# How to tell these often mixed up celebrities apart. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181 "2016-08-27T20:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/1 "2016-08-27T20:39:51Z")
Bill Paxton-- Aliens Bill Pullman – Independence Day Ryan Reynolds – Funny Ryan Gosling – Takes himself far to seriously. Also, here is a tweet by Reynolds on how to tell them apart: > [@](#): > > Different hair colors. Ryan Gosling has light BLOND hair. And Ryan Reynolds is a cunt. Michael Cera Jessie Eisenberg There is no difference. This is the same person. ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/2 "2016-08-27T20:44:58Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Bill Paxton-- Aliens > Bill Pullman – Independence Day Didn’t help. I’m not cured. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/3 "2016-08-27T20:55:07Z")
> [@DonLogan](#): > > Didn’t help. I’m not cured. Bill Paxton - Idiot Bill Pullman - Bland Guy ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/4 "2016-08-27T20:57:16Z")
[Garrison Keillor](http://artcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Keillor-G-Photo-High-Res-Full-Body-20131.jpg): old, slightly amusing [Rainn Wilson](http://progressivechristianity.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rainn-wilson.jpg): younger, slightly amusing Seth Rogen: somewhat amusing Seth Green: not at all funny ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/5 "2016-08-27T21:02:14Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > [Garrison Keillor](http://artcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Keillor-G-Photo-High-Res-Full-Body-20131.jpg): old, slightly amusing > > [Rainn Wilson](http://progressivechristianity.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rainn-wilson.jpg): younger, slightly amusing > > Seth Rogen: somewhat amusing > Seth Green: not at all funny Seth Rogen - 40 Year Old Virgin Seth Green - Cartoons – Had to Google him to remind myself what he looks like. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/6 "2016-08-27T21:06:58Z")
Help me with these pairs: Michael Ontkean and John Shea Katy Perry and Zooey Deschanel Susan Floyd and Daphne Zuniga I never know which one I’m seeing. I’ve totally given up on trying to tell the Baldwin brothers apart in older movies. Alec in 1990 looks like William in 2000, and I’m never quite sure what Daniel looks like. Stephen got fat at some point, but then I think he might have gotten thin again, and anyway, I don’t watch many of his films. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/7 "2016-08-27T21:10:55Z")
Katy Perry - Can sing Zooey Deschanel - Thinks she can sing but can’t. The Baldwins I can tell Alec from all of them because he’s their father. I think Stephen is the one that looks like a doofus but I can’t be sure. ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/8 "2016-08-27T21:40:16Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Bill Paxton - Idiot > Bill Pullman - Bland Guy No, it’s hopeless. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/9 "2016-08-27T21:45:09Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Katy Perry - Can sing > Zooey Deschanel - Thinks she can sing but can’t. What if they aren’t singing? > [@](#): > > The Baldwins I can tell Alec from all of them because he’s their father. I think Stephen is the one that looks like a doofus but I can’t be sure. They all start to look like doofuses eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/10 "2016-08-27T21:54:19Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > What if they aren’t singing? Don’t quote me but I believe Katy’s tits are bigger. Of course, if they are not standing side by side that would be hard to tell. If you look deeply into the eyes and you see deep, dark regret tinged with shame, then that’s Katy. It’s all she has left after marrying Russel Brand. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/11 "2016-08-27T22:08:33Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > [Garrison Keillor](http://artcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Keillor-G-Photo-High-Res-Full-Body-20131.jpg): old, slightly amusing > > [Rainn Wilson](http://progressivechristianity.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rainn-wilson.jpg): younger, slightly amusing > > Seth Rogen: somewhat amusing > Seth Green: not at all funny You have the Seths mixed up. Besides it’s Seth Rogan and Jonah Hill I have problems with. Also: David Keith: An Officer and a Gentleman. Keith David: The Thing ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/12 "2016-08-27T22:18:59Z")
Giovanni Ribisi - Phoebe’s brother Billy Joe Armstrong - Doesn’t wanna be an American idiot I seriously thought they were brothers for the longest time. ---
**Author:** ![snuffleupagus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@snuffleupagus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snuffleupagus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/13 "2016-08-27T22:19:25Z")
I still can’t tell Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman apart, even when they are side by side. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/14 "2016-08-27T22:45:43Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Don’t quote me but I believe Katy’s tits are bigger. Of course, if they are not standing side by side that would be hard to tell. If you look deeply into the eyes and you see deep, dark regret tinged with shame, then that’s Katy. It’s all she has left after marrying Russel Brand. It’s not always about ti…WHAT AM I SAYING??? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/15 "2016-08-27T22:47:12Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Bill Paxton - Idiot > Bill Pullman - Bland Guy Bill Paxton - Chet from Weird Science Bill Pullman- Bland guy > [@snuffleupagus](#): > > I still can’t tell Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman apart, even when they are side by side. Me neither. Jeff Daniels- insufferable over-actor William Hurt- insufferable over-actor, who didn’t suck in Broadcast News. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/16 "2016-08-27T22:47:27Z")
Jennifer and Meg Tilly. I can NEVER remember which is which. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/17 "2016-08-27T22:49:12Z")
For quite some time, possibly several years, I believed that Chelsea Handler must be one of the hardest working women in show business. Then I discovered that she is not actually the same person as Elizabeth Banks. I’m still not sure I could tell them apart based on looks, but I have figured out that Elizabeth Banks is by far the more prominent and prolific actress and that in every case where I wasn’t sure if an actress was her or Handler it was in fact Banks. While Chelsea Handler has done some acting she is far better known as a comedian, TV host, and writer. I can distinguish between the _people_, but I struggle to remember for more than a few minutes at a time which singer is named Adam Lambert and which one is named Adam Levine. I’m forced to refer to one as “you know, the one with all the eye makeup” and the other as “not the one with all the eye makeup”. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/18 "2016-08-27T23:29:46Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > For quite some time, possibly several years, I believed that Chelsea Handler must be one of the hardest working women in show business. Then I discovered that she is not actually the same person as Elizabeth Banks. > > I’m still not sure I could tell them apart based on looks, but I have figured out that Elizabeth Banks is by far the more prominent and prolific actress and that in every case where I wasn’t sure if an actress was her or Handler it was in fact Banks. While Chelsea Handler has done some acting she is far better known as a comedian, TV host, and writer. > > I can distinguish between the _people_, but I struggle to remember for more than a few minutes at a time which singer is named Adam Lambert and which one is named Adam Levine. I’m forced to refer to one as “you know, the one with all the eye makeup” and the other as “not the one with all the eye makeup”. I thought you meant Chelsea Perretti at first. “Really? You get them confused?” As for the Tillys. Meg is the serious one that you haven’t seen in forever. Jennifer is the dingbat poker player. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/19 "2016-08-27T23:33:36Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Jennifer and Meg Tilly. I can NEVER remember which is which. Venus and Serena Williams. I can NEVER remember which is which. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181/20 "2016-08-27T23:36:06Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Jennifer and Meg Tilly. I can NEVER remember which is which. Jennifer is the baby-talking one whose presence in film has been, and always will be, a mystery for the ages. I loathe the woman. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-these-often-mixed-up-celebrities-apart/764181.md?page=2)