Biopics are a great challenge for actors—instead of creating a character from nothing, they have to portray a version of a real person on screen. Bringing someone else's story to life is a big responsibility, but one that also helps a real life person's story be told. Here, take a look at 31 actors hanging out with the very real people they portrayed in movies and on television.

Margot Robbie portrayed figure skater Tonya Harding in the movie I, Tonya in 2018. Robbie was also nominated for her first-ever Oscar that year for her role.

Jessica Chastain played poker princess Molly Bloom in the 2017 film Molly's Game. Of her role, Chastain told Vulture: "It’s the story of a woman who uses her intellect and her competitive nature to become powerful in an industry traditionally dominated by men. For me, that is a very interesting story to tell."

Zoe Kazan played Emily Gordon in the 2017 movie The Big Sick. Gordon also wrote the script, and brought her own life story to the big screen.

Dev Patel played Saroo Brierley in the 2016 film Lion.

Mark Wahlberg played football player Vince Papale in the 2006 sports drama Invincible.

Angelina Jolie played Mariane Pearl in the 2007 thriller A Mighty Heart.

Brie Larson played writer Jeannette Walls in the 2017 movie, The Glass Castle, which was based off Walls's 2005 memoir.

Bullock played Tuohy in the 2009 film The Blind Side.

Morgan Freeman portrayed Nelson Mandela in the 2009 movie Invictus.

Julia Roberts played Elizabeth Gilbert in the 2010 movie Eat Pray Love, based on Gilbert's best-selling memoir.

Kerry Washington portrayed Judy Smith on the hit TV show Scandal, who was the real-life inspiration for Washington's character Olivia Pope.

Franco played Ralston in the 2010 movie 127 Hours.

Jake Gyllenhaal played Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman in the 2017 movie Stronger, which was based off of Bauman's memoir.

Tatiana Maslany played Erin Hurley, Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman's wife, in the 2017 movie Stronger.

Reese Witherspoon portrayed Cheryl Strayed in the 2014 film Wild, which was based off of Strayed's best-selling memoir.

Emma Stone played tennis star Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes in 2017.

Beyoncé played Etta James in Cadillac Records in 2008.

Selma Blair portrayed Kris Jenner in the 2017 TV series The People vs. O.J. Simpson.

Helen Mirren played the British monarch in the 2006 movie The Queen.

Leonardo DiCaprio played Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can in 2002.

Kristen Stewart played singer-songwriter Joan Jett in the 2010 movie The Runaways.

Amy Poehler portrayed Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live.

Kate McKinnon also took on the role of Hillary Clinton on a Saturday Night Live skit.

Mark Wahlberg played boxer Micky Ward in The Fighter in 2010.

Christian Bale played boxer Dicky Eklund in The Fighter in 2010.

Brad Pitt played professional baseball player Billy Beane in the 2011 movie Moneyball.

Eddie Redmayne portrayed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the 2014 film The Theory of Everything.

Will Smith played professional boxer Muhammad Ali in the 2001 movie about his life, Ali.

Jesse Eisenberg played Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 movie The Social Network.

AnnaSophia Robb played pro-surfer Bethany Hamilton in the 2011 film Soul Surfer.

Patty Duke played Helen Keller in the 1962 film The Miracle Worker.