| abstract | - An actor or actress known for their physical beauty being altered by makeup and prosthetics to play an unattractive or even ugly character, usually as Oscar Bait. This doesn't cover really deformed or monstrous characters like Freddy Krueger or Quasimodo; that would be The Grotesque. Note: This is different from Hollywood Homely. In Hollywood Homely, an actor or actress will be "plained down" with unflattering clothing or hairstyle, glasses, a better-looking sibling, but the result is only (maybe) average-looking by non-Hollywood standards. This also (intentionally or not) leaves an opening for a Beautiful All Along reveal. It also covers characters who might be objectively attractive, but hindered due to crippling shyness or other social issues. This trope is when the actor uses makeup or prosthetics to change the look of their face to match the expectations and image of the character. This trope usually happens in biopics and serious dramas, and covers attractive actors playing below average-looking characters (or real people), and there is a definite effort to not only play down but deliberately counteract the actor's usual good looks. Since most Hollywood actors tend to be very attractive, it's an interesting challenge for them to portray a Gonk. If they're playing outright monsters who are usually portrayed as ugly, this may result in a Gorgeous Gorgon. See also Dyeing for Your Art, which generally covers actors who change their appearance for their roles. Contrast with Adaptational Attractiveness. Examples of Beauty Inversion include:
|
