15 Ugly Show Characters Who Are So Hot In Real Life
It's amazing what a good makeup artist can do for an actor or actress these days. Ever watch one of your favorite shows and feel almost repulsed by the look of some of the characters? Makeup artists can make performers look like totally different people! Add in hair stylists and costume designers that have the ability to transform someone into a totally different person, and you can end up with a character on screen who is totally unrecognizable from the actor that plays them. Sometimes, you may see a character who you assume can't be that attractive in real life if they look so disheveled or scary on TV. But you would be surprised! Hollywood can make anyone look like a model or a monster, depending on the vibe they need for the show. Need proof? Here are 15 ugly TV show characters who are actually gorgeous in real life.
15 Betty Suarez (America Ferrera)
One of the reasons Ugly Betty was such a great show was because of how relatable the main character was. Betty was played by America Ferrera, who easily pulled off her “awkward yet adorable” vibe perfectly. Betty had zero sense of personal style, didn't really bother with hair or makeup, and generally looked a bit frumpy, but somehow, she lands a job at a prestigious fashion magazine. Naturally, hilarity ensues as Betty tries to find her place in the fashion world while looking like a total outsider. But was Betty really that “ugly” in real life? Absolutely not! America Ferrera is beautiful, and she carries herself with dignity. She is a very talented actress, and even though the show was cancelled a few years ago, it has gained such a cult following that new fans are actually hoping for a movie! Who knows, maybe we'll see more of Betty on the big screen.
14 Margaret McPoyle (Thesy Surface)
If you've ever seen an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia featuring the McPoyle family, you were probably pretty disgusted. Whenever Charlie, Mac, Dee, Frank, and Dennis (a.k.a. “the gang”) encounter the McPoyles, you know it's going to be a crazy episode. The McPoyles are basically the gang's rivals, and they might be the only people in Philly who are nastier than the gang. There is only one girl in the McPoyle family: Margaret McPoyle. She doesn't really talk, and she appears to have absolutely zero sense of personal hygiene, but that hasn't stopped Mac and Dennis from occasionally making a move on her-they don't exactly have great taste in women. But the actress who plays Margaret, Thesy Surface, is super hot off screen. Hey, maybe Mac and Dennis just see something that the audience can't. Most fans are super surprised when they realize how attractive Thesy really is.
13 Janis Ian (Lizzy Caplan)
Mean Girls was probably the most quotable movie of the past few decades, and at this point, pretty much everyone can recognize at least a few lines from the film. Janis Ian, played by Lizzy Caplan, was one of the funniest characters in the whole movie. She may have been a bit of an outcast at her school because of her opposition to all things popular and wise cracking attitude, but the movie would not be the same without her. Janis was portrayed as someone who didn't care too much about looks-she wore her hair in a messy half-up half-down style, she had baggy, dark clothes, and her idea of “everyday makeup” was heavy black eyeliner and mascara. But in real life, Lizzy Caplan has gorgeous, strong features that really make her stand out! She wasn't exactly “ugly” in Mean Girls, but that role didn't really let her natural beauty shine through.
12 Pepper (Naomi Grossman)
American Horror Story has been one of the scariest shows on TV for the past couple years. Every season follows a different story, so even if you're not into one season, you might be absolutely glued to the screen for another. If you caught a few episodes of the second season, titled Asylum, you were probably totally freaked out by a few of the characters. Since this season took place in an old, creepy asylum, many of the characters were people who were complete outsiders to society, and they often had physical deformities. Pepper, who was abandoned by her family for being born a “freak,” was placed in an orphanage and eventually ended up in the asylum. But the woman who played Pepper, Naomi Grossman, looks nothing like the character you see on screen-it's actually unbelievable. It's really amazing what some of these talented makeup artists can do these days!
11 Maisie Williams (Arya Stark)
The new season of Game of Thrones just started a couple days ago, and the fans are already freaking out! The show has a huge following, and many of the fans also love the original book series by George R. R. Martin. The show has millions of fans, and many love the actress Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark. Arya is a tomboyish young girl from a noble family. Since Game of Thrones is such a popular and successful series, it might surprise you to find out that playing Arya Stark was actually Maisie's first professional acting role! Isn't that crazy? She not only impressed the casting directors, she has gone to impress fans and critics alike with her portrayal of Arya. While Arya is a total tomboy in the show, Maisie is naturally pretty adorable and feminine. She's still young, so we can't wait to see what she does in the future!
10 Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Sketch)
Admit it, the show Skins made you think that growing up in the United Kingdom would be a wild ride compared to wherever you're from. The teenagers on Skins partied like crazy, and even when they did face consequences, they made it all look so exciting that we couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live like that. Lots of the characters on Skins were attractive, but some were portrayed in a less favorable light. The character Sketch, played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards, was absolutely obsessed with another character, Maxxie Oliver, and pursued him romantically even though he was gay. She was definitely looked at as one of the “crazy” girls in the series, and she had a lot of issues. But in real life, Aimee-Ffion is a very talented and smart actress who has appeared in both English and Welsh productions-yup, she's bilingual! She's not crazy at all.
9 Judy Greer (Kitty Sanchez)
Arrested Development never had a huge fanbase while it was actually on TV, but when Netflix became more popular, the show gained a bigger following even though it had already been cancelled. The show focuses on the Bluth family, who lost their wealth and suddenly have to learn how to live like normal people. Many of the characters were out of touch with reality, and that's part of what makes the show so hilarious. Kitty Sanchez was one of those characters. She was romantically involved with several members of the Bluth family, and she was always portrayed as a total psycho. With her frizzy hair, messy makeup, botched enhancements, and total disregard for any beauty norms, she definitely stood out. But if you saw actress Judy Greer in real life, you wouldn't even realize that she had played Kitty! Judy looks sweet and natural, with a beautiful smile and bright red hair.
8 Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth)
Another actress from Game of Thrones! Why would we have two on this list? Well, if you've never seen Game of Thrones before, here's some quick background for you. The series is set in the past, in a setting based off fantasy medieval kingdoms, you know, where dragons flew around and nobody bathed. So naturally, lots of the characters appear a bit dirty and disheveled on screen. But many of the actors are actually gorgeous when you take off all the makeup their character needs! Take Gwendoline Christie, for instance. Gwendoline plays Brienne of Tarth, who is described as unattractive in the book series and appears rather homely on screen. She often looks more masculine than feminine, and her muscular body and broad shoulders make her stand out. But having a muscular figure is perfectly fine! Off screen, Gwendoline may not have the perfect “feminine” body, but she is certainly not unattractive.
7 Elisabeth Moss (Peggy Olson)
The TV show Mad Men is set at a fictional 1960s advertising agency in New York City. The show focuses on business at the agency as well as the characters' personal lives. It has received tons of awards, and some have even said that it's one of the greatest TV shows of all time! Watching a few episodes might make you nostalgic for a time period that you've never experienced. Elisabeth Moss plays Peggy Olson, who starts out as a secretary at the agency and is later moved up to a copywriter position. Peggy can't stand how men and women are treated differently in the advertising world, and she is always working hard to prove her worth to the men at the agency. While Peggy looks rather plain in the show, Elisabeth Moss can pull off basically any look in real life. She's known for her changing styles and hair colors!
6 Melissa Rauch (Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz)
The Big Bang Theory has been one of the most popular shows out there for a while now. People love the show for its zany characters and nerdy humor. While most of the main characters are male, there are now a few prominent female characters on the show who are just as smart and funny as the guys! One of these women is Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz (wow, that's a mouthful), who is played by Melissa Rauch. And she may look like a sweet, friendly blonde girl, but she is not to be messed with. She's super smart, she's completing her PhD, and she doesn't let anyone stand in her way. She's intensely competitive and intimidating if you get on her bad side. Melissa may look super nerdy in the show, but off screen, she's absolutely gorgeous. She has been working as a successful actress and comedian since working on VH1's Best Week Ever.
5 Tina Fey (Liz Lemon)
We all know that Tina Fey isn't really as homely as some of the characters she's played on TV. She's genuinely good looking. But in one of her most-loved roles as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, she was not exactly playing a supermodel. Liz writes for the fictional comedy show The Girlie Show and TGS With Tracy Jordan. She's definitely socially awkward, and she's portrayed as a geek. She always has trouble when meeting new people, because she inevitably puts her foot in her mouth. Other characters also describe her as a tomboy. But, of course, to fans of the show, this is just what makes her likeable. We all have a little Liz Lemon in us, whether we would like to admit it or not. And let's be real, Tina Fey is actually pretty attractive off screen and Liz does have a sort of nerdy, tomboyish charm in the show.
4 Lea Michele (Rachel Berry)
When Glee first came out, everyone thought it was hilarious. Making fun of over-zealous high school theater kids and actually dropping a few chart-topping covers in the process turned out to be a successful formula. After a while, it sort of became the type of show that it was originally parodying, but we still have a lot of love for the first few seasons. Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele, was the most enthusiastic about show biz out of the whole club. She didn't fit in with the popular crowd at school, and she is often made fun of for her outfits and her big nose. Lea Michele says she based the character off her younger self, and she is now happy with her nose! Plus, no one in real life would have anything insulting to say about Lea's appearance. She is gorgeous, confident, and she has an incredible voice.
3 Mayim Bialik (Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler)
Another star of The Big Bang Theory! Mayim Bialik plays Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, who is a neuroscientist and the main character Sheldon's girlfriend in the series. When she first begins appearing on the show, she is basically a female version of Sheldon. She does not seem to get emotionally attached to anyone, and she is often very awkward in social situations. But eventually, she begins to really open up to Sheldon and his friends. It takes them a long time to admit their feelings for each other, but they really do have a lot in common and understand each other. Did you know that Mayim Bialik actually has a PhD in neuroscience in real life? She's super smart and a talented actress. She's portrayed as plain on the show, but off screen, she looks classy and modest. Mayim is a also an outspoken feminist and a proud Jewish woman.
2 Kate McKinnon (SNL)
Kate McKinnon has played all kinds of crazy characters on SNL and some of them have been downright ugly! One of her funniest roles was Mrs. Rafferty, a trashy, chain-smoking woman has survived an alien abduction. There was also Barbara DeDrew, a crazy old cat lady who is obsessed with making puns. And then there was Sheila Sovage, who had a habit of appearing at the local bars late at night and trying to seduce the equally strange characters who she happens upon there. While Kate may have the ability to play seemingly any character that she comes up with and make it look totally realistic, she is far from ugly in real life. Just look at that awesome smile and gorgeous blonde hair! Her characters might not be the type to turn heads, but if you saw Kate out on the street, you would probably stop and do a double take!
1 Ellie Kemper (Kimmy Schmidt)
While Ellie Kemper's character Kimmy on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt isn't meant to be ugly, she's certainly awkward. Kimmy was kidnapped in 8th grade and lived in a bunker for years. When she got out, she had no idea how the world worked nowadays and had to totally readjust. But she hasn't let go of certain old habits, like dressing like a middle schooler. While she's naturally pretty, she really has no clue how to dress. You can catch her wearing clashing colors any day. But the good news is she doesn't really care what anyone else thinks, and she's perfectly comfortable rocking her own style! Ellie has been making us laugh with her comedy chops ever since she first appeared in hilarious College humor videos. Once she landed a role on The Office, it was only a matter of time before she ended up as the star of her own show!
