# Actresses who look way hotter when out of character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547 "2006-05-12T18:26:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/21 "2006-05-13T03:56:01Z")
> [@Zahava424](#): > > Cate Blanchett is always an otherworldly sort of beautiful in real life, but when she disappears into her roles she can be anything from ugly to pretty to bizarre. I think she is the only famous good looker I am ever likely to bump into in real life. I have seen her twice - once on a railway platform and once pushing a stroller out shopping. Both times I gave her a second “wow she’s hot” look before realising who it was. She had vastly different coloured hair both times. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/22 "2006-05-13T06:42:48Z")
> [@Phantom Dennis](#): > > Yeah, it’s the voice. Fred had a voice like nails on a chalkboard. Acker is awesome in any other role (mmm… Illyria), but Fred got on my nerves. I didn’t mind Fred like so many other Angel fans apparently did, but her cute glasses went a long way with me. I did think Illyria was a more interesting character, and way sexier. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/23 "2006-05-13T06:53:08Z")
Kate Holmes is literally the girl-next-door to me. She’s a milf now, and even more beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/24 "2006-05-13T08:13:41Z")
jennifer Lien, who played Kes on ST:Voyager, just didn’t do thing for me in the get up they had for her on the show, then I saw a photo of her not made up, and I’ve been smitten ever since. [Nice photo of her.](http://www.hypertrek.info/immagini/xr/lien.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Doom\_Slinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Doom\_Slinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doom_Slinger)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/25 "2006-05-13T12:44:46Z")
I know I’m not the only one who thinks Tricia Helfer, who plays Number Six on _Battlestar Galactica_, looks hotter [out of character](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/2644/Events/2644/TriciaHelf_Grani_3980884_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Helfer,%20Tricia) than [in character](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0314979/Ss/0314979/BATTLESTAR_SCIFI_00012-lowres.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Helfer,%20Tricia). Although, truth be told, either one could eat crackers in my bed anytime, know what I’m sayin’? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/26 "2006-05-13T14:51:04Z")
Straining the OP criteria of actresses about as far as the Pamela Anderson suggestion, I’d say Jessica Simpson. I recently saw an ad for her doing some magician special, and she was completely done up and hideous. In fairness, it looks like she may have had some unflattering plastic surgery, so we can’t completely blame the stylists or whomever it is that primps her out. I remember how she looked when she uttered the famous “is this chicken or fish?” line on Newlyweds…hanging out in sweats with very little makeup. At that point, she was possibly the hottest woman on the planet. Painfully hot; we’re talking Icarus territory. Now? As she looked in the ads for the show I mentioned? It hurts to look at her. But even back then before she mutated, she was _far_ hotter sitting on the couch than when she’d get dolled up for public events. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/27 "2006-05-13T15:57:41Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Guy, forget about her work for a sec, she is _totally_ hot, check those boobs! That’s \* chick \* to you , \*\* Operation Ripper \*\* 😉 and being a straight chick doesn’t stop me from appreciating the beauty of other women, but in Ms. Hewitt’s case, the cupboard is bare (or should I say the bag of ferret chow?). I will concede that she has a nice rack, though. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/28 "2006-05-13T16:42:24Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Over the years I’ve come to not really lust after various TV actresses. There was just something about them that was unappealing. Then I would see them out of character, with their own hair and makeup, and wowee, schwing! Last night I saw Debra Jo Rupp with her real hair, and man, she was smokin’. > > I’ve noticed the same thing with Lucy Lawless, Marina Sirtis, Katey Sagal, and Jane Kaczmarek. > > What other actresses are like this? I’ll go with Jenna Von Oy. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/29 "2006-05-13T16:51:48Z")
Summer Glau. She had some pretty unflattering moments in Firefly. But man, she’s a pretty girl (look at the headshots on imdb versus the Firefly pics…) Of course, “River” was never a pretty character, until she _moved_. Then, mesmerizing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/30 "2006-05-13T16:58:25Z")
I agree with pretty much this whole thread, even if I don’t know who everyone mentioned is. Women look so much better when they’re real. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/31 "2006-05-13T17:27:24Z")
> [@lobstermobster](#): > > Amy Sedaris when she isn’t playing Jerri Blank is adorable Word. Charlize Theron’s uglification in Monster was nothing compared to [Sedaris](http://www.jenniferkellogg.com/images/press/amy_sedaris2.jpg) turning into [Blank](http://www.peteykins.com/sparklepony/JerriBlank.jpg). And it doesn’t hurt that she is one of the funniest people alive. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/32 "2006-05-13T18:51:44Z")
> [@Cat Fight](#): > > Word. Charlize Theron’s uglification in Monster was nothing compared to [Sedaris](http://www.jenniferkellogg.com/images/press/amy_sedaris2.jpg) turning into [Blank](http://www.peteykins.com/sparklepony/JerriBlank.jpg). And it doesn’t hurt that she is one of the funniest people alive. You know years ago Sedaris was nominated for some kind of “attractive up-and-comer” type of award and when her make up artist before the award ceremony asked her how she wanted to be made up, her response was, “Can you make me look like I’ve been beaten?” ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/33 "2006-05-13T19:46:56Z")
Emily Perkins is known for playing weird, gothic characters in weird, gothic movies. She always looks good in character, but I think she looks even more [spectacular](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0673932/HH/0673932/imdb1.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Perkins,%20Emily%20(I)) in normal mode. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/34 "2006-05-13T20:56:29Z")
One of the VERY few female “stars” I’ve seen off camera is Molly Price, who played tough NYPD cop Faith Yokas on “Third Watch.” She is WAY prettier in real life than she made herself up to be on the show. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/35 "2006-05-14T02:25:42Z")
Speaking of Tricia Helfer, I watched some the of BSG extras on the DVD and had her out of charater. She was very good looking, but in a very different way than #6. Whereas #6 is “Maxim photop shoot” Tricia was more “very good looking woman you might see in real life”. I should mention that the May Glamour had “plane jane” chars made up. It was Pam from The Office (US), Dr Bailey from “Grey’s Anatomy” and Mary Lynn Rajskub. I think they went a little overboard with MLR, but she definitely looked different. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547/36 "2006-05-14T02:47:04Z")
I would find Rajskub adorable as plain Jane, glamour-puss, or nothing at all. My own personal sighting along these lines: Tracey Ullman. She plays 100 different characters, but she never plays “pretty.” Years ago I spotted her in a restaurant in NYC, dressed entirely in beige (IIRC). Her look was much softer and subtler than she ever appears on TV or in a publicity pic, so much so that I at first had trouble recognizing her. I just thought, “Who’s the pretty woman?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actresses-who-look-way-hotter-when-out-of-character/356547.md?page=1)