8 Amazing Actor Transformations into Historical Figures

Feb. 6, 2013— -- intro: We've always been fascinated by any actor's ability to take on an entirely different persona, a task that's all the more challenging when an actor has to portray a famous person right down to his or her quirks and mannerisms.

We're particularly interested to see how End of Watch star Michael Peña's transforms into ionic labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. If early images are anything to go by, Peña has already done an impressive job of looking the part.

Here are some other uncanny transformations by actors into famous figures in history.

quicklist: 1title: Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincolntext: The method actor not only took on Honest Abe's iconic beard-and-hat combo, he also remained in character while texting with his onscreen wife, Sally Field.

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quicklist: 2title: Benicio del Toro as Marxist Revolutionary Che Guevaratext: The two men already bore a striking physical resemblance, made complete when the Puerto Rican actor donned the Argentine's signature fatigues.

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quicklist: 3title: Salma Hayek as Artist Frida Kahlotext: The Mexican actress took on the artist's iconic facial hair in her portrayal, which proved a departure from the many comedic or action roles she's played on the big screen.

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quicklist: 4title: Will Smith as Boxer Muhammad Alitext: The usually-thin actor packed on muscle to portray the charismatic fighter in the film, Ali.

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quicklist: 5title: Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhitext: Kingsley -- whose family has Indian roots -- offered a truly uncanny portrayal of one of India's most well-known figures.

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quicklist: 6title: Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth Itext: The Australian actress played the rather striking and controversy-courting queen in two films, Elizabeth and its sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

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quicklist: 7title: Hugh Jackman as Wolverinetext: What? We can scarcely tell which is which.

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