40+ Bizarre and Inappropriate Things Famous People Did for the Sake of Method Acting

This article appeared in Sneakertoast and has been published here with permission.

40+ Bizarre and Inappropriate Things Famous People Did for the Sake of Method Acting

Method acting has become a hot topic in Hollywood but it’s not for everyone. Method actors completely immerse themselves into the character they’re playing and live as that person – even when the camera’s off. The concept is highly controversial, as it’s been said that it can mess with a person’s psyche and the dynamics of their life. For example, these 40+ actors who took method acting a step too far…

Morbius

The movie Morbius is about a man with a rare blood disease who, in an attempt to find a cure, accidentally turns himself into a vampire. Jared Leto plays the main character, who uses crutches to get around.

Morbius

Unfortunately, the movie had quite low ratings, despite the fact that Jared was dedicated enough to use method acting to prepare. Sadly, it seems that not only did Leto’s efforts not pay off but he got on production’s bad side as well.

Jared Leto

Jared Leto insisted on acting fully disabled, just as his character is, throughout filming. He used crutches to get around the set — even to the bathroom, which ended up slowing production down. It would take Jared a whopping 20 minutes to go to the bathroom and back on crutches.

Jared Leto

Eventually, the director had to convince Leto to be taken to the restroom via wheelchair instead. That being said, Jared is notorious for his method acting, so it’s not like the director didn’t know what he was getting.

Ray

The biopic Ray is often credited with being the movie that made Hollywood take Jamie Foxx seriously as a dramatic actor. Jamie played Ray Charles, a blind musician, and told the story of his life.

Ray

The movie got rave reviews and Foxx’s portrayal earned him an Oscar. Although it all seems to have been worth it, Jamie didn’t exactly have an easy time playing a blind man when he, himself, can see. To be fair, though, all of Foxx’s hardships were of his own making.

Jamie Foxx

In order to better understand Ray’s life as a blind man, Jamie Foxx wore prosthetics on his eyelids that made him unable to see. The actor was temporarily blinded for roughly 14 hours a day! Jamie called the experience “unsettling” and “claustrophobic.”

Jamie Foxx

It was so bad that Foxx had several panic attacks on set. Interestingly, Jamie’s colleagues often forgot that he couldn’t see, which makes sense since he’s normally sighted. They’d accidentally leave him at the lunch table, or elsewhere on set, with the assumption that he could get back independently.

The King’s Speech

The King’s Speech tells the true story of King George VI’s difficulty to overcome his stammer in order to address the nation. Colin Firth plays King George in this well-received movie and even won an Oscar for his performance.

The King’s Speech

In order to properly portray this character, Colin watched footage of the real King George’s speeches. However, Firth became so entwined with King George that he began to change his own way of speaking.

Colin Firth

Colin Firth developed a stammer, as well, due to pretending to have one for so long. He also suffered headaches and a pinched nerve in his arm from altering his speech. The actor explained, “I had to learn to stammer and then play someone trying desperately not to.”

Colin Firth

“It put my left arm to sleep — it was very peculiar. I must have been locking something, pinching a nerve. It was a semi-paralysis that would last for three or four days.”

Jungle Fever

Jungle Fever was Halle Berry’s first-ever acting role, so it makes sense that she was willing to do whatever it took to get it right. The movie is about a man who’s contemplating having an affair.

Jungle Fever

Although Halle doesn’t play either of the main characters, many people argue that she stole the show with her performance as Vivian — a woman living on the streets. Halle successfully made a name for herself with this role but her methods were pretty extreme.

Halle Berry

Apparently, Halle Berry didn’t shower while filming Jungle Fever so that she could fully understand what it’s like to live on the streets.

Halle Berry

The actress confessed, “I was brand spanking new, and at that time, all I could really do was kind of try to be it, so I didn’t shower for the whole entire time that we shot that movie, so that was probably about eight weeks. It was gnarly. Certain body parts got washed, let’s just say that.”

My Left Foot

My Left Foot is a biopic about Christy Brown who was born with cerebral palsy and could only use his left foot, which he learned to paint and write with. Daniel Day-Lewis played Christy, which won him his first Oscar.

My Left Foot

To this day, Daniel is the only actor to ever win three Best Actor Oscars. The movie itself was very well-received and got a whopping five Oscar nominations, including the coveted Best Picture.

Daniel Day-Lewis

As a method actor, Daniel Day-Lewis unsurprisingly insisted on staying in a wheelchair throughout the duration of filming My Left Foot. Daniel’s wheelchair had to be lifted over the set equipment, he made people spoon-feed him, and he learned how to paint with — you guessed it — his foot.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Constantly sitting in a hunched-over position resulted in the actor breaking two ribs, but that didn’t discourage him. In fact, he even insisted that everyone call him Christy Brown and wouldn’t respond to any other name.

Cape Fear

Cape Fear is one of Robert De Niro’s earlier movies in which he plays a felon who, after being released from prison, seeks revenge on his lawyer. The movie had excellent reviews and Robert was nominated for an Oscar for it (which isn’t uncommon for him).

Cape Fear

In the film, Robert’s character Max has some dental issues and his teeth appear deformed. Not one to rely on prosthetics, De Niro decided to take matters into his own hands.

Robert De Niro

In order to get Max’s unique smile, Robert De Niro paid a dentist $5,000 to ruin his teeth. The actor had his chompers ground down and sharpened, rather than simply wearing dentures during filming.

Robert De Niro

After filming was complete, Robert got his teeth restored to their original state and that cost him a whopping $20,000. Don’t worry about the pricing, though. At that time, De Niro was making several million dollars per movie, so he can afford to have his teeth redone however many times he wants.

Boys Don’t Cry

Hilary Swank won her first Oscar for her performance as Brandon in Boys Don’t Cry. In the movie, Brandon is a trans man who must navigate life, particularly his love life, in a world that’s yet to accept transgender people.

Boys Don’t Cry

Hilary’s performance in this movie put her on Hollywood’s map as a true talent. It’s worth noting, however, that she’s since come to regret her role and believes that the part of Brandon should’ve gone to a trans actor.

Hilary Swank

Before she’d even gotten the role of Brandon, Hilary Swank prepared for her audition by living as a man for a month prior. The actress cut her hair short, bound her chest down, and put stockings down the front of her pants.

Hilary Swank

Clearly, Hilary was able to pull it off because not only did she get the part but her neighbors believed that she was actually a man! They all thought that Swank had a male relative visiting, and that’s why “he” looked so much like her.

The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke was cast as the main character Randy “The Ram” in The Wrestler, which was a fitting choice as Mickey’s own life is eerily similar to that of Randy.

The Wrestler

In the movie, The Ram is a professional wrestler who’s getting too old to continue and he must retire — a reality that he struggles with immensely. Meanwhile, Mickey was largely considered to be a washed-out actor and The Wrestler served as his comeback.

Mickey Rourke

Not one to miss his big comeback opportunity, Mickey Rourke took his role in The Wrestler seriously — almost too seriously. The actor insisted on doing all his own stunts and ended up getting injured quite a bit on set.

Mickey Rourke

Rourke trained for a total of six months, lifting weights, eating six meals a day, and even training with an instructor from the Israeli army. Mickey didn’t mind doing whatever it took, though, as he explained, “This is my last chance, and I’m not going to get another.”

Vampire’s Kiss

The cult classic Vampire’s Kiss is now best known as a meme, despite not many people being aware of where this iconic image stems from. In this movie, Nicolas Cage plays a man named Peter, who’s convinced that he’s turning into a vampire.

Vampire’s Kiss

Although the film itself got mixed reviews, Nicolas’s performance was adored by the public. Given that the movie is quite… quirky, it makes sense that Cage had to simply embrace the madness while filming.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage lived his life as a dark comedy while filming Vampire’s Kiss. The actor would get into character as Peter and then approach random people on the street, roping them into various movie scenes while they were unaware they were being filmed.

Nicolas Cage

Furthermore, Nicolas actually ate a real cockroach in that unforgettable scene — he insisted that a fake just wouldn’t do the trick. People who worked with Cage called him “frighteningly devoted to his performance,” and “obsessive about the role.” Well, that’s method acting!

The Last King of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland stars Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin, a real-life political figure in Uganda. Given that Forest was playing a historical figure, the pressure was on in regards to giving a true-to-life performance.

The Last King of Scotland

Luckily, it seems that the actor was up to the task as he won an Oscar for his work and the movie itself was very well-received. However, Forest admits that this particular film took a lasting toll on him.

Forest Whitaker

In order to prepare for his role in The Last King of Scotland, Forest Whitaker spent three and a half months in Uganda speaking with Idi Amin’s family and people who lived during his time of rule.

Forest Whitaker

Forest also learned how to play the accordion and speak Swahili, since Idi had both those skills. Lastly, the actor gained a whopping 30 pounds in order to truly look like Amin, rather than wearing a body suit.

Monster

Monster tells the story of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Charlize Theron was challenged with the starring role, for which she won an Oscar. Charlize has always been vocal about her disdain for Hollywood prioritizing beauty over talent.

Monster

The actress continuously shows a willingness to sacrifice her appearance for the sake of being taken seriously. Monster was no exception and Theron clearly wasn’t going to waste her shot to be seen as more than just a pretty face.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron gained a whopping 30 pounds in order to play Aileen. She also bleached and partly shaved her eyebrows and purposely over-dyed and thinned her hair. Luckily, the actress was willing to wear prosthetic teeth for this role, rather than ruin her actual chompers.

Charlize Theron

Charlize explained, “She didn’t like her body. So, I wanted to get my body to a place, where I felt like, you know, naturally, I’m very athletic looking and I didn’t – I don’t know how I could have played that part with this body.”

Les Misérables

Les Misérables tells the story of a man who escapes prison and ends up becoming the caretaker of a young girl. Anne Hathaway plays Fantine, the young girl’s mother, who suffers a difficult life before eventually passing away. The musical was adored around the world and earned Hathaway an Oscar.

Les Misérables

However, the actress wasn’t very happy when receiving her award. Anne explained, “I kind of lost my mind doing that movie and it hadn’t come back yet.” That’s certainly a potential side effect of method acting…

Anne Hathaway

An already slim Anne Hathaway lost 25 pounds in order to play Fantine, by keeping a diet of dried oatmeal paste for two weeks. The actress also shaved her head, despite the movie’s director and costume designer assuring Anne that she could wear a bald cap in the film.

Anne Hathaway

As a result of everything she put her mind and body through, it took Hathaway some time to get back to herself after Les Misérables and she even took a break from acting.

The Pianist

The Pianist stars Adrien Brody as Holocaust survivor Wladyslaw Szpilman and depicts his struggles to survive. To date, this film remains one of the best-received movies about this difficult topic.

The Pianist

Adrien’s performance, in particular, is often considered to be one of the most harrowing of all time. In fact, Brody played this role so well that he not only won an Oscar but also bought him grace with Hollywood despite being in a series of flops immediately after The Pianist.

Adrien Brody

Given that he was playing a pianist, Adrien Brody learned how to play the piano for his role in The Pianist. That’s all fine and well, but the issue begins when Adrien used method acting to depict a Holocaust survivor.

Adrien Brody

Adrien also lost 30 pounds, despite already being rather slim. The actor also got rid of his apartment, car, and phone. By the time he got to set, he had nothing except for one bag and a piano.

Cast Away

Cast Away is a movie about a man named Chuck Noland who gets deserted on an island. The movie got excellent reviews, many of which were aimed at Tom Hanks, who was cast as Chuck — a role which won him an Oscar nomination.

Cast Away

Interestingly, Tom did win two Oscars in the past, both for movies in which he didn’t try method acting. Could this perhaps be proof that the controversial method doesn’t work?

Tom Hanks

In order to prepare for his role as Chuck, Tom dropped 50 pounds and stopped bathing. As for the weight loss, it’s a necessary evil for roles like this and we can’t blame the method acting. However, the refusal to wash himself is definitely taking things too far.

Tom Hanks

In fact, Tom almost lost his life for this movie. The actor got a cut that became infected due to Hanks not bathing or cleaning it. Luckily, after a stint in the hospital, the actor is now in good health.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Rooney Mara’s role as Lisbeth in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was her breakthrough in Hollywood and even earned her an Oscar nomination. In the movie, Lisbeth is a computer hacker who’s employed by a journalist to help him find a missing woman.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Lisbeth’s physical appearance is quite different than that of Rooney, causing the method actress to go to some extreme measures to be authentic in her portrayal.

Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara wanted to fully embrace Lisbeth’s appearance, rather than letting makeup and wardrobe work their Hollywood magic. Therefore, the actress bleached her eyebrows, cut her hair short, and pierced her eyebrow, nose, lip, and chest.

Rooney Mara

She also learned all the skills that Lisbeth demonstrates in the movie, rather than relying on stunt doubles. Rooney learned how to ride a motorcycle and skateboard — not to mention that she became a trained martial artist. Well, she certainly has a lot to add to her resume!

Black Swan

Black Swan is a drama/thriller about a ballerina who struggles to maintain her sanity after winning the starring role in Swan Lake.

Black Swan

Natalie Portman plays the main character Nina and in a moment of life truly imitating art, Natalie’s mental health suffered from starring in this movie. Perhaps it was worth it, though, as Portman received an Oscar for her work and Black Swan was an undeniable success.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has always been slim, even by Hollywood standards, yet she shed an additional 22 pounds by eating strictly carrots and almonds. The actress also trained as a proper ballerina, as opposed to relying on stunt doubles, and danced for roughly 16 hours a day.

Natalie Portman

Natalie also suffered multiple injuries and was isolated from her co-star Mila Kunis, as their characters were meant to be tense towards one another. Sounding a lot like Nina, Portman spoke about Black Swan saying, “I thought I literally was going to die.”

Iron Man 2

Continuing his comeback streak, Mickey Rourke played the villain Ivan Vanko/Whiplash in Iron Man 2. Sadly, most of Mickey’s performance never made it into the film. As the actor angrily explained, “I wanted to bring some other layers and colors, not just make this Russian a complete murderous revenging bad guy […]”

Iron Man 2

“Unfortunately, the [people] at Marvel just wanted a one-dimensional bad guy, so most of the performance ended up on the floor.” Given everything he put into the role, we can understand his frustration.

Mickey Rourke – Again

Mickey Rourke, who isn’t of Russian descent himself, familiarized himself with the language (it took him three weeks to learn two lines). He also hung out in a Russian prison in order to learn the culture, body language, and mannerisms of Russian men.

Mickey Rourke – Again

Mickey says that he also studied the value systems and moral compasses of the prisoners he met, in order to better understand his character. Lastly, the actor purchased a pet bird similar to that of Whiplash. Interestingly, Mickey’s bird replaced the on-set animal in the film.

Gangs of New York

Gangs of New York was one of those movies that everyone knew would be a hit, due to its star-studded cast that featured Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and poor Cameron Diaz who was completely out of her depth.

Gangs of New York

The movie is about a young man who’s seeking revenge against Bill “The Butcher” Cutting, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel’s performance is often regarded as the best in the film, but it came at a price.

Daniel Day-Lewis – Again

By the time he starred in Gangs of New York, Daniel Day-Lewis was already known for his method-acting shenanigans. Therefore, it came as no surprise that the actor refused to wear a proper coat while filming because those coats didn’t exist yet in the 1860s, which is when the movie takes place.

Daniel Day-Lewis – Again

Of course, Daniel caught pneumonia and he later admitted that this particular role was bad for his health. Has anyone thought to explain to him that he could’ve played the part but worn a coat?

The Revenant

In The Revenant Leonardo DiCaprio plays Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who fights for survival after being left behind by his companions. The movie earned rave reviews and even won Leonardo his first Oscar (although, many people argue that he’s deserved one for several decades).

The Revenant

Given that DiCaprio had been nominated for an Oscar a whopping seven times prior to winning, it could be his method acting that finally earned him the coveted statue.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is a vegetarian but he made an exception for the sake of The Revenant. The actor wanted to eat just like his character, so not only did he consume meat but he even ate raw bison meat.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Those who saw the movie will remember the not-so-pleasant scene in which Hugh sleeps in an animal carcass to say warm. Well, Leonardo did that too. In fact, he was so cold while filming that he was constantly at risk of catching hypothermia. Well, at least he has his Oscar!

Jobs

The biopic Jobs tells the story of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, played by Ashton Kutcher. The movie has decent reviews but it didn’t earn Ashton the Oscar he’d been trying for. This begs the question — was it worth Kutcher’s method acting?

Jobs

After all, Ashton sacrificed both his health and his income for this role. Jobs was a relatively low-budget production set at $12 million. Given that Ashton earned $700,000 per episode of Two and a Half Men this was quite the pay cut.

Ashton Kutcher

Steve Jobs was known to be vegan and follow the fruitarian diet, which consists of fruit, nuts, and seeds. Wanting to do this role justice, Ashton Kutcher adopted Steve’s diet, a decision that landed him in the hospital with pancreatitis. Twice!

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton studied every single aspect of Jobs’ mannerisms and way of thinking. Kutcher explained, “I consumed what Steve consumed — the books he read, the food he ate, and the things from the people he admired.” Well, he definitely doesn’t seem to regret it!

Suicide Squad

When Jared Leto was cast as the Joker in Suicide Squad, he was met with harsh criticism and the knowledge that an unsuccessful portrayal could ruin his career. Unfortunately, a lot of changes were made to the movie after filming and most of Jared’s scenes were cut out.

Suicide Squad

The actor often talks about how moviegoers never really got to see his version of the Joker, but he’s not the only one who’s upset. Fans were disappointed with the film and most believe that the original version would’ve been better.

Jared Leto – Again

Jared Leto wanted his co-stars to feel just as uncomfortable around him as the Joker’s peers feel in his presence. Therefore, Jared sent his colleagues a barrage of inappropriate gifts — including a live rat to Margot Robbie.

Jared Leto – Again

He insisted that everyone call him ‘Mistah J’ on set and refused to respond to his actual name. Leto also sequestered himself from the rest of the cast during filming. Although, given the presents he gave them, they were probably okay with that.

Six Degrees of Separation

Six Degrees of Separation was Will Smith’s first big movie role and the actor was clearly desperate to prove he’s capable of more than just playing an exaggerated version of himself on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Six Degrees of Separation

Six Degrees of Separation is about a wealthy couple whose lives are changed when a mysterious man, played by Will, comes to their door. The movie itself got mixed reviews but Smith’s performance in the film remains one of his most popular to date.

Will Smith

Will Smith admits that his method acting was unfair to his then-wife (who was pregnant at the time) as he’d become a completely different person. To make matters worse, Will genuinely fell in love with his co-star, since his character was in love with hers.

Will Smith

Nowadays, many wonder if the recent Oscar slap between Will and Chris Rock was because Smith was still in character after filming King Richard. However, given that he’s sworn off method acting ever since Six Degrees of Separation, we doubt it.

40+ Famous Women of Their Time Who Made Eyebrow Shapes Trendy

40+ Famous Women of Their Time Who Made Eyebrow Shapes Trendy

Most people understand the value of having nice eyebrows. Eyebrows in general, regardless of whether shaped or not, are actually a very useful feature to your face. As with most grooming habits, eyebrow trends have changed over the years. From thin and arched to thick and bushy, these celebrities have weathered a variety of questionable eyebrow styles. Take a look at how these famous eyebrows have changed over the years.

Victoria Beckham

Until recently, Victoria Beckham had the narrowest arches in the pop world. Yet, as the style world has embraced a fuller brow, Beckham has had to get with the times. Despite this, Beckham seems to have no regrets about her sparse eyebrows.

(Left) Photo by Anthony Harvey // Getty Images | (Right) Photo by Steve Granitz // Getty Images

The former pop star and current style icon, has stated that growing her brows out has taken some time. In a 2017 interview with the website Into the Gloss, Beckham stated that she applies Latisse, a prescription treatment for eyelash growth, to her eyebrows and lashes.

Jessica Alba

Most would agree that Jessica Alba’s eyebrow technique is on point. We had no idea, however, that she has naturally skinny eyebrows! While many people have turned to the cosmetic tattoo procedure known as micro-blading to bulk up their brows, Alba used a more natural method.

(Left) Photo by SGranitz // Getty Images | (Right) Photo by Steve Granitz // Getty Images

Since 1999, Jessica Alba’s brows have nearly tripled in size. The actress claims to have achieved fuller brows by using prenatal vitamins. She quit plucking hairs for two years and began taking prenatal vitamins to help her naturally thin brows develop.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox recently admitted that overplucking her brows and sunbathing are two of her worst beauty regrets. The actress has a distinct beauty aesthetic, and it turns out that part of it can be attributed to an aspect of her eyebrows.

(Left) Shutterstock // Carolyn Contino | (Right) Instagram  // @meganfox

Fox’s brows are taken care of by Tonya Crooks, a celebrity brow artist and the creative director of Arches & Halos. Besides hair plucking, Crooks tints her brows an extremely dark brown to make them more apparent and dramatic. She then fills them in to create an “ombré appearance.”

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez has come a long way from her first big break on the Disney Channel’s Barney & Friends when she was 10 years old. At the age of 14, Selena made one of her first red carpet appearances. Her brows had been tweezed to make them appear thinner.

(Left) Shutterstock // s_bukley | (Right) Instagram  // @selenagomez

At the age of 29, she’s now one of the world’s biggest stars, as well as one of the most-followed celebrities on Instagram. Today, her eyebrows appear to be much darker and fuller, as well as feathered out.

Penelope Cruz

Early in her career, Penelope Cruz’s blunt bangs and thin eyebrows drew comparisons to Audrey Hepburn’s look in Roman Holiday. Back then, thinning brows and higher arches were highly fashionable and popular amongst women.

(Left) Shutterstock // Tinseltown | (Right) Shutterstock  // Featureflash Photo Agency

With dramatically arched brows, bright cheeks, and lips, the Academy Award nominee made her face the emphasis during the 2007 ceremony. Over the years, Penelope Cruz’s brows have thickened and become more feather-like. Today, the general public is a huge fan of how the actress’ brows have thickened and darkened.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron was a strawberry blonde beauty who won a modeling competition in South Africa and later relocated to Los Angeles. At the premiere of Cider House Rules in 1999, she channeled Old Hollywood with her structured curls and pencil-thin brows.

(Left) Photo by Ron Galella Collection // Getty Images | (Right) Shutterstock // Broadimage

She wore platinum hair to match her silver gown on the night she won an Oscar in 2004. Her bronzed complexion was accentuated by her soft brows, showing just how much her brows have changed throughout the years. Today, she opts for a slightly darker and feathered look for her brows.

Gwyneth Paltrow

A good brow can make or break a person’s face, as we all know. In recent years, brows have progressed from the slender spider limbs we saw carved across people’s faces in the 1990s, to the over-defined painted-on look of the 2000s.

(Left) Photo by Ron Galella Collection // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram  // @gwynethpaltrow

Today, many women have embraced the natural appearance of their eyebrows. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow was one of many celebrities who drastically changed their appearance with the power of eyebrows. Just take a look at her pictures from back in the ‘90s and compare them to pictures of her now.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway shows how just brushing your eyebrows can make you look insanely beautiful. For anyone who wants to experiment with their eyebrow routine to change up their look, this is a great hack. Simply brush your eyebrows.

(Left)IMDb // The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) | (Right) Photo by Michael Loccisano // Getty Images

There may be a hint of brow powder, but it’s only a smidgeon. Her brows look like they’ve been perfectly combed into place in order to frame her eyes in just the right manner. This polished look emphasizes her large, glowing peepers and her big smile.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore’s brows are one of her most famous physical features. Barrymore’s previously thick brows took a turn to match the era’s trend of significantly skinny eyebrows when she graced the Los Angeles screening of a Reservoir Dogs in 1992.

(Left) Photo by The LIFE Picture Collection // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram  // @drewbarrymore

The actress’ brows were pencil-thin by the mid-’90s. These days, however, Barrymore’s skinny brows are now a distant memory. Although she hasn’t adopted the current trend of very thick brows, she has opted for a far more natural and subtle look in terms of brow shaping and makeup application.

Lucy Hale

The Pretty Little Liars actress revealed that she used to overpluck her eyebrows back in the day and that they looked crazy. Today, Lucy Hale looks a lot different than she did in the past, and her bold brows play a big role in that.

(Left) Shutterstock // Charles Sykes | (Right) Photo by Frazer Harrison // Getty Images

Despite all of the plucking, she has always had thick brows, she told People. She still does her own brows, which is surprising. She also explained that she gets nervous when people try to touch her brows. Whatever she’s doing, it appears to be working.

Kim Kardashian

It’s hard to believe that brows can have such a significant impact on your appearance, but it’s true. Kim Kardashian’s brows were significantly thinner in the late 1990s. Thanks to her old arches, Kardashian is barely recognizable in a vintage Instagram photo shared by Kris Jenner.

Instagram // @kimkardashian

Kardashian’s beauty routine is actually extremely intricate, and she often goes into great detail about it with her social media followers. She disclosed that Anastasia Soare, a well-known brow artist to the stars, is the specialist in charge of her brows.

Jennifer Anniston

During the 1990s, Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” haircut became one of her most memorable features. Despite the popularity of “the Rachel,” Aniston was not a fan. However, Aniston’s famous hairdo was not the only thing she disliked from that era.

(Left) Photo by Kevin Mazur // Getty Images | (Right) Photo by Barry King // Getty Images

Aniston declared in an interview that she will never bleach her brows again. She had to bleach her brows for a photoshoot which resulted in her having to use brown shadow to fill them in for three months. Aniston’s brows have fortunately healed from their over-plucked and lightened days.

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani appears to be more prone to start trends than to follow them. Stefani’s brows appeared to be much thinner. throughout the 1990s. During the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, her thin arched adorned eyebrows were on show with a bindi and studs outlining her eyes.

(Left) Shutterstock // Matt Baron | (Right) Shutterstock // Jim Smeal

Stefani revealed in an interview that she once ended up in the emergency room after agreeing to get her eyebrows bleached in order to have incredibly thin eyebrows. Thankfully, Stefani attained brow-goal status in 2015 and has been sporting thick brows since then.

Paris Hilton

From velour tracksuits to tiaras, Paris Hilton has never hesitated when it comes to creating new fashion and makeup trends. While her clothing changed frequently, her thin and blonde brows have remained largely the same for a long period.

(Left) Photo by Jon Kopaloff // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram  // @parishilton

Hilton stated that, while hers weren’t “beyond thin,” she now prefers a “thicker brow.” She also admits to getting her brows tinted. Otherwise, they are hard to see as she described in an interview. We think that her bigger and darker brows are definitely “so hot!”

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is showing people that even the tiniest brows can be recovered. Jolie’s brows are so thick and well-defined, that it’s hard to believe she used to be all about the thin brow trend.

(Left) Photo by Gregg DeGuire // Getty Images | (Right) Shutterstock  // Fred Duval

Jolie’s brows are not the super-thick kind that was all the rage in 2018, but they are formed in a way that appears natural without being wild. Given her desire to appear as natural as possible, it is no surprise that she has ditched her tiny, overly-plucked arched brows in favor of less-groomed brows.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner favored thin brows for most of her adolescent years. They were a long cry from her modern-day arches, but they were never nearly as twiggy as the ’90s style. Jenner began her transformation to Brow Queen in 2014, with long lashes and finely shaped brows.

(Left) Photo by Gregg DeGuire // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram  // @kyliejenner

Jenner’s brows had officially reached the pinnacle of perfection by the time she attended the Met Gala in May 2017. Jenner’s brow specialist, Erin Bryant, noted in an interview that bigger brows give off a youthful image. Regardless, Kylie’s brows are stunning.

Lena Dunham

In an interview with Vogue, Lena Dunham said that she began plucking her brows in middle school. She reportedly tried to fill in her brows at the time, which drew unwelcome attention from her classmates.

(Left) Shutterstock // Kathy Hutchins | (Right) Shutterstock // DFree

Thus began an almost two-decade ordeal in which her brows never truly recovered. Dunham learned about micro-blading, a semi-permanent tattooing method for filling in and adding symmetry to a person’s brows, in the summer of 2016. Dunham resolved to put it to the test and was blown away by the outcome after a 40-minute session.

Lady Gaga

Gaga’s go-to look in the past had been bleached eyebrows. While only a few people can carry off this style, the singer might be one of them. At the Marc Jacobs Fall 2016 fashion show, Gaga spoke with Vogue about her brow regimen.

(Left) Instagram // @ladygaga | (Right) Shutterstock // Rob Latour

She said she bleached her eyebrows daily because she likes to keep them light. When your brows are bleached, you can easily change their appearance by filling them in. Lady Gaga’s brows now have a much more natural look that matches her hair.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne’s eyebrows were notably lighter and tamer in previous years. The actress said that she used to wish she had fewer bushy brows and would attempt to pluck them. Delevigne believed they looked like enormous slugs on her face, despite her mother’s insistence that they were the model’s best feature.

(Left) Photo by Nick Harvey // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram // @caradelevigne

These days, the fashion icon understands everyone’s fascination with her signature brows. She likes being able to encourage other girls to feel comfortable with their own bodies after being embarrassed by them for so long.

Rita Ora

Rita Ora was one of the celebrities who had adopted the edgy “invisibrow” or bleached brow trend back in 2014. At the time, the actress expressed her excitement with her daring appearance.

Instagram // @ritaora

She went on to say that the process had seriously burned her, as bleaching does sometimes. She was even afraid that her brows were going to fall out because of the harsh chemicals. Ora’s brows appear to have returned. While bleaching her brows was entertaining, her new brows are stunning.

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid hasn’t exactly joined the bold brow club, but she has switched up her brows. Her brows have become even more prominent as a result of this. Hadid, like Cara Delevingne, used to be self-conscious about her brows. However, unlike Delevingne, that’s not because her brows were excessively bushy.

(Left) Shutterstock // Gregory Pace | (Right) Shutterstock // DFree

Hadid’s brows are actually naturally thin, she uses a brow pencil to thicken them up just a tiny little bit. Hadid’s brows aren’t overly thick, and if you didn’t know better, you’d believe they were completely natural.

Jennifer Lopez

Like the rest of her style, Jennifer Lopez’s brows have evolved throughout the years. The actress has always had well-groomed brows, but she did succumb to the tiny brow craze of the 2000s. You know, the one where the eyebrow was just as thick as the tail at the start?

(Left) Photo by Kevin Mazur // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram // @jlo

While they weren’t as bad as the ’90s brow, they were pretty bad. Lopez’s brows now appear thicker but in a natural way. They’re powerful without being overpowering, and they complement her face shape perfectly.

Michelle Keegan

We were thrilled to learn that British actress, Michelle Keegan, loves the eyebrow serum from Eyebrow Queen. Keegan has a fantastic pair of brows that are sculpted and bold and always appear polished. The Our Girl actress went all out with her brows in 2016, after them micro-bladed.

(Left) Shutterstock // REX | (Right) Instagram // @michkeegan

It wasn’t always like this, though. As we can clearly see in the before and after shots, Michelle’s brow structure has significantly changed. Her brows have gone from barely there to beautiful arched.

Nicole Richie

Nicole has always favored arched brows. Today, however, her brows are thicker and darker. Her transformation is a fantastic example for individuals with thin brows, as she managed to fill them in a bit while still keeping the shape she prefers.

(Left) Photo by Donato Sardella // Getty Images | (Right) Shutterstock // Tinseltown

She does regret over-tweezing her brows, though. She’d also shaved them off at one point. Now she’s able to get a stunning set of brows by just taking an eyebrow brush and brushing a small amount of brown eyeshadow through her eyebrows.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz, one of Hollywood’s most famous stars, has gone through several transformations throughout the years. If you look closely, you’ll notice that her eyebrows have changed as well. Cameron’s brows are still thin, but they’re softer and more natural-looking now than they were in the 90s.

(Left) Photo by Time Life Pictures // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram // @camerondiaz

Cameron’s brows were fairly light back in 2000. In recent times, the shape has remained the same, but a strategic hue gives them further dimension. We think we can all agree that the natural-looking, yet darker, eyebrows have definitely elevated her look.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith has always been known for her stunning hazel eyes. However, the same cannot be said when it comes to her brow situation. Although natural is generally a wonderful look, this was a little too natural.

(Left) Photo by Ron Galella Collection // Getty Images | (Right) Instagram // @jadapinkettsmith

As an adult, Jada decided to fill in her brows and emphasize her arch. Her new form makes her eyes appear larger, and the arch is perfectly placed. Every now and then, all brows require a little attention.

Jennifer Lawrence

As we all know, a strong eyebrow can greatly affect a person’s face. Brow trends have progressed from being one of the most overlooked aspects of a person’s beauty routine to becoming one of the most crucial. Take, for example, Jennifer Lawrence.

(Left) Shutterstock // Tinseltown | (Right) Shutterstock // Ga Fullner

This is an excellent start, however, these brows don’t appear to have been filled in at all. Her brows have regained their mojo thanks to some more length and a little color. Her brows are slightly darker and fuller, which draws attention to the rest of her face.

Julia Roberts

Eyebrows can often soften and balance a person’s look by framing it with their shape. A thin brow can throw your entire look off, making your excessively thin brows the focal point of your face if you have stronger facial features.

(Left) Photo by Ron Galella Collection // Getty Images | (Right) Shutterstock // Anthony Harvey

A bigger brow would help to create a nice equilibrium for your face. Julia Roberts deserves kudos for resisting the impulse to over-pluck her hair. Her brows are now a little more groomed, but they are still quite natural. Honestly, she looks gorgeous either way!

Kate Winslet

Brows have the ability to radically transform the appearance of the face. The appropriate brow shape can help to define and lengthen your face. When done correctly, and in accordance with the structure of your face, they may bring out all of your best features and give you a professional appearance.

(Left) Photo by Jim Smeal // Getty Images | (Right) Shutterstock // Featureflash Photo Agency

Eyebrows are such a prominent feature that even a minor alteration in shape can transform your entire appearance. We like Kate Winslet’s arched brows from 1998, but we prefer the lighter brows she has now.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek’s attachment to her tweezers used to be much stronger back in the late ‘90s. Just take a look at her tweezed to perfection, yet thinning to an inch of its life, eyebrows. In comparison to that, she now favors a much more natural-looking shape for her brows.

(Left) Photo by SGranitz  // Getty Images | (Right) Photo by Rich Fury // Getty Images

Did you know that as a child, Hayek’s grandmother shaved her head and eyebrows on a regular basis in the hopes of making her hair thicker, glossier, and darker? Her shiny and dark mane is a testament to her success.

Sienna Miller

A well-groomed brow shapes the face and gives it a more natural appearance. A well-shaped, broader brow can dramatically alter the appearance of your face. Just look at the two photographs of Sienna Miller, a well-known starlet.

(Left) Shutterstock // Kathy Hutchins | (Right) Shutterstock // Tinseltown

While her brows from 2003 aren’t horrible, they do look better when they’re thicker and bushier. Natural, thicker brows have always been the most attractive on the face. So if you are looking for inspiration to change up your look, maybe consider opting for thicker eyebrows.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Yes, even the most discerning fashionistas will agree, tweezers have definitely helped Sarah Jessica Parker’s look. Sarah Jessica Parker’s brows used to be all about letting them grow wild and free, but these days she prefers a more finished look.

(Left) Shutterstock // Matt Baron | (Right) Shutterstock // Kristina Bumphrey

While she favors the polished look, her bush and natural-looking brows are pretty nice too. Thick brows can be appealing since they help define the beauty of your face. Take inspiration from this and embrace your larger brows.

Demi Lovato

Just like many other celebrities on this list, Demi Lovato’s eyebrows darkened and became stronger when they dyed their hair darker. While Lovato’s hair has gone from blonde to pink to black on multiple occasions their eyebrows have remained dark.

(Left) Shutterstock // DFree | (Right) Shutterstock // lev radin

The celeb’s brows have thickened over time as their career has progressed. The only thing that has stayed the same throughout all these years, is their ability to pull off any look they attempted.

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera’s brows used to be penciled in, but they’ve been filled in now. Filling in missing hairs with a pencil is a terrific way to change the look of your eyebrows. If you want to get a dramatic brow look or darken your brows, tinted pomades are a wonderful choice.

(Left) Shutterstock // Featureflash Photo Agency | (Right) Shutterstock // Kathy Hutchins

Aguilera’s taste in fashion and makeup has changed throughout the years. From pencil-thin eyebrows in the early 2000s to her current more natural look, the pop diva isn’t scared to take risks when it comes to her eyebrows.

Madonna

Madonna is known for frequently reinventing herself throughout her career. The “Material Girl” is still an aesthetic rebel years after she originally shook the popular culture world with youthful brows and a bleach-blonde haircut. Madonna was the epitome of ’80s beauty.

(Left) Shutterstock // Dave Lewis | (Right) Shutterstock // Ga Fullner

During the ’80s and early ’90s, Madonna’s makeup routine included excess blush, dark lipstick, heavily filled-in brows, and even a false beauty mark. Decades later, the pop icon has embraced a softer and more natural look. Her tamed and lightly-defined brows complement her more mature style.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie’s brows have grown longer and darker than before. Her career has taken off, but so have her brows. Robbie’s brows are significantly thicker now than they were at the start of her career. We adore the volume and nicely feathery finish of these arches.

(Left) Facebook // WHO Magazine | (Right) Shutterstock // Silverhub

If any of you reading this wants to steal Margot’s signature look you should definitely seek expert aid with cleaning up and tinting your brows. You can also fill in any gaps with a hardworking brow pencil.

Adele

Adele’s journey and development throughout the years have been extraordinary, no matter how you look at it. In October 2019, the Grammy winner flaunted her new figure at Drake’s 33rd birthday party in Los Angeles.

(Left) Shutterstock // s_bukley | (Right) Shutterstock // Fred Duval

In addition to her new form, Adele’s brows have taken center stage on her face. They’ve been drastically filled in and darkened, as you can see. We think her bold brows are a perfect way to accentuate her large blue eyes.

Rihanna

Rihanna has thicker brows, but they aren’t much darker. According to an interview, the pop star uses eyebrow products from her own beauty line, Fenty Beauty, in order to accentuate her eyebrows.

(Left) Shutterstock // Amanda Schwab | (Right) Shutterstock // Caroline Brehman

She starts by explaining how she likes to use the brush side of the Fenty Beauty Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler to bring all of her hairs in line. After that, she begins tracing with the arch. She has also claimed that the arch actually governs the entire dynamic of the brow.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle is well aware that when it comes to royal-approved brows, hers are among the most desired. Markle decided to leave the thin ’90s’ brows where they belong: in the past.

(Left) Photo by Rebecca Sapp // Getty Images | (Right) Photo by Tommaso Boddi // Getty Images

Meghan’s brows, in particular, have changed over the years, and she often styles them a little thicker. Her makeup artist suggests finishing the look using hairspray as well as a mascara wand. There you have it! The secret to the most royal eyebrows. Just take a peek at the difference a fuller brow can make.

Maisie Williams

At the 2021 Brit Awards, Maisie Williams showed off her bleached brows and platinum hair. Williams, who plays Arya Stark on Game of Thrones, made heads turn when she showed up at the award show with an entirely different look.

(Left) Photo by Emma Mcintyre // Getty Images | (Right) Photo by Dave J Hogan // Getty Images

At the event, Williams’ new look resembled the fair locks of the show’s dragon queen, Daenerys Targaryen. While the bleach-blond brows are gone, the star’s bold brows look like they’re here to stay.