Elisabeth Moss can pretty much morph into anyone. These days she’s one of Hollywood’s serious leading ladies and has starred in a string of critically acclaimed TV shows and films. But when we first saw her, she was just Don’s frumpy secretary, Peggy Olson. Olson was mocked for her homely looks by her unforgiving male colleagues in the series “Mad Men” and was even pressured to doll herself up, just to fit in.
Soon Olson proves that she’s concerned for things far more important than hair and makeup, and achieves exactly what she set out to do. We suppose we can say the same for Moss. The gorgeous actress has played many different roles, including Offred from “The Handmaid’s Tale, ” horror writer Shirly Jackson in “Shirly” and more. You might even remember her as the tragic burn victim from “Girl Interrupted.”
Pepper (Naomi Grossman)
Pepper, a freakish-looking character from Ryan Murphy's "Freak Show" (appropriately titled) is a woman and former performer with Microcephaly who was committed to an institution. As you can tell, the character looks a little on the scary side, which makes sense as she is supposed to be a troubled ex-circus performer.
In order to play this unusual character, producers of the show needed a woman willing to go the extra mile, which is why they picked Naomi Grossman. Grossman not only underwent a crazy makeover complete with prosthetics and fake teeth, but she even shaved her head for the audition. In real life, the actress looks nothing like Pepper and has a successful stage career.
Tiffany Doggett (Taryn Manning)
If you've seen "Orange Is the New Black," then you know all about the rough and tough-looking lady convicts on the show. Character Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett was one of them. The proud "redneck" from western Pennsylvania came a long way, but in the first season, she was not in good shape. With rotten and even missing teeth, this inmate wasn't her best self.
You can be relieved to know that the actress Taryn Manning does, in fact, have all of her teeth and has led a long career in TV and film, starring in "8 Mile," Britney Spears' "Crossroads, and "A Lot Like Love." Interestingly enough, the actress has gotten herself in quite a few scuffles involving the law, and while she doesn't have the face of an inmate, her fiery personality isn't that far off from OINTB's "Pennsatucky."
Betty Suarez (America Ferrera)
"Ugly Betty," told the story of the dowdy brace face and walking fashion crime, Betty Suarez, a writer navigating the world of beauty in a top-notch style magazine. That proves hard to do when you're surrounded by gorgeous models. Betty donned her very worse throughout the show, teaching us all about self-love in a world of impossible beauty standards. While we all got that powerful message, what we did learn was that the moment Sauarz wore the right clothes, she was rather beautiful.
Yep, actress America Ferrera is no Ugly Betty. The American actress, born to Honduran parents, is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award-winning actress. In 2007 this Hollywood beauty was even dubbed one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She currently stars in the new Netflix series "Super Store."
Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson)
In 2005 the great British actress played the magical Nanny McPhee with warts and all. The mystical nanny was based on the "Nurse Matilda" books, a story about a hideous witchy nanny with powers so magical that she could discipline the unruliest of children. And we see Thomspon do just that, with her big round nose, single tooth, and warts, Nanny McPhee is a sight for sore eyes.
Of course (spoiler alert) as the children shed their ugly behavior, McPhee transforms from hideous to beautiful. The nanny's transformation reveals a more true-to-life version of Emma Thompson. The actress looks fantastic and even better with age.