Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Today — 8 January 2025Main stream

A complete timeline of Austin Butler and Kaia Gerber's relationship

8 January 2025 at 09:13
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at the 2022 Met Gala May 02, 2022.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at the 2022 Met Gala May 02, 2022.

Kevin Mazur/MG22/Getty Images

  • "Elvis" actor Austin Butler, 33, and model Kaia Gerber, 23, were romantically linked in late 2021.
  • The couple went public in 2022, and reports that they had parted ways came in early 2025.
  • Here's a complete timeline of Butler and Gerber's three-year relationship.
December 19, 2021: Austin Butler and Kaia Gerber were first spotted spending time together.
Austin Butler in Paris on October 04, 2021.
Austin Butler in Paris on October 04, 2021.

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

According to Us Weekly, Austin Butler and Kaia Gerber attended a yoga class in Los Angeles on December 19, 2021. In photos obtained by Daily Mail, the "Zoey 101" star and the model can be seen talking together while walking on a sidewalk before driving away in Gerber's car. 

Three days later, the two were photographed packing their suitcases into a car before heading to the Los Angeles airport, per E! News.

The 23-year-old, whose own exes include Pete Davidson and Jacob Elordi, is the daughter of 1980s supermodel icon Cindy Crawford and business mogul Rande Gerber.

 

February 14, 2022: The two spent their first Valentine's Day together.
Kaia Gerber at the the 2021 Met Gala.
Kaia Gerber at the 2021 Met Gala.

Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty Images

Butler and Gerber celebrated their first Valentine's Day together in London, England.

In photos obtained by Just Jared, the two were seen bundled up in coats as they enjoyed coffee and snacks in the UK capital.

 

 

March 24, 2022: Austin Butler and Kaia Gerber made their first official outing together.
Kaia Gerber in a black dress and Austin Butler in a black suit posing
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at the W Magazine's Annual Best Performances Party 2023.

Presley Ann / Getty Images for W Magazine

Three months into their relationship, Butler and Gerber attended W Magazine's annual pre-Oscars Best Performances party together.

They were seen walking hand-in-hand into the party at Gigi's in Hollywood. The Instagram account for the outlet shared a photo of the two that showed Butler planting a kiss on Gerber's cheek and referred to the actor as Gerber's "boyfriend" in the caption.

 

May 2, 2022: They made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Met Gala.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler arrive at the 2022 Met Gala May 02, 2022
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler arrive at the 2022 Met Gala May 02, 2022.

Kevin Mazur/MG22/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

The young lovers opted to walk the red carpet separately as Butler officially attended the event with Elvis Presley's widow, Priscilla Presley, according to People.

However, they later joined together and posed for photographers when they reached the top of the Metropolitan Museum of Art staircase.

 

May 25, 2022: Butler and Gerber kiss on the red carpet following the premiere of "Elvis" at Cannes.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler embracing after the screening of "Elvis" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler embracing after the screening of "Elvis" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival.

Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Gerber joined Butler at the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival where his new movie, "Elvis," premiered. Again, they walked the red carpet separately but were photographed holding each other's faces and kissing. 

 

July 28, 2022: Gerber appears in Butler's Elvis-inspired photoshoot.
Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in "Elvis."
Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in "Elvis."

Warner Bros. Pictures

Gerber — or part of her, at least — appeared in Butler's photo shoot for V Magazine's VMAN 49's fall-winter 2022 issue. In two photos that show Butler with his back toward the camera and dressed in an Elvis Presley-esque outfit, Gerber's arms can be seen draped around his neck. 

Although her face and body were hidden from the camera, Gerber's "I know" wrist tattoo can be seen in both shots.

 

January 10, 2023: Gerber and Butler are seen kissing backstage at the Golden Globes.
Kaia Gerber in a grey dress and Austin Butler in a black suit walking down stairs.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at the TIME100 Gala 2023.

Nina Westervelt / Variety via Getty Images

Butler won his first Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the King of Rock n' Roll and was caught on camera sharing a kiss with Gerber backstage after giving his acceptance speech to the audience.

March 12, 2023: Gerber and Butler also attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party together.
Kaia Gerber in a silver dress and Austin Butler in a black suit posing
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscars Party.

Karwai Tang / WireImage

Butler missed his opportunity to win his first Oscar after the best actor award went to Brendan Fraser. While Gerber was nowhere to be seen on the red carpet for the main event, she supported her boyfriend afterward at the Vanity Fair Oscars party.

March 30, 2023: Gerber and Butler volunteer together at a children's hospital in LA.
Kaia Gerber in a grey dress and Austin Butler in a black suit posing
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at TIME100 Gala 2023.

Taylor Hill / FilmMagic

On 30 March, the official Instagram account for Children's Hospital L.A. shared that Butler and Gerber had visited the patients there during their Make March Matter campaign. In some of the photographs and videos, Butler can be seen teaching the children how to play the guitar.

August 2023: Gerber and Butler are spotted attending Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in LA.
taylor swift eras tour
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour.

Emma McIntyre/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift's 2023 Eras Tour was attended by several celebrities, especially at the LA concerts.

Numerous videos shared on social media showed Butler and Gerber attending one of Swift's concerts at LA's SoFi Stadium.

While Butler went to the concert incognito, wearing a face mask and a cap, Gerber was not shy about being at the event and even received friendship bracelets from fans.

August 17, 2023: Gerber and Austin celebrate the actor's 32nd birthday together.
Kaia Gerber in a grey dress and Austin Butler in a black suit sitting at a table
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at TIME100 Gala 2023.

Sean Zanni / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

According to People, Butler and Gerber were spotted on August 17 spending time together in LA and going to lunch, presumably to mark Butler's 32nd birthday.

October 2023: Butler supported Gerber during Paris Fashion Week.
Austin Butler and Kaia Gerber photographed in December 2023.
Austin Butler and Kaia Gerber photographed in December 2023.

James Devaney/GC Images/Getty Images

According to People, the "Bikeriders" actor watched on as Gerber opened the Valentino Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show during Paris Fashion Week.

October 27, 2023: The couple attended a Halloween party dressed as Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler attend the Annual Casamigos Halloween Party on October 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler attend the Annual Casamigos Halloween Party on October 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Casamigos

The couple attended a party put on by Casamigos, the tequila brand her father Rande Gerber cofounded with George Clooney and Mike Meldman.

January 7, 2025: Reports emerged that the Butler and Gerber had split up.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at the TIME100 Gala held at Frederick P. Rose Hall on April 26, 2023 in New York City.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler at the TIME100 Gala in April 2023.

Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images

On January 7, People reported that the couple had separated after three years of dating, citing a source who confirmed the news to the outlet after TMZ first reported it.

Neither outlet shared the reason behind Butler and Gerber's split, although TMZ stated that the couple had ended their relationship near the end of 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Before yesterdayMain stream

48 actors who completely transformed themselves into real-life music legends

2 January 2025 at 12:57
Timothée Chalamet behind the scenes as Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown."
Director James Mangold and Timothée Chalamet behind the scenes as Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown."

Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures

  • Actors often transform into real-life musicians for biopics. 
  • Some actors go through physical transformations to play musicians.
  • Many, like Timothée Chalamet and Angelina Jolie, employ vocal coaches to nail their performances.  

Musical legends have been brought to the big screen for decades, in biopics that range from transformative to highly mediocre. Finding actors who can accurately portray those artists often requires some musical training, studying of mannerisms, and physical transformations.

While some roles merely require learning some choreography and slight makeup, others are more intensive, like Jamie Foxx having his eyes glued shut to portray blind musician Ray Charles.

The latest addition to the list is Timothée Chalamet, who stars as Bob Dylan in James Mangold's film "A Complete Unknown." Mangold is no stranger to biopics, having previously directed the movie "Walk the Line," which starred Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash. But for Chalamet, playing the singer-songwriter was a new challenge, and the end result was years in the making. 

Here are 48 of the most notable musician biopic transformations. 

Anjelica Oswald contributed to a previous version of this article.

Timothée Chalamet is earning awards season buzz for his performance as Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown."
Bob Dylan, left, performing in August 1963, and Timothée Chalamet as Dylan in "A Complete Unknown."
Bob Dylan, left, performing in August 1963, and Timothée Chalamet as Dylan in "A Complete Unknown."

Rowland Scherman/National Archive/Newsmakers; Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures

"A Complete Unknown" chronicles Dylan's rise to fame in the '60. Because of delays due to COVID-19 and the Hollywood strikes in 2023, Timothée Chalamet ended up having five to six years — rather than a couple of months — to work on his portrayal of the singer-songwriter.

During that time, he worked with a guitar teacher named Larry Saltzman and a vocal coach named Eric Vetro. In addition to singing, guitar, and harmonica lessons, Chalamet grew out his real nails and kept speaking like Dylan on set even when cameras weren't rolling. Chalamet also told NPR that he gained 2o pounds because he was thinner than Dylan.

Angelina Jolie plays famed soprano Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's biopic "Maria."
Maria Callas, left, in London in June 1958, and Angelina Jolie, right, as Callas in "Maria."
Maria Callas, left, in London in June 1958, and Angelina Jolie, right, as Callas in "Maria."

Zimmerman/Mirrorpix via Getty Images; Pablo Larraín/Netflix

Angelina Jolie, who never publicly sang before starring in the 2024 film, spent seven months taking singing, voice, and Italian classes. Even while filming "Maria," Jolie had nightly singing rehearsals to prepare for the next day of shooting.

"Industry" star Marisa Abela spent four months taking singing lessons with a vocal coach to portray Amy Winehouse in Sam Taylor-Johnson's 2024 biopic "Back to Black."
Amy Winehouse, left, performing for the 2008 Grammys, and Marisa Abela, right, as Amy Winehouse in "Back to Black."
Amy Winehouse, left, performing for the 2008 Grammys, and Marisa Abela, right, as Amy Winehouse in "Back to Black."

Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for NARAS; Focus Features

Marisa Abela worked with a dialect coach, vocal coach, movement coach, music producer, and guitar tutor to fully inhabit the character. Some of her costumes in the film contain real pieces of clothing worn by Winehouse, too.

Kingsley Ben-Adir starred as reggae legend Bob Marley in the film "Bob Marley: One Love."
On the left: Bob Marley performing in 1978. On the right: Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley in "Bob Marley: One Love."
Bob Marley, left, performing in 1978, and Kingsley Ben-Adir, right, as Marley in "Bob Marley: One Love."

Paul Natkin/WireImage;

The 2024 movie "Bob Marley: One Love" explores Marley's rise to fame, his hardships, and his performance at the One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica in 1978.

Ben-Adir worked with a guitar coach, movement coach, dialect coach, and Jamaican language coach to portray Marley. The performance scenes in the movie blend Ben-Adir and Marley's voices.  

Former Nickelodeon star Austin Butler earned an Academy Award nomination for his astounding transformation into "King of Rock 'n' Roll" Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis."
On the left: Elvis Presley in the '60s. On the right: Butler as Presley in "Elvis."
Elvis Presley, left, in the '60s, and Austin Butler, right, as Presley in "Elvis."

Frank Carroll/Gary Null/NBC via Getty Images; Warner Bros. Pictures

Austin Butler landed the role over stars like Miles Teller and Harry Styles, per the LA Times.

To play Presley, the actor watched old interviews of the singer, studied the way he talked and sang, and worked with vocal and movement coaches. Butler also developed a close bond with Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley during the process of making the film. 

Daniel Radcliffe played the titular musician of the 2022 biopic "Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story."
On the left: Weird Al Yankovic performing in 2010. On the right: Daniel Radcliffe as Yankovic in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."
Weird Al Yankovic, left, performing in 2010, and Daniel Radcliffe, right, as Yankovic in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."

Paul Natkin/Getty Images; Roku

The "Harry Potter" star won a Critics Choice Award for his performance as the eccentric musician. And yes, Radcliffe's thick mustache in the film is completely real

Evan Rachel Wood played Madonna in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."
On the left: Madonna in 1985. On the right: Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."
Madonna, left, in 1985, and Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna, right, in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."

Mondadori via Getty Images; Roku

The movie is a largely exaggerated retelling of Yankovic's life and career. 

"I watched tons of interviews, and I was constantly playing them on set just so I have the cadence of her voice and the tone in my head," Wood told E! News of her process into becoming Madonna. 

"I just sort of let her loose on set and took the foundation that I had and turned it up and made it the most unhinged, sort of stage mom Madonna that one has ever seen," Wood added.

Naomi Ackie portrayed singer Whitney Houston in the biopic "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody."
On the left: Whitney Houston singing the national anthem in 1991. On the right: Naomi Ackie recreating the moment in "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody."
Whitney Houston, left, singing the national anthem in 1991, and Naomi Ackie, right, recreating the moment in "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

George Rose/Getty Images; Sony Pictures

Naomi Ackie portrayed the Grammy-winning singer at different stages of her life. As part of her preparation, she worked with a vocal coach and listened to original recordings of Houston's isolated vocal tracks.

Gary Busey scored his first and only Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in 1978's "The Buddy Holly Story."
buddy holly gary busey
Buddy Holly, left, and Gary Busey, right, as Buddy Holly in "The Buddy Holly Story."

Keystone/Getty Images; Columbia Pictures

According to Gary Busey's biography, he played the guitar, recorded the songs for the film, and lost 32 pounds to play Holly.

Viola Davis earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of legendary blues artist Ma Rainey in the 2020 film "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
On the left: Ma Rainey in the 1920s. On the right: Viola Davis as Rainey in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
Ma Rainey, left, in the 1920s, and Viola Davis, right, as Rainey in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."

JP Jazz Archive/Redfern; David Lee/Netflix

The film also won two Oscars, for best costume design and best makeup and hairstyling. 

Jason Mitchell transformed into Eazy-E for "Straight Outta Compton."
eazy e jason mitchell
Eazy-E, left, and Jason Mitchell, right, as Eazy-E.

Ruthless Records; Universal Pictures

Jason Mitchell's transformation into the late N.W.A rapper Eazy-E for "Straight Outta Compton" blew critics away.

A New York Times review said the actor "consistently out-acts the rest of the performers." Mitchell, who has a similarly built frame to Eazy-E, gained weight, practiced a South Los Angeles accent, and learned how to rap for the role, according to the Los Angeles Times. Corey Hawkins became Dr. Dre and O'Shea Jackson Jr. transformed into his father, Ice Cube, for the film.

Tom Hiddleston played Hank Williams in "I Saw the Light."
hank williams tom hiddleston
Hank Williams, left, and Tom Hiddleston, right as Williams in "I Saw the Light."

Publicity photo from WSM; Sony Pictures Classics

English actor Tom Hiddleston transformed into the folk singer, Southern drawl and all, for "I Saw the Light." Hiddleston stayed with singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell for five weeks and was coached in Williams' mannerisms and singing style.

Kristen Stewart became rocker Joan Jett for the 2010 film "The Runaways."
joan jett kristen stewart
Joan Jett, left, and Kristen Stewart, right, as Joan Jett in "The Runaways."

AP; Apparition

Jett and Stewart met before the movie was filmed so Stewart could learn about the rock star from the musician herself.

"The thing that came through to me was that it was important to her to capture it," Jett told Interview Magazine. "She really wanted to nail it, so I gave her all The Runaways music that I could find; I gave her tapes of me talking...And she really soaked it in. When we were hanging out together on set, it was like I had a mirror image. Even just sitting around, we'd do the same thing at the same time."

"Black Panther' star Chadwick Boseman channeled his inner funk and broke it down as James Brown in 2014's "Get on Up."
james brown chadwick boseman
James Brown, left, and Chadwick Boseman, right, as James Brown in "Get on Up."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Universal Pictures

Chadwick Boseman spent three hours in the makeup chair for his full-body prosthetics and wig to get the looks. With the help of a vocal coach and choreographer and advice from some of Brown's surviving relatives and Mick Jagger, one of the film's producers, Boseman gave an electrifying performance.

Jennifer Lopez's breakout role came when she was cast as the beloved Tejano singer Selena in "Selena."
selena jennifer lopez
Selena Quintanilla, left, and Jennifer Lopez, right, as Quintanilla in "Selena."

Maurice Rinaldi/EMI Latin; Warner Bros.

The Puerto Rican actor was met with some backlash because of her heritage. Lopez perfected the late singer's dialect and studied performance footage of the music sensation for the 1997 film.

"This is someone who's fresh in the public's mind, so you need to do your homework on this gig," Lopez told Entertainment Weekly.

Paul Dano played a young Brian Wilson in the 2014 film "Love & Mercy."
brian wilson paul dano
Brian Wilson, left, and Paul Dano, right, as Brian Wilson in "Love & Mercy."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Lionsgate

To play a younger version of the Beach Boys founder Wilson in "Love & Mercy," Paul Dano learned how to play piano and bass.

Wilson told the Chicago Tribune, "He looked a little bit like me at age 24. But the way he portrayed me producing records — you know? — was very factual, accurate, stimulating."

Dano received a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor. John Cusack plays an older Wilson in the film.

Jamie Foxx received universal acclaim for his portrayal of the blues legend Ray Charles in "Ray."
ray charles jamie foxx
Ray Charles, left, and Jamie Foxx, right, as Ray Charles in "Ray."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images and Universal Pictures

He won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics' Choice Award for best actor for his portrayal in the 2004 film. To embody the blind pianist, he had to lose nearly 30 pounds and had his eyes glued shut every day.

Marion Cotillard received critical acclaim for her portrayal of French singing icon Édith Piaf in the 2007 film "La Vie en Rose."
edith piaf marion cotillard
Édith Piaf, left, and Marion Cotillard, right, as Piaf in "La Vie en Rose."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Picturehouse

Marion Cotillard won numerous awards, including the Oscar for best actress. She wasn't initially considered for the role. But when she met with director Olivier Dahan, he was transfixed by her eyes and how they reminded him of a photo of a teenage Piaf.

Joaquin Phoenix earned an Academy Award nomination for best actor for his portrayal of beloved country musician Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line."
johnny cash joaquin phoenix
Johnny Cash, left, and Joaquin Phoenix, right, as Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; 20th Century Fox

Joaquin Phoenix sang all of the songs in the 2005 film, mimicking Cash's signature voice.

"Music is always part of how John communicates what he's feeling and seeing," Phoenix told ABC News. "And that couldn't be faked."

Aaron Taylor-Johnson's breakout role was playing the Beatles member John Lennon in "Nowhere Boy."
john lennon aaron taylor johnson
John Lennon, left, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, right, as Lennon in "Nowhere Boy."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Icon Entertainment International

Based on a biography written by Lennon's half-sister Julia Baird, the 2009 film told the story of Lennon's adolescence. It covered his relationship with his aunt, Mimi Smith, and his mother, Julia Lennon, as well as the formation of his first band, the Quarrymen, which would evolve into the Beatles.

 

Angela Bassett nailed the strong-willed Tina Turner, earning an Academy Award best actress nomination and won a Golden Globe for her performance in "What's Love Got to Do With It."
tina turner angela bassett
Tina Turner, left, and Angela Bassett, right, as Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It."

Evening Standard/Getty Images; Buena Vista Pictures

Angela Bassett prepared for her audition for the 1993 film with the film's choreographer, and after performing "Proud Mary," she got the role. Laurence Fishburne, who played Ike Turner, also earned an Oscar nomination.

Miles Davis' story was told on the big screen by Don Cheadle in the 2015 film "Miles Ahead."
miles davis don cheadle
Miles Davis left, and Don Cheadle, right, as Davis in "Miles Ahead."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Sony Pictures Classics

Cheadle was first linked to the biopic about Davis in 2006 when Davis, who died in 1991, was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Afterward, Davis' nephew announced Cheadle would play his uncle in a film of his life. Cheadle eventually cowrote a script, signed on to direct, and portrayed the jazz musician in "Miles Ahead."

(Cheadle also portrayed Sammy Davis Jr. in 1998's "The Rat Pack," for which he won a Golden Globe.)

Queen Latifah became blues queen Bessie Smith for "Bessie."
bessie smith queen latifah
Bessie Smith, left, and Queen Latifah, right, as Smith in "Bessie."

Three Lions/Getty Images; HBO

Portraying the "Empress of Blues" "left this mark on me," Queen Latifah told NPR. The singer was praised for her role in the 2015 HBO film "Bessie," which won an Emmy for outstanding television movie.

Jamal Woolard made his acting debut portraying Christopher Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G., in 2009's "Notorious."
notorious BIG and jamal woolard
The Notorious B.I.G., left, and Jamal Woolard, right, as The Notorious B.I.G. in "Notorious."

Mark Lennihan/AP; Fox Searchlight Pictures

He reprised the role of Biggie Smalls in "All Eyez on Me," a biopic about Tupac Shakur released in 2017.

Biggie's mother Voletta Wallace was a producer on "Notorious." And according to MTV News, she helped pick Woolard to play her son.

"He came in the room, and I said, 'That's my son,'" Wallace told the outlet.

John Lloyd Young originated the role of Frankie Valli on Broadway in "Jersey Boys" and reprised his role in the movie adaptation of the same name.
frankie valli john lloyd young
Frankie Valli, left, and John Lloyd Young, right as a younger Valli in "Jersey Boys."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Warner Bros. Pictures

Valli's life as the front man of The Four Seasons has been documented on Broadway since 2005. Young won a Tony Award for his portrayal. Clint Eastwood brought the story to the big screen in 2014.

Val Kilmer played The Doors rocker Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's "The Doors."
jim morrison val kilmer
Jim Morrison, left, and Val Kilmer, right, as Morrison in "The Doors."

Central Press/Getty Images; Tri-Star Pictures

To land the role of Morrison in the 1991 film, Kilmer made his own eight-minute video highlighting his singing abilities and changing his looks to match Morrison to send to director Oliver Stone. Once cast, he dieted for months and spent six months rehearsing songs. He also trained with Paul Rothchild, who produced all but one of The Doors' albums. Surviving band members were not thrilled with the film.

Kurt Russell received an Emmy nomination for his memorable portrayal of Elvis Presley in the 1979 TV movie "Elvis."
elvis kurt russell
Elvis Presley, left, and Kurt Russell, right, as Presley in "Elvis."

Liaison/Getty Images; ABC

Before the movie aired, Russell reportedly told the Los Angeles Times: "I know one thing, there's no in-between. It's either really going to be great or really horrible, just stinking."

It was a success. The film helped shoot Russell's career forward.

"I said, if I'm going to do this, I'm going out in flames. I'm controlling this airplane," Russell told GQ in 2016. "I'm taking it down, or I'm going to break through the clouds my way. And when I did that, that's when I had an epiphany moment, saying, 'Kurt, where have you been your whole life? Wake the f--k up. This is what you're supposed to do.'"

Zoe Saldaña's transformation into Nina Simone for "Nina" was controversial.
nina simone zoe saldana
Nina Simone, left, and Zoe Saldaña, right, as Nina Simone in "Nina."

Ian Showell/Getty Images; RLJ Entertainment

Zoe Saldaña's skin was darkened and the filmmakers added prosthetics to make her appear more like Simone.

In response to the casting choice and backlash, Simone's daughter told Time, "It's unfortunate that Zoe Saldaña is being attacked so viciously when she is someone who is part of a larger picture. It's clear she brought her best to this project, but unfortunately she's being attacked when she's not responsible for any of the writing or the lies."

But she also said she was against the making of the film.

"The project has been tainted from the very beginning," she said. "Clearly, it is not the truth about my mother's life and everyone now knows that. This is not how you want your loved ones remembered."

Dennis Quaid took on Jerry Lee Lewis for "Great Balls of Fire."
jerry lee lewis dennis quaid
Jerry Lee Lewis, left, and Dennis Quaid, right, in "Great Balls of Fire."

Evening Standard/Getty Images; MGM

Quaid practiced piano and took singing lessons for about three to five hours a day in order to learn how to imitate Lewis' piano skills. Though Lewis wasn't a big fan of the film according to AMC, Lewis said Quaid "really pulled it off."

Jessica Lange received high praise for her transformative performance as Patsy Cline in "Sweet Dreams."
patsy cline jessica lange
Patsy Cline, left, and Jessica Lange, right, as Cline in "Sweet Dreams."

Decca; TriStar Pictures

She earned her fourth Oscar nomination for the role.

Meryl Streep wanted to play Cline, but later said, "When I saw ['Sweet Dreams'] ... I couldn't imagine doing it as well or even coming close to what Jessica did because she was so amazing in it."

Gary Oldman portrayed the late Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious in "Sid and Nancy: Love Kills."
sid vicious gary oldman
Sid Vicious, left, and Gary Oldman, right, as Vicious in "Sid and Nancy: Love Kills."

Aubrey Hart/Evening Standard/Getty Images; The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Goldman beat out Daniel Day Lewis for the part and initially turned down the chance to play Vicious. But after accepting the role, he started to lose weight to mimic Vicious' skeletal body. GQ reported that the actor wasn't eating enough and collapsed in his car, too weak to move.

He told Playboy that he didn't like himself in the film.

"I don't think I played Sid Vicious very well," he said.

Joe Mantegna played Dean Martin in the TV film "The Rat Pack," earning a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination for his role.
dean martin joe mantegna
Dean Martin, left, and Joe Mantegna, right, as Martin in "The Rat Pack."

Express Newspapers/Getty Images; HBO

About playing the role, Joe Mantegna said, "My goal wasn't to mimic him. It was to capture him."

Sissy Spacek earned an Academy Award for her portrayal of country singer Loretta Lynn in "Coal Miner's Daughter."
loretta lynn sissy spacek
Loretta Lynn, left, and Sissy Spacek, right, as Lynn.

Hope Powell/Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Universal Pictures

Lynn had chosen Spacek to play her based on a photo she saw of the actor. To prepare for the role, Spacek traveled with Lynn for a year to study how she spoke and sang. Spacek did all her own singing in the movie.

Lou Diamond Phillips' breakout role was playing the late Ritchie Valens in the 1987 film "La Bamba."
ritchie valens lou diamond phillips
Ritchie Valens, left, and Lou Diamond Phillips, right, as Valens.

Del-FIr Records/Amazon; Columbia Pictures

The biopic about the teen musician earned a Golden Globe nomination. Los Lobos singer David Hidalgo lent his vocals to the film, while Phillips lip-synced the words. A guitar instructor was also on set to coach him on strumming the guitar.

Diana Ross transformed into Billie Holiday for "Lady Sings the Blues."
billie holiday diana ross
Billie Holiday, left, in 1958, and Diana Ross, left, in "Lady Sings the Blues."

AP/File; Paramount Pictures

Ross, a famous musician in her own right, played Holiday in this 1972 biographical movie based on Holiday's autobiography of the same name. The movie was nominated for five Oscars, including best actress in a leading role. 

Marc Anthony played salsa singer Héctor Lavoe in 2006's "El Cantante."
hector lavoe marc anthony
Héctor Lavoe, left, on the cover of "La Voz," and Marc Anthony, right, in "El Cantante."

Fania Records; Picturehouse

The biopic was told from the perspective of Lavoe's wife Puchi, who was played by Jennifer Lopez. The movie was controversial for focusing on Lavoe's drug addiction and death from AIDS, which he contracted through sharing needles. 

Ethan Hawke learned trumpet basics to portray Chet Baker in "Born to Be Blue."
chet baker ethan hawke
Chet Baker, left, and Ethan Hawke, right, in "Born to Be Blue."

Keystone/Getty Images; Entertainment One

Trumpeter Ben Promane helped Hawke grasp basic trumpet skills and taught him how to look like he played the trumpet with his front tooth missing, like Baker. The 2015 movie was more drama than biopic though. 

Michael Douglas won an Emmy for playing flamboyant pianist Liberace in "Behind the Candelabra."
liberace behind the candelabra
Liberace, left, in 1984, and Michael Douglas, right, in "Behind the Candelabra."

Mario Cabrera/AP; HBO

The 2013 film was based on the memoir "Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace," written by Scott Thorson, Liberace's lover later in life. Matt Damon plays Thorson in the movie. Michael Douglas didn't actually play the piano for the film. 

David Carradine played folk singer Woody Guthrie in the Oscar-winning movie "Bound for Glory."
woody guthrie David Carradine
Woody Guthrie, left, and David Carradine, right, in "Bound for Glory."

AP; United Artists

Aside from Guthrie and his first wife Mary, most of the people and events portrayed in the 1976 film are fictional. The movie earned six Oscar nominations, including best picture, and won for music and cinematography. 

Rami Malek played Queen front man Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody."
freddie mercury rami malek
Freddie Mercury, left, and Rami Malek, right, as Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images; 20th Century Fox

Rami Malek played the musician in the 2018 movie "Bohemian Rhapsody," named after Queen's hit song. The film followed 15 years of Mercury's life — from the band's beginnings to six years before his death. Malek won an Oscar, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for his portrayal. 

Renée Zellweger starred as Judy Garland in "Judy."
judy garland renee zellweger
Judy Garland, left, in the 1950s, and Renée Zellweger, right, as Judy Garland in "Judy."

Pathé UK; Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The 2019 biopic "Judy" centered on the "Wizard of Oz" actor's final concerts in London before her death at 47. 

Zellweger won a best actress Oscar for her portrayal.

Taron Egerton played Elton John in the 2019 film "Rocketman."
elton john
Elton John, left, and Taron Egerton, right as Elton John in "Rocketman."

Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures

The Elton John biopic "Rocketman" followed John's rise to musical acclaim starting from childhood and his early partnership with Bernie Taupin. Jamie Bell, Gemma Jones, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Richard Madden also starred in the movie.

"When I saw Taron, I was not looking at him — I was looking at me. And when I was hearing the voice, I was hearing me, but it wasn't me," he told Indie Wire. "Everything about it was extraordinary."

Daniel Webber played Vince Neil, Mötley Crüe's singer, in Netflix's "The Dirt."
daniel webber vince neil the dirt
Vince Neil, left, and Daniel Webber, right, as Neil in "The Dirt."

Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Jake Giles Netter/Netflix

The Netflix movie was a biopic about how rock band Mötley Crüe formed and rose to fame. 

Douglas Booth played Nikki Sixx, Mötley Crüe's bassist, in "The Dirt."
nikki sixx douglas booth the dirt
Nikki Sixx, left, and Douglas Booth, right as Sixx in "The Dirt."

Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images; Netflix

"The Dirt" was adapted from the autobiographical book "The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band," authored by Mötley Crüe and Neil Strauss. 

Iwan Rheon played Mick Mars, Mötley Crüe's guitarist, in "The Dirt."
mick mars iwan rheon the dirt
Mick Mars, left, and Iwan Rheon, right as Mars in "The Dirt."

Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage; Netflix

Rights to the book were first bought in 2006, but the film moved around to various studios until Netflix bought the rights in 2017. 

Machine Gun Kelly transformed into Tommy Lee, Mötley Crüe's drummer.
tommy lee machine gun kelly the dirt
Tommy Lee, left, and Machine Gun Kelly, right, as Lee in "The Dirt."

Richard E. Aaron/Redferns; Netflix

"The Dirt" was released on Netflix in 2020.

  •  
"The Walking Dead" star Christian Serratos portrayed Selena Quintanilla in a Netflix series.
selena quintanilla christian serratos
Selena Quintanilla, left, and Christian Serratos, right, as the singer in "Selena: The Series."

Arlene Richie/Media Sources/Media Sources/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images and Netflix

In November 2019, Netflix shared a first look at the actor transforming into Quintanilla for "Selena: The Series." The show debuted on the streaming service on December 4, 2020, and the second and final part was released on the streamer on May 4, 2021.

 

Jennifer Hudson starred as "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin in the biopic titled "Respect."
aretha franklin and jennifer hudson
Aretha Franklin, left, in 1968, and Jennifer Hudson, right as Franklin in "Respect."

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images and MGM Studios

"Respect" hit theaters in 2021 and the actor previously said that the late singer specifically asked Hudson to portray her. 

Read the original article on Business Insider
❌
❌