her hair to transform into Lisbeth Salander.
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