Change is inevitable in the spotlight, especially over a long career. But some celebrities have taken it to a whole new level. While a number of A-listers follow a steady career path, others stumble, reinvent themselves, and make unexpected comebacks.
Some stars have stunned fans with major weight-loss transformations, while others have gracefully embraced new styles, like Pamela Anderson ditching her signature makeup look in her fifties.
For many of these talents, physical transformations go hand-in-hand with professional growth, such as Lindsay Lohan adopting a more mature image to portray a mother in her return to the big screen.
Below, Bored Panda has compiled a list of 30 celebrities who have transformed over the years, both physically and professionally.
#21 Haley Joel Osment
Haley achieved stardom when he portrayed Cole Sear in the 1999 thriller The Sixth Sense, co-starring Bruce Willis. His performance as a psychic child earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The actor, now 37, has also appeared in Pay It Forward, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Secondhand Lions.
As an adult, he has starred in the comedies Sex Ed, Entourage, and Happy Gilmore 2, in addition to doing voice acting for Lego Marvel Avengers and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The actor, now 37, has also appeared in Pay It Forward, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Secondhand Lions.
As an adult, he has starred in the comedies Sex Ed, Entourage, and Happy Gilmore 2, in addition to doing voice acting for Lego Marvel Avengers and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
7points
#22 Miley Cyrus
Miley became a world star when she played the title character in the hit Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana. In parallel with her Disney series, she launched a successful music career with albums of her own.
After growing up in the spotlight, Miley said she was “harshly judged” during her early 20s for her efforts to move on from the Disney show, which included twerking onstage at the 2013 MTV Music Video Awards.
"I was creating attention for myself because I was dividing myself from a character I had played," the Flowers singer explained. "I wouldn't erase my story or want it to be erased. Having an interesting life makes for interesting storytelling."
After growing up in the spotlight, Miley said she was “harshly judged” during her early 20s for her efforts to move on from the Disney show, which included twerking onstage at the 2013 MTV Music Video Awards.
"I was creating attention for myself because I was dividing myself from a character I had played," the Flowers singer explained. "I wouldn't erase my story or want it to be erased. Having an interesting life makes for interesting storytelling."
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7points
#23 John Travolta
John got his first major roles in Welcome Back, Kotter and Carrie. However, he’s undoubtedly better known for playing the rebellious student Danny Zuko in Grease opposite Olivia Newton John and Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever.
Nearly twenty years after the dance drama, he received praise for his performance as Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, a role that earned him an Oscar nomination.
The 71-year-old returned to television portraying lawyer Robert Shapiro in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and Ron Wilcox in Die Hart alongside Kevin Hart.
John, one of Hollywood’s most famous actors, is also a private pilot.
Nearly twenty years after the dance drama, he received praise for his performance as Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, a role that earned him an Oscar nomination.
The 71-year-old returned to television portraying lawyer Robert Shapiro in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and Ron Wilcox in Die Hart alongside Kevin Hart.
John, one of Hollywood’s most famous actors, is also a private pilot.
4points
#24 Robert Downey Jr.
Now 60 years old, Robert Downey Jr. made his acting debut at the age of 5 in his father’s 1970 film Pound.
His career has been long and eclectic, with his most notable roles being in Chaplin, Ally McBeal, Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man, and most recently, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which earned him his first Oscar.
At last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Robert would return to the MCU in a new role as Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom in the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
His career has been long and eclectic, with his most notable roles being in Chaplin, Ally McBeal, Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man, and most recently, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which earned him his first Oscar.
At last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Robert would return to the MCU in a new role as Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom in the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
4points
#25 Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy’s career has spanned more than five decades, marked by his often stoic, authoritative roles. The Texas-born actor began his acting journey on the stage and made his film debut in the 1970 romantic drama Love Story.
His portrayal of US Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Tommy continued to shine in blockbusters like Men in Black and intense dramas such as JFK and In the Valley of Elah.
Beyond acting, the 78-year-old has also directed and produced, most notably with The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, presented at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
His portrayal of US Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Tommy continued to shine in blockbusters like Men in Black and intense dramas such as JFK and In the Valley of Elah.
Beyond acting, the 78-year-old has also directed and produced, most notably with The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, presented at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
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4points
#26 Sarah Jessica Parker
SJP made her Broadway debut at just 11 years old in The Innocents. The actress landed her first major film roles in the 1980s, appearing in Footloose and Firstborn.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, she became synonymous with fashion enthusiast Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series Sex and the City.
She later reprised the iconic role in two Sex and the City films, as well as the revival series And Just Like That…
Outside of the show, Sarah has also impressed with her fashion sense and earned fashion icon status, showcased through her multiple Met Gala appearances.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, she became synonymous with fashion enthusiast Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series Sex and the City.
She later reprised the iconic role in two Sex and the City films, as well as the revival series And Just Like That…
Outside of the show, Sarah has also impressed with her fashion sense and earned fashion icon status, showcased through her multiple Met Gala appearances.
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3points
#27 The Weeknd
The singer, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, began releasing music anonymously on YouTube in 2009. His songs quickly caught the attention of Drake and The New York Times.
Abel became world-famous after releasing Can't Feel My Face from his album Beauty Behind the Madness. He also achieved success with hits like Starboy and Blinding Lights.
The Canadian star, 35, has won four Grammy Awards and co-starred with Lily Rose Depp in the widely panned series The Idol.
Abel became world-famous after releasing Can't Feel My Face from his album Beauty Behind the Madness. He also achieved success with hits like Starboy and Blinding Lights.
The Canadian star, 35, has won four Grammy Awards and co-starred with Lily Rose Depp in the widely panned series The Idol.
-5points
#28 Jacob Tremblay
Jacob became famous after playing a child born in captivity in the 2015 film Room, where he starred opposite Brie Larson. His performance made him the youngest nominee for the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
Two years later, he starred as a child with Treacher Collins syndrome in the drama Wonder and as a sixth grader in the coming-of-age comedy Good Boys.
The Canadian actor, now 18, has also done voice acting for the animated films Harley Quinn and Luca. Additionally, he voiced Flounder in the 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
Two years later, he starred as a child with Treacher Collins syndrome in the drama Wonder and as a sixth grader in the coming-of-age comedy Good Boys.
The Canadian actor, now 18, has also done voice acting for the animated films Harley Quinn and Luca. Additionally, he voiced Flounder in the 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
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-6points
#29 Ryan Reynolds
Ryan began acting at the age of thirteen, taking on small roles in TV shows in Canada. The actor had his first lead roles in the 1990s soap opera Hillside and the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl.
He went on to star in the successful comedies National Lampoon's Van Wilder and Waiting, before he played Sandra Bullock’s assistant in The Proposal.
Now, the heartthrob is perhaps better known for playing Deadpool in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When he’s not busy fighting villains, Ryan is at home with wife Blake Lively and their four children. He’s also the co-owner of the soccer club Wrexham, based in Wales, with fellow actor Rob McElhenney.
He went on to star in the successful comedies National Lampoon's Van Wilder and Waiting, before he played Sandra Bullock’s assistant in The Proposal.
Now, the heartthrob is perhaps better known for playing Deadpool in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When he’s not busy fighting villains, Ryan is at home with wife Blake Lively and their four children. He’s also the co-owner of the soccer club Wrexham, based in Wales, with fellow actor Rob McElhenney.
-7points
#30 Khloé Kardashian
Khloé recently shared every procedure she has undergone since she first appeared in the reality show that made her family famous in 2007.
The mom of two said she’s had a nose job done, Botox injected on her face, as well as fillers and “collagen baby threads” underneath her chin and neck.
She also gets “salmon sperm facials/ regular facials, peptides, vitamins” and uses skincare products, the star wrote.
Additionally, the Good American founder shared that she’s lost 80 pounds (36 kg) over the years, slow and steady, with coach Joe Paris.
The mom of two said she’s had a nose job done, Botox injected on her face, as well as fillers and “collagen baby threads” underneath her chin and neck.
She also gets “salmon sperm facials/ regular facials, peptides, vitamins” and uses skincare products, the star wrote.
Additionally, the Good American founder shared that she’s lost 80 pounds (36 kg) over the years, slow and steady, with coach Joe Paris.
-15points