22 Famous Actors Who Looked So Much Like The Historical Figures They Played, I Had To Do A Double Take

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1.This is Marilyn Monroe, an actor, singer, and sex symbol best known for embodying the "blonde bombshell" trope.

Marilyn sitting on a couch wearing cropped pants and holding a book
Alfred Eisenstaedt / The Life Picture Collection / Shutterstock

Here's Ana de Armas as Marilyn in Blonde (2022).

Ana sitting on a couch wearing cropped pants and holding a book
Netflix

And here's a side-by-side of Marilyn and Ana in the movie.

  Alfred Eisenstaedt / The Life Picture Collection / Shutterstock, Netflix
Alfred Eisenstaedt / The Life Picture Collection / Shutterstock, Netflix

2.This is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, whose accomplishments include issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people within the Confederacy.

Abe Lincoln sitting in a chair
Historical / Corbis via Getty Images

Here's Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham in the movie Lincoln (2012).

Close-up of Daniel as Abe in a bow tie
20thcentfox / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Abraham and Daniel in the movie.

  Historical / Corbis via Getty Images, 20thcentfox / Courtesy Everett Collection
Historical / Corbis via Getty Images, 20thcentfox / Courtesy Everett Collection

3.This is Elvis Presley, who was dubbed "the King of Rock 'n' Roll."

Elvis Presley playing the guitar and singing
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

Here's Austin Butler as Elvis in Elvis (2022).

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley singing and playing the guitar
Warner Bros.

And here's a side-by-side of Elvis and Austin in the movie.

Elvis singing and playing the guitar; Austin Butler singing and playing the guitar
Getty Images, Warner Bros.

4.This is Emily Dickinson, one of the most important figures in American poetry.

A faded image of Emily
Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

Here's Hailee Steinfeld as Emily on the TV show Dickinson (2019–21).

Close-up of Hailee
Apple TV+

And here's a side-by-side of Emily and Hailee in the series.

  Boston Globe / Getty Images, Apple TV+
Boston Globe / Getty Images, Apple TV+

5.This is Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter best known for her portraits.

Black-and-white photo of Frida resting her chin on her hand
Getty Images

Here's Salma Hayek as Frida in the movie Frida (2002).

Close-up of Salma as Frida
Miramax / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Frida and Salma in the movie.

  Getty Images, Miramax / Everett
Getty Images, Miramax / Everett

6.This is Salvador Dalí, a Spanish surrealist artist best known for his technical skill and precision.

Black-and-white photo of Salvador as a young man in a suit, with a pencil mustache
Donaldson Collection / Getty Images

Here's Adrien Brody as Salvador in the movie Midnight in Paris (2011).

Adrien as Salvador in a suit, with a pencil mustache
Sony Pictures Classics / Everett

And here's a side-by-side of Salvador and Adrien in the movie.

  Donaldson Collection / Getty Images, Sony Pictures Classics / Everett
Donaldson Collection / Getty Images, Sony Pictures Classics / Everett

7.This is Jimi Hendrix, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and "the most gifted instrumentalist of all time."

Jimi Hendrix performing onstage
David Redfern / Redferns / Getty Images

Here's André 3000 as Jimi in the movie Jimi: All Is by My Side (2014).

André 3000 dressed as Jimi Hendrix, playing guitar
Open Road Films / Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Jimi and André in the movie.

Jimi Hendrix playing guitar; André 3000 playing guitar as Jimi Hendrix
Getty Images, Open Road Films / Everett

8.This is Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean.

Black-and-white photo of Amelia smiling
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

And here's Hilary Swank as Amelia in the movie Amelia (2009).

Hilary as Amelia in an airplane
Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Amelia and Hilary in the movie.

  Bettmann / Getty Images, Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection
Bettmann / Getty Images, Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

9.This is Ray Charles, a singer-songwriter, pianist, and composer often regarded as "the Genius."

Ray Charles playing the piano
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

Here's Jamie Foxx as Ray in the movie Ray (2004).

Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, singing
Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Ray and Jamie in the movie.

Ray Charles; Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles
Getty Images, Universal / Everett Collection

10.This is Sharon Tate, an actor and model who was murdered by members of the Manson Family cult.

Sharon in a blouse
Getty Images

Here's Margot Robbie as Sharon in the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

Margot as Sharon in a turtleneck
Andrew Cooper / Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Sharon and Margot in the movie.

  Getty Images, Columbia
Getty Images, Columbia

11.This is Coco Chanel, a French fashion designer and namesake for the brand Chanel.

Black-and-white photo of Coco perching on the arm of a couch and wearing a fur coat with her arms folded
Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Here's Audrey Tautou as Coco in the movie Coco Before Chanel (2009).

Close-up of Audrey as Coco in a checkered coat
Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Coco and Audrey in the movie.

  Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images, Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images, Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

12.This is Muhammad Ali, a professional boxer who has been dubbed the greatest heavyweight of all time.

A black-and-white photo of a bare-chested Ali with his arms folded and wearing boxing gloves
The Stanley Weston Archive / Getty Images

Here's Eli Goree as Muhammad in the movie One Night in Miami (2020).

A bare-chested Eli as Ali in the ring
Prime Video

And here's a side-by-side of Muhammad and Eli in the movie.

  The Stanley Weston Archive / Getty Images, Prime Video
The Stanley Weston Archive / Getty Images, Prime Video

13.This is Jackie Robinson, the first Black baseball player to play in the major leagues.

Black-and-white photo of Jackie in a Dodgers uniform
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Here's Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in the film 42 (2013).

Chadwick in a Dodgers uniform
Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Jackie and Chadwick in the movie.

  Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

14.This is Babe Ruth, who was the single most famous baseball player in the entire world.

Black-and-white close-up of Babe in a baseball uniform
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Here's John Goodman as Babe in the movie The Babe (1992).

Close-up of John in a baseball uniform and holding a bat
Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Babe and John in the movie.

  Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

15.This is Virginia Woolf, an English writer who has been dubbed the most important modernist writer of the 20th century.

Black-and-white photo of VIrginia
Evening Standard / Getty Images

Here's Nicole Kidman as Virginia in the movie The Hours (2002).

Nicole as Virginia with her hair up and wearing a flower-print outfit
Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Virginia and Nicole in the movie.

  Evening Standard / Getty Images, Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection
Evening Standard / Getty Images, Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

16.This is Charlie Chaplin, a comedian, actor, and filmmaker who gained fame during the era of silent film.

Black-and-white photo of Charlie with a small mustache
Archive Photos / Getty Images

Here's Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie in the movie Chaplin (1992).

Robert in a black-and-white photo as Charlie with a small mustache and holding a hat
Tristar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Charlie and Robert in the movie.

  Archive Photos / Getty Images, Tristar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
Archive Photos / Getty Images, Tristar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

17.This is Nelson Mandela, a South African anti-apartheid activist who also became the country's first Black head of state and first president.

Nelson in a suit and smiling with his fist raised
Louise Gubb / Corbis via Getty Images

Here's Morgan Freeman as Nelson in the movie Invictus (2009).

Morgan as Nelson in a suit and smiling
Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Nelson and Morgan in the movie.

  Louise Gubb / Corbis via Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection
Louise Gubb / Corbis via Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

18.This is Malcolm X, a Muslim minister and human rights activist best known for his work during the American civil rights movement.

Black-and-white photo of Malcolm wearing glasses and a suit and bow tie and standing at a podium
Richard Saunders / Getty Images

Here's Denzel Washington as Malcolm in the movie Malcolm X (1992).

Denzel as Malcolm wearing glasses and a suit and bow tie and standing at a podium
Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Malcolm and Denzel in the movie.

  Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection
Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

19.This is Alfred Hitchcock, an influential filmmaker known for iconic thriller movies like Psycho, The Birds, and Vertigo.

Side view of Alfred
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Here's Anthony Hopkins as Alfred in the movie Hitchcock (2012).

Side view of Anthony as Alfred
Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Alfred and Anthony in the movie.

  Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

20.This is Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.

Black-and-white photo of Harvey smiling
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Here's Sean Penn as Harvey in the movie Milk (2008).

Sean as Harvey smiling
Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Harvey and Sean in the movie.

  Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

21.This is Dalton Trumbo, a screenwriter who was blacklisted because of his support for the Communist Party.

Black-and-white photo of Dalton with a bird resting on his chest
John Swope / Getty Images

Here's Bryan Cranston as Dalton in the movie Trumbo (2015).

Bryan as Dalton with a bird perched on his hand
Bleecker Street Media / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Dalton and Bryan in the movie.

  John Swope / Getty Images, Bleecker Street Media / Courtesy Everett Collection
John Swope / Getty Images, Bleecker Street Media / Courtesy Everett Collection

22.And finally, this is Margaret Thatcher, the UK's first female prime minister and the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century.

Margaret sitting on a couch and wearing a suit
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Here's Meryl Streep as Margaret in the movie The Iron Lady (2011).

Meryl as Margaret in a suit with police officers behind her
Weinstein Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's a side-by-side of Margaret and Meryl in the movie.

  Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Weinstein Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Weinstein Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection
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