There’s something deliciously cinematic about a single actor taking on multiple roles in one film. It's not just about makeup — it takes real skill to make audiences believe they're seeing different people.
Here are some of the best examples of actors playing multiple roles — sometimes even entire families — in one movie.
Tilda Swinton — Suspiria (2018)
Swinton is known for disappearing into roles, and in Suspiria she takes that to another level. She plays both the dance teacher Madame Blanc and an old male psychiatrist named Dr. Klemperer. At first, people thought the male role was played by a different actor, but it was Swinton under heavy makeup. It was kept secret for months!
Hugo Weaving — Cloud Atlas (2012)
In this sci-fi epic, Weaving plays six characters across several time periods. He appears as a nurse, a hitman, and even a future tribal villain. Each version of his character is different in personality and look. It’s a great example of how one actor can transform completely in the same film.
Alec Guinness — Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
This is one of the most famous cases in film history. Alec Guinness plays eight different members of an aristocratic family. Each one is a possible heir to a dukedom — and each one is killed, one by one, by the film’s main character. Guinness plays both men and women, and every role feels unique. It’s a brilliant and funny performance that still stands out today.
Michael J. Fox — Back to the Future Part II (1989)
In the second Back to the Future movie, Fox plays not just Marty McFly, but also Marty’s future son and daughter. With clever effects and costumes, he becomes different members of the same family — and many viewers didn’t notice right away.
Tom Hanks — Cloud Atlas (2012)
Tom Hanks also plays six roles in Cloud Atlas. He’s a scientist, a writer, a gangster, and even a man living in a post-apocalyptic future. The film is about how souls are connected across time, so the same actors appear in many different lives. Hanks moves between them with ease, giving each role its own emotion and energy.
These actors didn’t just play characters — they became completely different people in the same movie. It’s always fun to spot when it happens, and even more fun when you realise… you missed it the first time.
