Special Report

2021 Oscar Nominees In and Out of Character

After the Oscar for best picture of the year and best director, the most prestigious categories are those for best leading and supporting actors and actresses. Though they are nominated largely based on their performance, the nominees would not have been able to fully immerse themselves in their characters if it weren’t for the hair and makeup artists as well as the costume designers.  

The biggest and best movies of the year often have epic set pieces and plots going in many directions, so it’s often easy to lose track of the real people playing the roles in the films.

Just in time for the 93rd Academy Awards, which will take place on April 25, 24/7 Tempo compiled a list of all 20 actors nominated for an Oscar this year, showing them both in and out of character.

Some of the actors did not have to change their appearance much, while others had to wear wigs and heavy makeup. Even though roles based on the life of real people are usually cast to people who have at least some resemblance to the character, they, too, often go through major transformation.

This year’s Oscars features many actors who have never before been nominated. Others have been nominated but won only once, despite being  among the most famous names in Hollywood — these are the most popular Oscar winners of all time.

Click here to see these Oscar nominated actors in and out of character

Courtesy of Netflix

Amanda Seyfried
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Marion Davies in “Mank”

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Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Amanda Seyfried
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

Courtesy of Ascot Elite Entertainment Group

Andra Day
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
> For playing: Billie Holiday in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images

Andra Day
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

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Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Anthony Hopkins
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
> For playing: Anthony in “The Father”

Timothy Hiatt / Getty Images

Anthony Hopkins
> Career Oscar nominations: 6 (1 win — Best Actor for “The Silence of the Lambs”)

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Courtesy of Focus Features

Carey Mulligan
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
> For playing: Cassandra in “Promising Young Woman”

David M. Benett / Getty Images

Carey Mulligan
> Career Oscar nominations: 2

Courtesy of Netflix

Chadwick Boseman
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (posthumously)
> For playing: Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

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Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Chadwick Boseman
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

Courtesy of HBO Max

Daniel Kaluuya
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah”

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Craig Barritt / Getty Images

Daniel Kaluuya
> Career Oscar nominations: 2

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Frances McDormand
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
> For playing: Fern in “Nomadland”

John Phillips / Getty Images

Frances McDormand
> Career Oscar nominations: 7 (2 wins — Best Actress for “Fargo” and for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”)

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Courtesy of Netflix

Gary Oldman
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
> For playing: Herman Mankiewicz in “Mank”

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Gary Oldman
> Career Oscar nominations: 3 (1 win — Best Actor for “Darkest Hour”)

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Courtesy of No Distributor Found

Glenn Close
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Mamaw in “Hillbilly Elegy”

Rich Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Glenn Close
> Career Oscar nominations: 8

Courtesy of HBO Max

LaKeith Stanfield
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Bill O’Neal in “Judas and the Black Messiah”

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Dominik Bindl / Getty Images

LaKeith Stanfield
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Leslie Odom Jr.
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Sam Cooke in “One Night in Miami”

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Austin Hargrave / Getty Images

Leslie Odom Jr.
> Career Oscar nominations: 2

Courtesy of No Distributor Found

Maria Bakalova
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Tutar Sagdiyev in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”

Art Directors Guild / Getty Images

Maria Bakalova
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

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Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Olivia Colman
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Anne in “The Father”

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Olivia Colman
> Career Oscar nominations: 2 (1 win — Best Actress for “The Favourite”)

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Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Paul Raci
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Joe in “Sound of Metal”

Hilari Scarl / Getty Images

Paul Raci
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Riz Ahmed
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
> For playing: Ruben in “Sound of Metal”

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Victor Boyko / Getty Images

Riz Ahmed
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

Courtesy of Rocket Science

Sacha Baron Cohen
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Borat Sagdiyev in “The Trial of the Chicago 7”

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Jason Merritt/TERM / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Sacha Baron Cohen
> Career Oscar nominations: 3

Courtesy of A24

Steven Yeun
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
> For playing: Jacob in “Minari”

Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images

Steven Yeun
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

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Courtesy of Netflix

Vanessa Kirby
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
> For playing: Martha in “Pieces of a Woman”

Franco Origlia / Getty Images

Vanessa Kirby
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

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Courtesy of Netflix

Viola Davis
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
> For playing: Ma Rainey in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia Commons

Viola Davis
> Career Oscar nominations: 4 (1 win — Best Supporting Actress for “Fences”)

Courtesy of A24

Yuh-Jung Youn
> 2021 Oscar nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
> For playing: Soonja in “Minari”

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Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

Yuh-Jung Youn
> Career Oscar nominations: 1

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