“The Handmaid’s Tale” is not an easy show to watch and the trials the characters go through are extremely troubling. The women who wear the red robes and white hoods are stripped of everything and are barely recognizable. That goes for Madeline Brewer, especially, who plays Janine Ofwarren.
Throughout the show, the actress is missing an eye and is deeply disturbed by the events of the story (no spoilers!). The actress of course (thankfully) very much has both eyes and looks like a completely different person when she’s not playing Ofwarren. She also had a minor role in “Orange is the New Black.”
Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy)
Claire Foy is English, yes, but she is no royal. That is until you see her in "The Crown" where she impeccably portrays the young Queen Elizabeth II around the time that she was crowned. Royals don't speak with just a regular posh accent, it's on a whole other level, just watch those speeches.
Better yet, just watch Foy as she disappears into the role in the brilliant Netflix series. The modest clothing and sensible hairdo also make her look older than she really is. When the actress is out of her Elizabeth costume, she looks totally different. Other actresses played the Queen in following seasons - but Foy nailed it.
Dorota (Zuzanna Szadkowski)
"Gossip Girl" was everyone's favorite guilty pleasure. The show that followed Manhattan's Upper East Side elite revealed the juicy stories of utterly privileged teens and college students. Though some weren't so privileged, like Dorota. The maid and confidant of Blair Waldorf was a special character.
While very prim and proper on the show, the actress Zuzanna Szadkowski is far more stylish in real life and looks like she might even perfectly blend in with the gang while they tear up the streets of Manhattan. In 2021, Szadkowski actually reprised the role of Dorota in the standalone sequel show of "Gossip Girl," making a surprise cameo in an episode.
Shannon Purser (Barb Holland)
We saw Barb for a hot second. The loveable nerdy redhead sadly got swallowed by the Upside Down far too soon. When fans found out who she was, they were all shocked to see that she barely resembles her character on TV.
OK, obviously her character is from the 80s, but still, actress Shannon Purser looks rather different from Barb and is nowhere near as frumpy. And of course, the corpse of Barb made a haunting return later on in the series. She still looks just as sweet though! And we can't wait to see what she ends up doing next in the world of TV and beyond.
Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael)
Bridging the gap between fiction and reality, "Downton Abbey" stars often prove their transformative prowess. It's not just the humble servants – Lady Edith herself takes the cake. Witnessing Laura Carmichael's enchanting makeover from the old-fashioned allure of the show to the red carpet glamour is truly remarkable.
Who knew a mere hairstyle could wield such power? While the estate's residents might sport a vintage charm, Laura Carmichael unleashes a contemporary dazzle that's a far cry from her on-screen persona. It's as if time travel has gifted her a modern-day elegance, leaving us in awe of the chameleon-like magic actors possess beyond the boundaries of period drama.