Hollywood transformations: The stars who went the extra mile for their roles!

Every once in a while, a role will require Hollywood stars to go the extra mile and embrace the character they are both playing — physically as well as mentally. As the 88th Academy Awards ceremony approaches, we take a look at some of the most dramatic physical transformations our beloved actors and actresses have undergone for the sake of art. Photo: Getty Images

In 2015, Eddie Redmayne took the film industry by storm with his stellar performance as Stephen Hawking in 'The Theory of Everything', which earned him an Oscar. In 2016, he made another transformation for drama 'The Danish Girl'.

With his feminine mannerisms and delicate appearance, Eddie played a convincing Lili Elbe – one of the first to receive the gender reassignment surgery. Photo: Rex

Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett drastically altered her appearance for the video project 'Manifesto' by German artist Julian Rosefeldt. This scene, where Cate took on the persona of a homeless man, left fans slack-jawed. The Australian took on 13 personas for the project, including a teacher, a newsreader and a factory worker. Photo: Getty Images

Brad Pitt scored an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' at the 80th Academy Awards. The star was gradually altered into an elderly man through special effects makeup techniques. Photo: Rex

Charlize Theron, who has been recognized as one of the world's most beautiful women on many occasions, shocked her fans with her portrayal of the first female serial killer in 'Monster'. The famous actress underwent an almost unbelievable transformation for her performance as Aileen Wuomos, a serial killer with a tragic life story. Charlize won an Oscar for her role at the 76th Academy Awards. Photo: Rex

Matthew McConaughey shed 51 pounds and became unrecognizable for the drama 'Dallas Buyers Club'. The actor was awarded Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role at the 87th Academy Awards in 2014 for his portrayal of Ron Woodroof, a man who suffered from AIDS after receiving an HIV infection diagnosis in Dallas. In contrast to losing copious amounts of weight for his Academy-awarded role, Matthew bulked up and turned into a bald man for his 2016 movie 'Gold'. Photo: Rex

Johnny Depp, who has showed off his talent acting as a pirate, a murderer and Willy Wonka among other characters, played a man called Whitey Bulger in 'Black Mass'. Whitey is a notorious crime boss and for the role, Johnny took on a completely different look. Photo: Getty Images

Tom Cruise In 'Tropic Thunder', the actor played Les Grossman – a studio executive known for his mercilessness and determination. The scenes of Tom dancing along with co-star Robert Downey Jr. in the movie are iconic to this day. Photos: Getty Images

How could we forget Ralph Fiennes and his incredible transformation into 'Harry Potter' villain Voldemort? The infamous character was created through extensive makeup and special effects. Ralph underwent the transformation for four of the 'Potter' movies. Photo: Getty Images

Famous for his roles in '10 Things I Hate About You' and 'Brokeback Mountain', the late Heath Ledger is most remembered for his role as the Joker in the Dark Knight. Through a combination of makeup and in-depth acting, his depiction of the character is considered one of the best. Photo: Getty Images