Becoming a successful actor or actress is not an easy feat. It requires famous entertainers to sometimes step out their comfort zone and transform into a new appearance and personality.
These actors have been awarded with accolades for their outstanding roles portraying the opposite gender.
John Travolta
In the musical, romantic comedy film Hairspray, Travolta plays the role of a laundry lady who hasn't left her house for a decade because she's self-conscious of her body weight. This comedic female role was unconventional for someone who had exuded a powerful sense of masculinity in Hollywood.
Watch a clip of Travolta showing off his feminine side in Hairspray.
Michael J. Fox
There's no question that Michael J. Fox is a talented actor. In Back to the Future: Part II, he plays Marty McFly, a boy who just got back from the past and soon after is sent to the future. Fox also plays the part of Marlene McFly (Marty's daughter). Although he may not have nailed the voice, the look is on point.
Jared Leto
Jared Leto has played a lot of strange characters, which includes Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream and The Joker in Suicide Squad, so it's not surprising that he succeeded at playing a female character. Despite a lot of backlash for not casting a real transgender person for the role of Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club, Leto did a great job. He went on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Cate Blanchett
You may be surprised to hear that the actor who played Jude Quinn in I'm Not There is a woman. Jude Quinn is one of Bob Dylan's personas in the biographical movie.
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the movie Tootsie. It's about an actor in NYC who is difficult to work with, and out of desperation, character Michael Dorsey, dresses as a woman and auditions for a female role and gets it.
There's some really good ones next!
Patrick Swayze
Legendary actor Patrick Swayze played a drag queen in the comedy film To Wong Foo Thanks for Anything, Julie Newmar. He also received a Golden Globe for his incredible acting skills in the movie.
Robin Williams
Mrs. Doubtfire is perhaps the first movie portraying gender reversal that comes to mind. The storyline is heartbreaking, but also comedic. Williams's exceptional acting skills makes us want to laugh and cry at the same time. Williams plays the role of a man whose wife divorces him, so he dresses up as an elderly female nanny in order to see his children every day.
Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank plays the role of a transgender man named Brandon Teena, in the American biographical film Boys Don't Cry. Swank won an Oscar for her role, and, arguably, she deserved it.
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy plays an androgynous teenager who turns into an elegant blonde in the movie Breakfast on Pluto. It was one of the biggest movies of Murphy's career that showed off his exceptional acting skills.
Eddie Redmayne
The Danish Girl recounts the fictionalized account of Lili Elbe, one of the first people to have a sex change. Who could have played this role better than Eddie Redmayne?