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[[caption-width-right:350:Gee whillikers! They're SleepingSingle, too!]]

->''"To be honest, [[Creator/DanielRadcliffe you]] and [[RupertGrint Rupert]] and [[Creator/EmmaWatson Emma]] are all too good-looking!"''
-->-- '''Creator/JKRowling''', ''A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe''

You've just learned that your favorite book, ''The Life And Times Of AliceAndBob'', is being made into a [[TheMovie movie]]. In the book, Alice is average-looking and slightly overweight, and Bob is a balding middle-aged guy. So why does it star Creator/AngelinaJolie and Creator/BradPitt?

An adaptation and biopic trope, AdaptationalAttractiveness is when a someone who was originally fat, plain, or even downright ugly is played by a much more conventionally attractive actor. This also applies to clothing: characters whose attire is described as grotesque will become fashionably dressed.

Although sometimes it's who can play the part best, while finding actors who look like the way the characters are described can be problematic. Because let's face it, how many ugly actors - and still less ''actresses'' - are there?

Related to HollywoodHomely. See also RaceLift, which normally doesn't have the same effect, and ProgressivelyPrettier, when something similar happens without an adaptation. When this is done to a real life person, it's HistoricalBeautyUpdate. Frequently occurs when a character is PromotedToLoveInterest. See also BigBraToFill and BeautyInversion. If the casting directors wanted the character to be ugly but an attractive actor gave the best audition, it's AbilityOverAppearance.

The fandom version of this is SelfFanservice.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* The anime and novel designs don't transition much between attractiveness levels in ''{{Slayers}}'', but Zelgadis' design in the original novels, while not ugly, can be a bit unsettling to look at, even devilish. In the anime, on the other hand, he's [[{{Bishonen}} ridiculously pretty]], even though, as a chimera, he technically ''shouldn't'' be. Also, [[ThePollyanna Amelia]] looks younger and more [[{{Moe}} round-faced]] in the anime than in the novels.
* Therru from Ursula [=LeGuin=]'s ''Literature/EarthseaTrilogy'' is so disfigured by third-degree burns as to make people unwilling to look at her. In the StudioGhibli adaptation ''TalesFromEarthsea'', she's a cute young girl with some bad sunburn.
* Tenma from ''Anime/{{Monster}}'' is a milder example. For [[MrFanservice whatever reason]], he gets better looking as the manga progresses, while in the anime, he is good-looking from the start.
** Well Tenma's change seems to be meant as symbolic
* While Jonah Matsuka in the ''TowardTheTerra'' manga was far from ugly, he was not quite the {{Bishonen}} that he became [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Matsuka.jpg in the anime]].
* The anime adaptation of ''VideoGame/FatalFury 2'' turned Wolfgang Krauser from a mustachioed middle-age man to a clean-shaven young man who is only a few years older than Terry.
** According to WordOfGod, this was done deliberately to show just ''how'' much more of a threat Krauser was than Geese in the first OVA. Whereas Geese aged naturally (and gained quite a few scars to boot), Krauser retained his youthful beauty as a visual representation of his power.
* Inverted with the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime. Quite a few characters have had more simplistic designs than their game counterparts, their designs tweaked to a point where it's more unappealing, or simple design changes which give them a different look (different colorings, eyes not being fully colored in, etc).
** Also played straight in the transition from games to anime. Ash isn't nearly as scrawny or unruly looking as Red originally was, though they appear to be the same height.
** Charles in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' is an out of shape biker with a scruffy face. In ''Best Wishes'', he is a slender Bishonen - and a [[{{Toku}} superhero]]!
* The live-action adaptation of ''Manga/NanaToKaoru''. The short and ugly Kaoru was transformed into an average-height, moderately attractive young man; moreover, the actress playing Nana is ''shorter''.
* Scar is younger in the ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist anime]]. Ed, while not ugly at all in the manga, doesn't quite have the same sort of facial structure as his manga counterpart originally did; it's less square. While Ed in the manga and second anime hits a growth spurt eventually, towering over Winry, in the anime he becomes taller by TheMovie but is still shorter than his biologically thirteen year old brother despite the fact that he's 18-19 (the movie takes place 2 years after the series). He also seems to only be about Winry's height.
** Envy gets a subtle hit of this in ''Brotherhood'', where he's drawn notably more muscular than the 2003 anime version.
* Quite a lot of ''MetalFightBeyblade'' characters had their appearances changed from the manga to make them more attractive in the anime. One of the most notable is Ryutaro Fukami. He went from [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ryuutarou_1_9953.jpg looking like a bratty kid with buckteeth]] to [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/150px-Ryutaro_4826.jpg actually being quite pretty]].
* Compare Motoko Kusanagi's [[http://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/ghostintheshell1.jpg original appearance]] in ''Anime/GhostInTheShell'', to her [[http://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/screenshots/gitstv3.jpg later appearance]] in ''[[GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex Stand Alone Complex]]''.
** It should be noted that her look in SAC was based moreso off her original appearance in the manga, thus making the movie Motoko an inversion.
* In ''OniisamaE'', Mariko's mother Hisako is very homely-looking (lampshaded by Mariko in the manga, as she says she wasn't the prettiest girl ever but still stayed by her father's side [[spoiler: before he ditched her]]). But in the anime version, Hisako is an outright HotMom.
* In the film versions of ''Manga/DeathNote'', the character of L, originally designed to be dishevelled and unattractive (but ''[[SpringtimeForHitler still]]'' gained a number of fangirls) is played by the rather handsome KenichiMatsuyama.
* Kariya Matou from ''Literature/FateZero'' has a hideously disfigured left side of his face as a result of the crest worms in his body. The anime adaptation toned it down a bit, however; he now looks like he's just somewhat scarred but not half as much as he's supposed to be.
* In ''Anime/{{Wolverine}}'' Logan is a {{Bishonen}}. He's even younger and prettier than he is in the ''other MarvelAnime series,'' and ''they'' are subject to the HughJackman effect (see Film) and the way the character has gotten ProgressivelyPrettier. The result is a Wolverine that comics fans would have a hard time recognizing.
* Happens to Ruiko Saten from ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun''. In the manga she's short, rather plain, and flat-chested. In the anime she is taller, has a figure, and is overall much prettier.
** Also much more jarringly to Shinobu Nunotaba who was very creepy looking in the manga, but was changed into an attractive woman in the second season of the anime.
* Played with in the ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' adaptations: few, if any, appearances were outright changed in the initial TV run (before the plot took a [[GeckoEnding sharp left turn]] from the manga), but they got rid of the chibi and other off-model moments, as well as far fewer disturbing expressions and [[SlasherSmile evil grins]] from most everyone except for Alucard himself; even he had some of his inherent horror toned down. Then along comes ''Hellsing Ultimate'' that takes all those factors and puts them right back in, [[UpToEleven with a vengeance]].
* One of the students in ''{{Gokusen}}'' is described as {{Gonk}} in the manga, but he is a player in the live action series.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* In an in-universe comic inspired by her, {{Spider-Girl}} has flowing blond hair and [[MostCommonSuperpower a large bust]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
* One Literature/{{Discworld}} fanfic has the canonically overweight Agnes and her SplitPersonality Perdita separate into two slim, beautiful women.
** Which actually makes a crazy amount of sense since Perdita is the "thin girl" accompanying Agnes' "a lot of chocolate" and she's gotta get the mass from someplace.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Animated]]
* While not ''attractive'', Quasimodo from Disney's version of ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' is upgraded from hideous to UglyCute. Presumably, if they added the little details of how ugly he is, it would be a pain on the animators, and would have scared the children in a movie that's already pretty dark to begin with.
* WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}, while rude, crude, and ogreish, isn't really hideous. [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Shrekcover.jpg In the book it was based on...]]
* In ''Disney/TheBlackCauldron'', Gurgi is changed from a hideous gorilla-like monster in [[ChroniclesofPrydain the original books]] to a cute badger-like animal.
* ''DragonHunters'' [[InvertedTrope inverts]] this. In the 2004 animated series Gwidzo is presented as charismatic and moderately attractive whereas the 2008 film adaption portrays him as grimy and unpleasant, even having him describe himself as "mean and ugly" during a break down.
* ''Literature/TheLorax'' has the Once-ler, who is [[TheFaceless a pair of green arms]] in both the book and the cartoon adaptation; in the latter, he can be assumed to be middle-aged going by his deep voice. In [[WesternAnimation/TheLorax the 2012 film]], he's a tall, cute 20-something man with big blues eyes (in contrast to the creepy yellow ones he had in the book), voiced by Ed Helms.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]
* In a filmed play of ''DeathOfASalesman'', DustinHoffman plays the character of Willy Loman, who in the play's original script was described as fat and unattractive. The film edits out references to Loman's weight and replaces them with jabs at his intellect and height. Apparently Arthur Miller told Dustin Hoffman his original vision of Willy Loman was a small man, despite how casting for the first play turned out.
* Every single film adaptation of one of Creator/RoaldDahl's works can come across as this almost automatically, because of the books' art style for the illustrations, which makes everyone seem a notch or two less attractive than they presumably are supposed to be. If you're beautiful or cute, you look average. If you're average, you look ugly, and if you're ugly, you look like a troll.
* In Tim Burton's ''Film/AliceInWonderland''
** The White Queen goes from [[http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/alicepic/through-the-looking-glass/2book25.jpg this]] to [[http://static.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/the-white-queen-photo.jpg this]].
** Inverted as well. The Red Queen [[http://students.ou.edu/E/Valerie.N.Edwards-1/RedQueen2.jpg may not have been attractive]] in the original illustrations, but the film version is a literal freak with a grotesquely over-sized head (though played by perfectly lovely actress HelenaBonhamCarter).
* Gerard Butler as the Phantom in the musical ''ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' is an extreme example of this. The nature of the Phantom's deformity is already different from the source novel's in the stage version (in the novel his face resembles a skull, and the stage version it's only half of his face affected), but still, he's alarming to look at unmasked. Butler's deformity in the film is commonly described as resembling third-degree sunburn at worst. On top of this, while the Phantom is usually played by middle-aged actors on stage - in part because a key plot thread is Christine seeing him as a father figure - Butler was 34 when the film was shot. HotterAndSexier, sure, but this is supposed to be one character whose entire point is that he is ''not at all'' hot or sexy!
* Julian Sands played the Phantom in ''ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' with ''his regular face''.
* In the ''Film/{{X-Men}}'' films:
** Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, who is supposed to be extremely stocky and short. Jackman is so tall that castmate James Marsden had to [[ScullyBox stand on boxes to not be dwarfed by him]]. Also, {{Wolverine}} in the comic books is [[KavorkaMan not an attractive man]], but here, he's HughJackman.
*** Although in the comics Wolverine is not shown as repulsive, and indeed if the proof of male attractiveness lies in attracting women, then the comics Wolverine clearly is attractive.
** Similarly, [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/5586/511756-t3_super.jpg Toad]] is a short, ugly little hunchback in the comics. In the movie, he's played by [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/19/Toad.jpg Ray Park]] with some very half-hearted attempts at uglying him up.
** The [[http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lehqkvCcwH1qfwhlqo1_500.jpg comic version of]] {{Deadpool}} is substantially uglier than the [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/378/791910-weapon_xi_by_totorokyonanashi.jpg film version]].
** Inverted with Magneto. While not ugly by any means, he's considerably older than the character in the comics and much less physically imposing. While Magneto was a buff, chiseled, White Haired PrettyBoy in the comics, in the movie his white hair is the result of him being seventy-something years old. Justified, since the movies don't have the comics' [[ComicBookTime sliding timescale]] or the multiple instances of him being de-aged and re-aged and had to make him the realistic age of a Holocaust survivor.
** In the comics Sebastian Shaw, the BigBad of ''First Class'', is a thuggish-looking, middle-aged businessman with a heavy build best described as "gorilla-like". In the film, he's played by KevinBacon.
** The comic book version of [[http://images.wikia.com/marveldatabase/images/a/a6/Janos_Quested_(Earth-616)_001.jpg Riptide]] is nowhere near as good looking as the [[http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23500000/Riptide-x-men-first-class-23542290-700-464.jpg movie version]].
** Compare the [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/181946-24945-callisto.jpg comic version of]] Callisto to [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/88606-147382-callisto.jpg her film counterpart]].
** Ditto for Darwin. Compare his [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/11768/849749-dar.jpg comic incarnation]] to the [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/6/60352/1663962-cddd.png film version]].
** Skin had freakish gray skin and (DependingOnTheArtist) an unsettling, impish appearance in the ''GenerationX'' comic book series. In the 90's TV movie, he just looks like a typical Hispanic teenager.
* Frank Lucas and Ritchie Roberts weren't much to look at, but they were played by [[MrFanservice Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe]] in ''Film/AmericanGangster''.
* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia''. In the books, Lucy Pevensie is described as being not that pretty and a {{Tomboy}}, compared to her older sister, [[GirlyGirl Susan]]. In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'', she also has problems with her self-esteem and constantly desires to be beautiful just like Susan. In the movie, Lucy is played by GeorgieHenley, who has [[SheIsAllGrownUp grown up to be a really attractive girl]] and is as beautiful (if not more) as Creator/AnnaPopplewell. She is also more of a PluckyGirl than a {{Tomboy}}.
* In the Annie Proulx short story ''BrokebackMountain'', the two protagonists are described to be ordinary-looking, even unattractive. In the movie adaptation they're played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger.
* In Annie Proulx's ''The Shipping News,'' the protagonist is described as overweight, sloppy, red-headed (as are his daughters) and with a face wrinkled like a crenshaw melon. In the film adaptation, he is portrayed by Kevin Spacey.
* In the ''Film/TheThinMan'' movies, the main character was changed from an overweight man to handsome Hollywood actor William Powell, although at least in the first film, he is still [[IAmNotShazam not the title character]].
* In Louis Sachar's ''{{Holes}}'', Stanley is explicitly described as fat on repeated occasions. ShiaLaBeouf, the actor playing him in the movie, is quite lanky. A part of the original story was that Stanley would gradually get more fit by all the work at Camp Green Lake, however this had to be dropped for continuity reasons.
* RalphFiennes playing Dolarhyde in ''Film/RedDragon''. According to the book, Dolarhyde, though plain, is nowhere near as hideous as he thinks he is (certainly not ugly enough for every woman to automatically reject him based on looks), but he still doesn't look like Ralph Fiennes. Dolarhyde's insecurity about his looks is (at least according to the movie) rooted in him having a cleft palate, which he corrected later with surgery. ''Film/{{Manhunter}}'''s Dolarhyde clearly showed the scar from the operation but Ralph Fiennes playing Dolaryhde [[InformedDeformity just looks like--Ralph Fiennes]]. Not that [[ScienceMarchesOn cleft palate surgery hasn't come a long way]] since then but ''Film/RedDragon'' is supposed to be a remake, not a reboot.
* In the book ''Literature/{{Psycho}}'' ([[AdaptationDisplacement yes, there was a book]]), Norman Bates was fat, bespectacled, and middle-aged, unlike Anthony Perkins in the movie. In fact, he resembles his real-life inspiration, Ed Gein. The change in [[Film/{{Psycho}} the film]] was intentional, because Hitchcock thought that an attractive Norman would be easier to sympathize with.
* In ''Literature/JaneEyre'', Rochester is downright unattractive and well into middle age. Jane Eyre herself is young, but extremely plain. These are actually important character traits, as they love each other for their inner character and each pass up on a more attractive prospective mate. In adaptations, however, Rochester is usually a rather handsome, if gruff, older gentleman, while Jane Eyre is at worst HollywoodHomely. In the 1983 miniseries, Rochester was played by TimothyDalton! In the BBC miniseries adaptation (2006), Mr. Rochester is played by [[http://knightleyemma.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/ts_longhair.jpg Toby Stephens]] and by [[http://youngromantic.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/michael-fassbender.jpg Michael Fassbender]] in the 2011 film. All decidedly good-looking.
* In the Philip K. Dick short story ''MinorityReport'', the first three things we learn about the protagonist are that he's fat, bald and old. The fact that he's reaching retirement age is a plot point in the ending. The movie cast Tom Cruise, though amazingly they allow him to be bald at the end. Also, the mutants in the story were explicitly stated to be hideous. You know, kind of like how you'd expect mutants to look. On screen they're buzzed and pale, but otherwise normal.
* In the novel of ''Little Children'', the character Ronnie bears very little physical resemblance to Jackie Earle Haley, being an overweight, balding chain-smoker who wears glasses. While Haley is no George Clooney, he brought a far more sympathetic interpretation to the character than what was probably intended. Sarah Peirce was also described as being not very pretty in the book. In the movie they worked over time to make KateWinslet seem frumpy but their best efforts made her look HollywoodHomely.
* In ''Literature/ThePrincessBride'', Prince Humperdink is ridiculously over-muscled, and Vizzini is a hunchback.
* A number of issues in ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'':
** Some people thought that the overall cast was too young and attractive to portray some of the middle-aged and beaten-down characters. (Although the age issue was out of necessity, to allow the actors to portray their younger selves in flashbacks.) Walter Kovacs in particular, [[spoiler:AKA Rorschach]], is supposed to be "fascinatingly ugly". Compare [[http://images.wikia.com/watchmen/images/b/b2/Walter_Kovacs.jpg comics]] and [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3254751049_8527a1974a_o.jpg movie]] versions.
** In the comic, a deconstruction of the superhero genre, the characters' costumes were intended to look somewhat silly to highlight the inherent absurdity of classic superhero costumes. In the movie, however, the costumes are played straight, and look much more stylish. Nite Owl II's was changed from a full body and head robe to a form fitting armor suit with pointier ears.
** And possibly inverted with Ozymandias. He's supposed to be the model of western perfection: blonde, square-jawed and athletic. In the film, he's lanky and has a thin face - not that this affects his physical prowess.
* In ''FromHell'', in which Inspector Frederick Abberline is a overweight, middle-aged man typical of the Victorian middle-class. The FilmOfTheBook casts JohnnyDepp as the Inspector. Similarly, the Ripper's victims generally appear more attractive in the film than they did in the comic or in real-life, as late Victorian streetwalkers in their early-to-mid forties, though most of the actresses were close in age to the women they portrayed.
* In ''Literature/TheNeverendingStory'', Bastian is fat, and it's one of the key problems he experiences in life with teasing by bullies. In [[Film/TheNeverendingStory the movies]], not only is he thin, but in ''The Neverending Story 2'', he's a ''lithe athletic swimmer''. One of the Aesops of the book was Bastian using his Fantastican powers to wish for an athletic body, which was a symptom of him losing his identity.
* ''TheWindAndTheLion'' changed the Moroccan bandit, Raisuli, into Sean Connery, and his Greco-American captive, Ion Perdicaris, into Candice Bergen.
* In an inversion of this trope ''BeingThere'': Chance, the gardener, is described as looking like a cross between Ted Kennedy (in the early 1970s) and Cary Grant. Creator/PeterSellers played the character in the film, and is not generally considered to have a dashing appearance. In addition, Sellers intentionally gained weight for the role because he decided that Chance's "sedentary and solitary" life would have left him overweight.
* In ''Film/HarryPotter'':
** Even without going into the inevitabilities of with puberty striking the three, at age 11, Harry is supposed to have a skinny face and knobby knees, with his green eyes being his only good feature. It's a similar story for Ron and Hermione. Hermione in particular is rather average until she gets an opportunity to [[SheCleansUpNicely clean up nicely]] (and she has buck teeth, which are later fixed). In the film series, all the lead child characters were played by cute kids. As the characters mature, however, their appearances shape up a bit and the actors correspond a bit better.
** In [[Literature/HarryPotter the book series]], Severus Snape is supposed to have greasy hair, a sallow face, yellowish teeth and a body rather too thin to be healthy. In the film series, he is played by Alan Rickman, whose mature sexiness cannot be obscured by an unflattering wig. This helped the character graduate into his current DracoInLeatherPants role in the fandom. In fact, when asked if she still saw in her own mind, her own characters or the actors, Rowling stated that she always sees her own vision of the characters, with one exception, that being Alan Rickman.
** Dolores Umbridge looked somewhat like a toad in the novel. In the movie, she was played by Imelda Staunton, who is at worst cute and at best downright adorable. However, this might actually have worked out, since if anything the contrast between her 'adorable granny' shell and 'evil sadist' personality made her ''more'' hateful. Not to mention that [[GigglingVillain giggle]]...
** The Bellatrix Lestrange of the books is supposed to have lost her beauty along with whatever sanity she had in the first place during her stay in Azkaban. In the film...''hello'' HelenaBonhamCarter, though she keeps the rather off-putting teeth in the film.
** Pansy Parkinson, is perhaps not beautiful in ''The Half-Blood Prince'' film, but far from ugly. According to the book, she has a "pug-like face".
** Luna Lovegood is a lesser example, in that she isn't ugly in the books, but usually seen as fairly plain and "dotty", wheras Evanna Lynch is highly attractive (though her physical traits do actually match Luna's quite well, and there couldn't have been a better casting character wise).
** Creator/JKRowling says that she always wondered why {{fangirl}}s [[DracoInLeatherPants loved Draco Malfoy so much]], since she never imagined him as particularly attractive. The answer is Tom Felton's suave, stylish portrayal of the character in the last three-four films, especially in ''Half-Blood Prince''.
** Viktor Krum is described in the books as gangly and hook-nosed, with a habit of slouching. He was played by [[http://images.wikia.com/harrypotter/images/4/40/Krum_003.jpg Stanislav Ianevski.]]
** Neville Longbottom and Harry's cousin Dudley are both overweight in the books. And in the first couple films the actors were the same, but both actors eventually lost weight and resembled their book counterparts very loosely. With Neville they simply let him lose the weight without much comment, since it was never a key part of his character. For Dudley they just had the actor wear oversized clothing. The other side of this, however, is that the actor playing Neville is "uglied up" a bit by making his ears stick out and messing up his hair. Likewise, many of the Slytherin actors are given false teeth and other odd physical features.
* TheFilmOfTheBook ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''
** James is described in the book as very average and unremarkable in appearance, the producers still cast [[http://www.truetwilight.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/james.jpg Cam Gigandet]] in the role.
** Bella Swan thinks of herself as rather plain and unfashionable, while [[http://www.9sn.net/resim/Kristen-Stewart.jpg Kristen Stewart]] plays her in the movies. However, some readers infer that Bella is overly hard on her appearance.
** Alice is never described as ugly but is described as very short, compared to Ashley Green who's 5'6". Transversely Rosalie is described as very tall, but is played by Nikki Reed who is actually the same height.
** Eric is described as having terrible skin, but Justin Chon is completely blemish free.
* ''21'', a movie based on the book about several MIT students gaming casinos in Blackjack. The (actual, still living) MIT students are replaced with vastly more attractive ([[RaceLift and all white]]) actors for the movie.
* In ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', hobbits are generally portly, but with the exception of Sean Astin, who is already stocky and gained some weight for the role of Sam, the producers hired slender actors for the Fellowship hobbits. Director Peter Jackson didn't want the characters to look like midgets by being overly stocky. Frodo in the books is described as "stout," and, while he's supposed to look younger than his actual age (fifty), teenage ElijahWood is definitely stretching it. Then again, hobbits do age more slowly than humans. Hobbits in the books are also said to look friendly, not handsome or beautiful, which cannot be said for the Fellowship hobbits.
** The trend continues in ''Film/TheHobbit''; Bilbo probably wouldn't even count as HollywoodPudgy, though he at least has an early-middle-aged look about him. Goes back and forth with the dwarfs as they tend to be on the broad side but are usually more wide than they are heavy (except [[{{Acrofatic}} Bombur]]), and have various facial prosthetic such as bulbous noses, oversized jowls, etc; then there's [[ThoseTwoGuys Fíli and Kíli]] as well as [[BadassInCharge Thorin]], who not only is easily the most handsome dwarf, but also has his [[AdaptationalAngstUpgrade driving motivation changed]] from [[GoldFever reclaiming the lost gold and treasure from Erebor]] to reclaiming a proper homeland for his scattered, wandering people. Interestingly, Fíli, Kíli, and Thorin are agreed as being the most attractive dwarves [[spoiler:and they are the three that die. [[KillTheCutie There's no way that's a coincidence.]]]]
* In Creator/IsaacAsimov's [[Literature/IRobot robot stories]], Susan Calvin is described as middle-aged and unattractive. [[Film/IRobot In the movie]], she was portrayed by a former model, Bridget Moynahan (although that film was only [[InNameOnly very, very loosely]] based on Asimov's work.)
* A minor, strange case in the film version of ''Film/VForVendetta'': in the comic, V's mask has a round face and an upturned nose, making him look sort of like a doll with a mustache and a goatee, making some of his panels look [[NarmCharm more inappropriately cute]] than usual in especially serious scenes. In the film, he has a longer face and a long, straight nose, making him look more masculine.
* To quote Miles Kreuger on the film adaptations of ''ShowBoat'': "Cap'n Andy's three tarts in the 1936 version are gaudily dressed and made up for their profession: in this (1951) film they are three wholesome extra girls who might be expected at Lady Astor's in their chic finery." Kreuger made similar observations about Helen Morgan (who appeared in the 1936 film) vs. Ava Gardner (of the 1951 film) as Julie in the scene where she sings "Bill".
* In ''Film/TheLastAirbender'', Zuko's scar has changed from covering half his face to a barely noticeable red line over his eye.
** Uncle Iroh in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is fat and a bit bald. In the movie, he is played by Shaun Toub, who is... [[CaptainObvious not.]]
* In the novel of ''ChildrenOfMen'', the descriptions of Theo do not exactly call to mind a Clive Owen. Then again, about the only thing the two of them have in common is their name and a few backstory elements, the film being a ''very'' loose adaptation.
* In the film adaptation of ''LetTheRightOneIn'', Oskar is played by a reasonably cute and thin child. In the book, however, he is overweight and has major problems with food. Despite being a generally lauded film, the film rather confusingly still has the bullies call Oskar "piggy". The American remake includes his obsession with candy, but also keeps him as a skinny, scrawny kid.
* In ''Camp Nowhere'', Melody Kay plays Gaby, a girl who is sent to fat camp and whose extra weight is mentioned by love interest, Mud ... except that the girl is average-to-thin. She's the same size as the movie's hot girl.
* In Jane Campion's ''BrightStar'', incredibly gorgeous BenWhishaw plays Creator/JohnKeats, who really wasn't as gorgeous as Whishaw. He was also only five feet tall, while Wishaw is 5'9".
* Ben Whishaw plays Grenouille in the film adaptation of Patrick Süskind's ''Literature/{{Perfume}}.'' While in both the novel and the film, he's filthy, malnourished and disfigured by scars from the tannery, in the novel he's described as ugly even before receiving these maladies.
* Leslie Burke in the book ''Literature/BridgeToTerabithia'' was described as looking more like a boy than a girl and wearing plain clothing. In the film she was played by Creator/AnnaSophiaRobb, who wore bright, colourful clothes at every opportunity. According the filmmakers, this was because the book's standards of an un-normal girl had changed by the present.
* The play ''Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune'' originally starred Kathy Bates and Kenneth Welsh, and was revived with Stanley Tucci and Edie Falco. The 1991 film version, ''Frankie and Johnny'', starred Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Yes, that's right, a young Michelle Pfeiffer in a role originated by Kathy Bates.
* In the book ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', protagonist Alan Grant is described as short, pot bellied, and bearded. A tall, thin, and clean shaven SamNeill dashingly plays him in the movie. Similarly, Ian Malcolm is described as a "thin, balding man". Who plays him in the movie? A studly, and very not-bald Creator/JeffGoldblum.
* In the book ''Literature/TheLittleWhiteHorse'', Sir Benjamin Merriweather is described as fat, bowlegged, and past his prime. In its film adaptation, ''Film/TheSecretOfMoonacre'', he's played by the lean, sinewy Ioan Gruffudd, who's also considerably younger than the character.
* The novel ''The Hotel New Hampshire'' makes it clear that Susie the Bear really is ugly; she has major acne scars. In the movie she is played by Nastassja Kinski (with no fake scars or anything) who only ''thinks'' she is ugly. This ruins a major plot point, changes the character (instead of being ugly and knowing it, she is beautiful and thinks she is ugly), and ruins AnAesop about beauty.
* In the ''Film/MasterAndCommander'' film adaptation of the ''Literature/AubreyMaturin'' series, both Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are far more attractive than their book counterparts. Something of a PragmaticAdaptation, however, because in the books Stephen is 5'6" and "indefinably odd-looking" or "pitifully small and distorted", and Jack more than 6 feet tall, but Paul Bettany is, at 6'3", four inches taller than Russell Crowe. Jack in the books is usually more than 16 stone, but Russell Crowe only gained a little for the role.
* ''Film/SleepyHollow''. The original description of Ichabod Crane is nothing like JohnnyDepp. However, virtually nothing about Crane is the same as his original character in the short story. Originally, they did a few test runs with Depp wearing facial prosthetics, but TimBurton ended up changing his mind, saying that in this case, it was Crane's personality quirks that made him unattractive.
* In the [[{{Ripliad}} Tom Ripley]] novels, Tom's housekeeper/MoralityPet Madame Antoinette is a middle aged-elderly Frenchwoman of friendly but average appearance. In the film ''Ripley Under Ground'', which is a somewhat LighterAndSofter PragmaticAdaptation, Antoinette is a pretty young woman who is the maid (not a FrenchMaid though except in a literal sense) of Tom's future wife, but is also friendly with her/likes Tom as in the novels.
* In ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'', typically scrawny, geeky Scarecrow is played by CillianMurphy. He goes from [[http://www.dccomics.com/media/_dcu/heroes_and_villains/origin_stories/scarecrow/1.jpg this]] to ''[[http://spc.fotolog.com/photo/12/57/80/cillian_spain/1222252378283_f.jpg this]]''. Inverted with Detective Flass, who went from a tall, well-built blond jock to a fat, ugly, unkempt slob.
* In ''WarAndPeace'', Pierre Bezukhov is overweight and in the beginning, a socially awkward delinquent. In the 1956 version of the movie, he's played by Henry Fonda and is anything but overweight and socially awkward.
* In [[{{Gormenghast}} The Gormenghast Trilogy]], both the text and the original sketches by [[WordOfGod Peake]] himself, depict Steerpike as a short, thin, bowed, unattractive youth with tow-coloured hair and blood-red eyes. In the BBC adaptation, he is played by JonathanRhysMeyers, who is considered to be handsome.
* In the novel ''They Shoot Horses Don't They?'', Gloria is described as blonde, short, looking older than she is and not really pretty. In the movie, she's played by JaneFonda, who fits none of those qualifications.
* In the manga ''{{Ooku}}'', the shogun's best friend and right-hand woman is plain and pudgy with a sort of rectangular face. The live-action movie cast Wakui Emi, who bears [[http://charry.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/hhhhhfuyyyy45.jpg little resemblance]].
* While the original ''ClashOfTheTitans'' ups {{Medusa}}'s hideousness by making her a [[SnakePeople Snake Woman]], the remake has a snakelike CuteMonsterGirl - she even illustrates the GorgeousGorgon page!
** Of course, remember that the original Medusa was a very beautiful temple maiden, before being turned into a monster.
* An odd example happened in the film version of ''SinCity'' where the fat, balding, middle-aged serial killer named Kevin was played by ElijahWood. The fanbase was still very pleased with the result.
* In ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'', Colonel Brandon is described as being not nearly as handsome as Willoughby. He's described as the 18th century version of "okay looking," and someone that Marianne became attached to because he was kind to her when she was ill. In [[Film/SenseAndSensibility the 1995 film]], he's played by Creator/AlanRickman. [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3424226816/nm0000614 Willoughby who?]] Plenty of women would have snapped up the movie version of Colonel Brandon without a second glance at Willoughby. Kind, honorable and Alan Rickman sexy? Sign us up!
* Velma in the first live action ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' film goes from [[http://www.selectspecs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/velma3.gif this]] to [[http://humordistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/velma-movie-196x300.jpg this]]
* It's difficult to claim this trope for adaptations of theatre productions, because the characters are played by so many different actors it's hard to claim which actor is the "right" amount of attractive. However, comparing the original castings of [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lansbury_Hearn_Sweeney_Todd_4505.jpg Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett]] in ''Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'' with the versions shown in [[Film/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet movie]], and it's hard to claim JohnnyDepp and HelenaBonhamCarter are accurate, especially given Todd's backstory, and while Benjamin Barker was supposedly attractive before he was exiled at least to Mrs. Lovett, after his ordeal he'd probably look a little more messed up than Johnny Depp with a skunk stripe.
* In the novel ''Taffin'', the title character is overweight and unattractive. In the movie, he's played by PIERCE BROSNAN.
* Partially lampshaded in ''ComicBook/AmericanSplendor'', when Joyce talks about how Harvey is depicted in his comic:
--> '''Joyce:''' You know, I don't really know what to expect. Sometimes you look like a younger Brando... but then the way Crumb draws you, you look... like a hairy ape, with all these wavy, stinky lines undulating off your body. I don't really know what to expect.
* In the novel ''Running with Scissors'', Natalie is described as being plain and significantly overweight. In the movie, she's played by Creator/EvanRachelWood.
* {{Dracula}}. In the book Dracula was old and ugly, with hairy palms, whilst most of the films make him younger, suave, and TallDarkAndHandsome. The most extreme example must be the 1979 version, which makes Dracula look like [[http://image.toutlecine.com/photos/d/r/a/dracula-1979-11-g.jpg this]] and have a voice that could melt butter.
** A lot of the movies make his ''personality'' more attractive as well. In the book he was an old man, tired with [[WhoWantsToLiveForEver immortality]], who wanted to take over the world, whose bite seems to be a metaphor for rape and sexually transmitted disease. In the movies, he seduces Mina and/or Lucy, with plently of angst over the loneliness of living forever and being a vampire.
** Also applicable to Renfield in one known [[Film/{{Dracula}} adaptation]] of the novel. While he's normally interpreted by older-looking men, more similar in appearance to the character in the books; he was played by the handsome [[http://i.imgur.com/eCqHA.jpg Dwight Frye]] in the 1931 version.
* Inverted in the ''{{Fletch}}'' movies. In the books, Fletch was a handsome, young, blond, extremely muscular man who could bed any woman he wanted. In the movies, he was played by a forty-something Chevy Chase.
* In Creator/StephenKing's ''{{Carrie}}'', the title character is overweight, has thinning dark hair, acne in her face and chest and back, and possibly hirsutism (she seems to have all the signs of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome- hence explaining her late puberty). In the movie, she is played by Sissy Spacek, who is slender, has thick shiny blonde hair, and clear skin- and thus her late puberty is likely due to something else! Though the filmmakers did at least acknowledge this by having the gym teacher tell Carrie that she is a pretty girl but just needs to work on her appearance.
* Inverted in ''{{Goodfellas}}''. The real Tommy was 6"2", had long hair and a moustache, was built like a boxer and was described as very good looking. In the film, he is played by JoePesci.
* The movie adaptation of ''DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' is a great example. In the books, Greg's brother Rodrick was portrayed as a [[NoodlePeople noodle person]] with a [[PerpetualFrowner perpetual frown.]] So... why is he played by ''SurvivalOfTheDead''''[='=]s'' [[http://images.wikia.com/doawk/images/4/43/DevonBostick.jpg Devon Bostick]] in the movie?
* The novel of ''TrueGrit'' describes Mattie as ugly on multiple occasions, as well as describing Rooster as old and fat. Neither film adaptation really held to this. The 2010 adaptation made it even more jarring by keeping all the dialogue about ugliness and fatness. Hailee Steinfeld wasn't made up like a beauty pageant entry or anything, but has flawless skin and shiny hair; she's at worst HollywoodHomely. Jeff Bridges had something like a visible gut, but was hardly fat.
* Inverted in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''. Eddie Valiant in [[WhoCensoredRogerRabbit the book]] has his attractiveness remarked on by several characters, but in the movie, he's played by schlubby Bob Hoskins.
* Justin Hammer in ''Film/IronMan2'' goes [[http://cinemafique.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/sam-rockwell-justin-hammer.jpg from an old man to a middle-aged man]] (42-year old Sam Rockwell).
* [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/18863/2312071-screen_shot_2012_04_24_at_1.36.54_pm_large.png Here's Aldrich Killian in the comics]]. [[http://images.hitfix.com/photos/2413574/Aldrich-Killian-has-some-sort-of-relationship-with-Pepper-Potts.jpg Now here's what he looks like in]] ''IronMan3''.
* Loki. Compare [[http://www.comics101.com/archives/comics101/images/2003/june11/loki.jpg what he looks like in the comics]] to [[http://www.film.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/the-avengers-loki.jpg what he looks like in the film]]. There's a reason he has so many fangirls.
* In the Gyakuten Saiban film, Gumshoe is played by Shunsuke Daito. That's right, Dick Gumshoe is played by Ohtori Kyoya from the live action Ouran High School Host Club.
* In ''Film/QuizShow'', [[http://galusaustralis.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/stempel.jpg John Turturro]] plays [[http://www.incredibletvandmovies.com/stempelz.jpeg Herb Stempel]] and [[http://www.monologuedb.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ralph-fiennes-charles-van-doren-quiz-show-150x150.jpg Ralph Fiennes]] plays [[http://oldlifemagazines.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/v/cv102659.jpg Charles Van Doren]].
* In ''Film/SilentHillRevelation3D'', [[http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110728041835/silent/images/thumb/4/4c/Bio_v.jpg/830px-Bio_v.jpg Vincent]] is being played by [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_post_349_width/2011/11/kit_harrington_a_p.jpg Kit Harrington]].
* BonnieAndClyde were played by Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, both much prettier than the RealLife originals.
* In the Literature/AgentPendergast novel ''Literature/TheRelic'', the character of police lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta was portrayed as overweight and near middle age. In the film adaptation, he was played by Tom Sizemore.
* Literature/SherlockHolmes is described as being tall and thin, with thin lips and and hawk-like nose. Contemporary illustrations made the character ProgressivelyPrettier, causing author Doyle to object. In films, Holmes is often played by handsome leading men such as ChristopherLee, Rupert Everett, and RobertDowneyJr. Interestingly, the reverse is usually true of Watson, who in the books is contrasted against Holmes for his skill with the ladies, but is often portrayed in adaptations as a rotund little man (except [[Film/SherlockHolmes the one with Downey Jr.]], where he's Jude Law). Mocked nicely by Creator/KateBeaton [[http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/beatonna/watsonsm.png here]].
* In ''Film/{{Apollo 13}}'', [[http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/28000000/gary-sinise-als-ken-mattingly-gary-sinise-28044677-1184-1374.jpg Gary Sinise]] as [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Mattingly_Ken.jpg Ken Mattingly]].
* In the film ''OneForTheMoney'' (the first StephaniePlum book by Janet Evanovich), Stephanie Plum is supposed to be a fairly average Jersey girl with Italian and Hungarian heritage. In the movie, she's… well, KatherineHeigl.
* Several cases in ''Film/LesMiserables2012''.
** In the novel, Mme. Thenardier is a [[FatBastard massive]], muscular woman with [[LadyLooksLikeADude highly masculine features]], and is frequently compared to an ogress, and the stage version, while upgrading her appearance slightly, generally goes out of its way to make her relatively unattractive. In the film of the musical, however, she's played by ''HelenaBonhamCarter'', who is made-up to look blowsy looking but otherwise has no change in her appearance.
** M. Thenardier is described as a [[LeanAndMean sickly-looking "runt"]] who is not at all good looking. Performances of the musical tend to cast actors whose physical appearance along with make-up more or less fit that description. However, in the film he's played by SachaBaronCohen, who, while showing a bit of Thenardier's creepy vibe, is probably the best looking and most stylishly dressed incarnation of the character.
*** Not to mention that, at 6'3", Sasha Baron Cohen is the furthest thing from a 'runt'.
** In the book and to a lesser extent in adaptations, Valjean looks like an old man by time he rescues Cosette (and in the book has stark white hair after being LockedIntoStrangeness). In the film, he's Hugh Jackman.
** The younger actors fall into this too. Eponine in the book is scrawny, dirty, and not attractive at all, but in the film she is portrayed by the lovely Samantha Barks. Same goes for several of the barricade boys, who are invariably attractive onscreen.
* ''{{Film/Misery}}'' is a partial example. While Kathy Bates is no supermodel, she's still leaps and bounds above the way Annie Wilkes was described in the book. In the movie, Wilkes was at least clean and well-groomed. However, in the book, Annie was described as a shapeless blob of a woman who was always dressed dumpily and reeked of dirt and cheap makeup.
* Film/MaryPoppins looks prettier in the movie than her [[http://tombwithaview.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Mary-Poppins-standing1.jpg counterpart]] from [[Literature/MaryPoppins the books]] did, at least by the author's standards. However, Mary in the books had a worse habit of admiring her own reflection.
* In the film of ''{{Grease}}'', Cha-Cha [=DiGregorio=] is a tall, shapely, attractive dancer and said to be Danny's ex-girlfriend. This is a far cry from the original musical, where she's meant to be slovenly, plain-faced, and was usually played by a much heavier actress (who'd be made up to look far from attractive). She also has no past connection to Danny, and is played off as an aggressive BrawnHilda type.
** Jan is meant to be visibly overweight and not seen as particularly attractive. While the film tries to assert that Jan is "fat" and she's shown dressed in frumpy clothing compared to the other girls, she's actually on the thinner side and her final appearance shows that she has no problem with fitting into a tight dress (although her actress claims the intent was for the character to lose weight over the course of the story).
* In {{LordOfTheFlies}} Jack Merridew is described as having an ugly face and bad teeth and his mere presence frightened the younger children, in both movie adaptions the child actor is more attractive than the book's description.
* This is the effect of having Woodward and Bernstein in the film version of ''Film/AllThePresidentsMen'' be played by, respectively, Creator/RobertRedford and Creator/DustinHoffman.
* Adaptations of ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' are a borderline example. While Elizabeth IS beautiful, her older sister Jane is supposed to be the prettiest. Precious few adaptations acknowledge this however, likely because Elizabeth is the main character.
** This crosses over with ValuesDissonance in the 1995 miniseries; Susannah Harker fits the ideal of Regency beauty perfectly, while Jennifer Ehle doesn't, but most modern viewers find Ehle more attractive.
* In ''{{Beastly}}'', the cursed Kyle is genuinely beastly [[BeastMan in the vein of Disney's Beast]]. In TheFilmOfTheBook, he's "cursed" to be...[[HollywoodHomely a punk kid with scars and tattoos]].
* LeeVanCleef as Angel Eyes in ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' is not at all ugly, but he is a rather weathered-looking middle aged guy with [[VillainousCheekbones incredibly sinister bone structure]]. Angel Eyes' {{Expy}} in ''Film/TheGoodTheBadTheWeird'', Park Chang-yi, is a BulletproofFashionPlate [[PrettyBoy Pretty Man]] who gets a ShirtlessScene.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* For Chinese literature, this tends to happen to the main characters in modern Asian adaptations of JinYong's work. One rather noticeable example can be found in a 2008 adaptation of ''Legend of the Condor Heroes'', where the protagonist Guo Jing is played by teen idol and heart throb Hu Ge. Guo Jing is normally described as being a rather stout, muscular man who is not exactly known for being incredibly handsome or refined. Hu Ge, on the other hand, is a RealLife equivalent of a {{Bishonen}}. Needless to say, it can be rather unnerving for certain fans to see other characters mention how "manly" and "plain" Guo Jing is, when [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/U1735P28T3D1319149F326DT20061108153936.JPG he]] [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200837173742479.jpg looks]] [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/220H553P07_small.jpg prettier]] than some of the ''female cast''.
* In the novelisation of ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'' the [[http://img.listal.com/image/384123/600full-alice-krige.jpg Borg Queen]] is described as being dark-haired and beautiful, while [[http://www.thepostcard.com/walt/show/sta544.gif Data with human skin grafted to his body]] is described as being brown-eyed, tanned and handsome.
* ''Literature/BridgeOfBirds'' has an in-universe example: [[spoiler:Lotus Cloud is described as not being conventionally beautiful, having "thick legs" and a "flat face" and her only exceptional feature being her [[WhenSheSmiles bewitching grin]], but the ancient myth about her true goddess identity describes her as "the most beautiful girl in the world".]] When this discrepancy is pointed out to Master Li, he dismisses it as a "mere literary convention" and says that physical beauty has always been a highly overvalued trait.
* The ''DoctorWho EighthDoctorAdventures'' novels tend to describe the Eighth Doctor, played on the show by PaulMcGann, as tall, skinny {{bishounen}}. [=McGann=] is 5'8" and 160 lbs, with a solid build. To put this into context, he only has a couple of inches on the Second and Seventh Doctors (PatrickTroughton and SylvesterMcCoy), who are canonically seen as "funny little men".
** In-universe example in the ''VirginNewAdventures'' novel ''Lucifer Rising'', a historical drama about [[Recap/DoctorWhoS6E5TheSeedsOfDeath the Ice Warrior invasion of 2090]] features a "handsome young museum curator", who is presumably meant to be [[http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Daniel_Eldred this guy]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* The miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's ''TheStand'' most notably suffered from this with the character Harold Lauder. In the book Harold was primarily defined by how overweight, pock-marked, and hideously unattractive he was at the start, and a major part of his arc centered upon how he began to lose weight and take care of himself later in the story. In the film he was played by the quite handsome actor Corin Nemec, who wore a slightly nerdy hairdo and outfit for the first episode or two before a subtle attack of TheGlassesGottaGo. (Though, if you saw ''{{Thinner}}'', you might call this a PragmaticAdaptation.)
* Funnily enough, this may have led to the American version of the Australian comedy ''Series/KathAndKim'' being a flop. The title characters were played by HollywoodHomely actresses[[hottip:*:And that's if you consider MollyShannon and SelmaBlair ''homely'' at all]] rather than properly translating the premise. It should have been about a trailer trash mother and daughter. The mom won't admit how old she is and the daughter is in denial about her weight.
* In the ''InspectorLynley'' novel series by Elizabeth George, Barbara Havers is clearly described as short, ugly, overweight and poorly dressed. SharonSmall, who played her in TheBBC series ''The Inspector Lynley Mysteries'', is trim, pretty and better dressed (but still short). Elizabeth George openly disliked the casting choice, until she was ultimately won over by Sharon Small's performance.
* In the ''GossipGirl'' books, Jenny Humphrey is a sweet, artistic girl whose main appearance anxiety is that she is short, brunet and busty, unlike her tall, slender blond idol, Serena [=VanDerWoodsen=]. Who do they cast to play her in the TV series? Tall, slender blond Taylor Momsen. The producers didn't know that [[YoungerThanTheyLook fourteen-year-old Taylor Momsen]] would grow so tall, but they sure knew she was blond and skinny, and looked nothing like the character in the books. They also changed her character so she really idolised Blair Waldorf... who is short, brunette and beautiful.
* The TV adaptation of ''{{Sharpe}}'' cast Sean Bean (a blond northerner) as Richard Sharpe (in the books, a dark-haired Londoner). Although book-Sharpe is fairly handsome, he also has a wicked scar, which the TV version lacks. As above, author Bernard Cornwell was initially strongly opposed before being won over by Bean's performance, which led to AdaptationDisplacement going so far as a book {{Retcon}}.
* [[http://www.gormenghastcastle.co.uk/graphics/spikep.jpg This]] is how the author of ''{{Gormenghast}}'' drew ImmoralNihilist Steerpike. [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/content/images/2006/11/13/jonathanrhysmeyers_steerpikelead_396x222.jpg This]] is what [[JonathanRhysMeyers his actor]] looked like in the BBC serial.
** [[spoiler: His looks ''do'' disintegrate somewhat towards the end, what with the scarring and everything]] but admittedly, he still doesn't look nearly as ugly as he should.
* In the TNT series [[RizzoliAndIsles Rizzoli & Isles]], Jane Rizzoli is played by the gorgeous Angie Harmon, despite the fact that in nearly every book that the TV series is based on, Rizzoli is consistently described as plain or average looking and so hung up on this that she frequently displays an irrational hatred of women who ARE beautiful. Similarly, while Isles is described in the books as being attractive, as played by Sasha Alexander, she's now a knockout.
* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series "Nobby" Nobbs is described as so incredibly ugly that he has to carry a certificate (a letter from the Patrician) to prove he's human. In the ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'' mini-series, he's played by a slightly overweight, slightly bucktoothed man. He strangely looks more like the description of the series' Fred Colon.
** There is an element of PragmaticAdaptation here, in that a Nobbs fitting the books' description would require (to quote the ''Hogfather'' page) "heavy-duty CGI, enough makeup to cover the actor, a full-body suit, or hiring a chimpanzee and dubbing in his lines".
* In the Mrs Bradley novels by Gladys Mitchell, she's described as "a hag-like pterodactyl". In TheBBC's ''TheMrsBradleyMysteries'', she's played by [[Series/TheAvengers Diana Rigg]].
* TheBBC's Adaptation of Sarah Waters’ ''Literature/TippingTheVelvet'' cast Rachel Stirling (daughter of Dame Diana Rigg) as Nan, who was so plain in the book that she passed successfully as a boy for years on the street.
* The ''Girls in Love'' series by JacquelineWilson describes heroine Ellie as a chubby, awkward girl worried about her weight, glasses and frizzy hair, who feels self-conscious next to her pretty friends Magda and Nadine. This is an important part of her characterization, with a whole book focusing on her almost developing an eating disorder. So what happened in the TV adaptation? Ellie was played by Olivia Hallinan, a thin, pretty girl (more conventionally "pretty" than the actresses playing Magda and Nadine), with the character having hang-ups about her red hair rather than her weight.
** Wilson's best known heroine, Tracy Beaker, is a tomboyish, untidy pre-teen girl who doesn't care about her looks and is described by adults as plain and awkward-looking. In the long-running TV adaptation, she's played by the cute and well-groomed Dani Harmer.
* One of the many problems with the [[ForeignRemake American]] Series/RedDwarf pilot. Lister has all his negative qualities removed, like his slobbishness and his laziness. The actor is the Adonis-like CraigBierko, as opposed to the average looking CraigCharles.
* If artwork is anything to go by, samurai Uesugi Kenshin was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uesugi_Kenshin rugged, large and hairy]]. In the TV drama ''Fuurin Kazan'' Uesugi Kenshin was played by {{Bishonen}} rock star {{Gackt}}, who looked even ''[[http://s45.radikal.ru/i107/0903/cd/20c1c5ec8e78.jpg prettier than most of the female cast]]''. This is especially noticeable since the other actors actually resemble the large, grizzled warlords they are playing.
* In the Creator/AgathaChristie novels that feature her, [[Literature/HerculePoirot Poirot's]] secretary Miss Lemon was frequently described as "ugly" or "hideous". In the ''Series/{{Poirot}}'' series she was portrayed by Pauline Moran, who was well past her hey-day, but certainly not [[HollywoodHomely unattractive]].
* In ''Literature/BridesheadRevisited'', Charles' narration describes the adult Cordelia as very unattractive, even ugly. In the mini-series, the actress has bad skin and an unflattering haircut, but is still quite attractive.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones''.
** Tyrion Lannister, in the [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire books]], is not only a dwarf but TheGrotesque as well, with a misshapen head and mis-matched eyes. In the television adaption where he is played by Creator/PeterDinklage, he's still a dwarf, [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J7EaYVLcQGM/Tama49et7OI/AAAAAAAAAyo/4dpA2GJLlZE/s1600/Dinklage+as+Tyrion%255B1%255D.png but]] [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Tyrion_5_6967.jpg quite]] [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tyrion_627.jpg attractive]] and [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tyrion2_8854.jpg far]] from [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tyrion-shield_2752.jpg ugly]].
** Arya, who is supposed to have a long, slightly horsey face inherited from the Stark side of her family, but the actress MaisieWilliams is instead [[http://images.wikia.com/gameofthrones/images/3/3d/Arya-stark.jpg comventionally cute]].
** Eddard Stark (SeanBean) and Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), described as plain and "not handsome" respectively, are both played by handsome actors in the series. Here are the TV versions of [[http://www.boomtron.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/eddard-stark-hbo-sean-bean-game-of-thrones1.png Eddard]] and [[http://unaffiliatedcritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ser-Jorah-Mormont-Iain-Glen.jpg Jorah]].
** Sandor Clegane's half burned face is also [[http://www.theironthrone.it/it/images/stories/attori/sandor_clegane.jpg less severe in the series]], now only covering the side of his head and upper left face, but this was for practical reasons, as the actor was unable to see out of more extensive prosthetics, which was impractical for swordfights featuring the character.
** In the books, Yoren of the Night's Watch is described as having an extremely disreputable appearance, with soiled clothing, a twisted shoulder verging on a hunchback, greasy hair and lice, besides a total lack of social graces. In the series, he's a lot more [[http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/File:Yoren.png put together]].
** Magister Illyrio is morbidly obese in the books, but he's a pretty normal looking overweight man in the show.
** Brienne of Tarth is described as almost tragically ugly in the books and given the mocking nickname Brienne the Beauty. In the show she's played by GwendolineChristie, who is made up to look plain and mannish, but not really ugly.
** Roose Bolton's BastardBastard son Ramsay is described as "an ugly man", complete with blotchy skin, small eyes and a fleshy build. In the series he's played by [[spoiler:Iwan Rheon]].
** Daario Noharis, although attractive, dyes his hair sky-blue in Tyroshi tradition and has a triple-forked, blue beard, a long, blue mustache with the tips dyed gold, and a golden tooth. In the series, he is clean-shaven, his hair is not dyed blue, and no golden tooth.
* In the CBC miniseries of ''AnneOfGreenGables'', in which Anne is supposedly unattractive, she's played by ''Megan Follows''.
* Sugar, the subversion of the HookerWithAHeartOfGold trope in the novel ''The Crimson Petal and the White'' by Michael Faber is gaunt, long-faced and plain with a terrible skin condition. Sugar in the BBC miniseries adaptation is played by Romola Garai, because ViewersAreMorons who will clearly not be able to comprehend that Sugar's sexual charisma comes from her personality rather than her physical appearance.
* In Kate Mosse's book ''Literature/{{Labyrinth}}'', the character of Alais is described as "plain". In the adaptation she's played by ''Jessica Brown-Findlay'', who by anyone's standards is simply beautiful. ([[http://oi48.tinypic.com/2j451uf.jpg She's on the left]]).
* In ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', Holmes is played by BenedictCumberbatch, who receives plenty of fangirl attention and is called out by other characters for being very photogenic with his cheekbones and flipped collar.
* In ''Series/{{Merlin}}'', the title character is not a wizened old man [[spoiler: unless in disguise]] but a TallDarkAndSnarky young man.
* In the 1980s CBS series ''Series/BeautyAndTheBeast'', Vincent was made to look beastly with heavy makeup and a long mane of hair. In the 2012 CW reboot of the series, Vincent is made to look beastly by...giving him a thin scar on one cheek. That's it. Seriously. No extra hair, no claws, nothing to indicate that he's anything other than a hot human man with a scar even less defacing than Gerard Butler's Phantom sunburn. He's supposed to have a more monstrous alternate form a la the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk, but even his alternate form isn't ''that'' beastly and it doesn't do much to change the fact that he looks like a male model 90% of the time, which makes the show come across as less like "Beauty and the Beast" and more like "[[http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9wnnlrtiN1rea6qyo1_1280.png Beauty and the Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking]]".
* In the ''Literature/DirkGently'' novels, Dirk Gently is described as overweight and rather odd looking. In the [[Series/DirkGently short-lived television series,]] he's considerably more attractive.
* ''Series/OnceUponATime'' is doing this with pretty much every fairytale villain there is, the most notable being Rumpelstiltskin and Captain Hook.
* In ''Literature/WivesAndDaughters'', Roger Hamley was not attractive at all and was repeatedly described as awkward. In the [[Series/WivesAndDaughters 1999 miniseries]], it's downplayed, but he's still regarded as less handsome than his older brother Osborne and characters sometimes hint to that. He's played by Anthony Howell, though, a ''very'' good-looking actor. Some fans even think that the casting swapped the roles and consider him more handsome than Tom Hollander who played Osborne in this production.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Multiple Media]]
* In Greek mythology, the Gorgons - Medusa and her two immortal sisters - are described as so ugly that people turned to stone from just looking at them. None of their depictions from Greek vase paintings to modern movies lives up to that image; however, in some cases Medusa actually [[GorgeousGorgon looks classically beautiful apart from her snake-hair]].
* JohnLeCarre's go-to spymaster, George Smiley, is described in ''Call for the Dead'' as short, plump, and always wearing ill-fitting clothes so he resembles a "shrunken toad". The BBC miniseries and 2011 film of [[TheQuestForKarla Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy]] cast ''AlecGuinness'' and ''GaryOldman'', respectively.
* Practically the poster-girl for this in comics, DCComics character Amanda Waller is noticeably overweight, and tends to have her hair rather short, making her look rather...well...mannish. In ''{{Smallville}}'', she is played by PamGrier, and in the ''Film/GreenLantern'' film, she's played by AngelaBassett. The comics revamped her in ''{{New 52}}'' to be much younger and slimmer.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]
* When the English language Vocaloids (Most using Stock Photos as box art) were relased in Taiwan, their box arts were changed to be younger and anime style, and in the case of Sweet Ann, more attractive. This move was quite baffling in the case of Big Al, who was already an attractive anime style man to begin with.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* In Lynn Rigg's play ''Green Grow the Lilacs'', Ado Annie is described as "an unattractive, stupid-looking farm girl" wearing a "very unbecoming" dress. This description was not carried over into the script of ''{{Oklahoma}}'', the musical adaptation of ''Green Grow the Lilacs''; it certainly didn't apply to Celeste Holm of the original cast, who practically qualified as MsFanservice by the production's modest standards.
* In ''Literature/{{Wicked}}'', Elphaba is described as having a large nose and otherwise being, appearance-wise, sort of an acquired taste. In [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} the musical version]] she's HollywoodHomely. Then again, not even green skin can make most of her actresses unattractive. Of course this is the point. People focus on the fact that she has green skin and miss the fact that she actually is beautiful.
* In ''Phantom of the Opera'', the original book has the Phantom (Erik) wearing a full mask, and his face behind the mask extremely grotesque. He is described as deformed. In the stage musical, the deformities are limited to half his face, and the portion of his face not covered by the half-mask is handsome. This was done because full face prosthetics inhibited the actor's singing. It also often makes the deformed side actually look worse in comparison- from a skull in the book to a handsome man who appears to be ''rotting'' on one side. The fact that his hair turns out to be a wig, and that he's bald except for a few ratty, diseased-looking wisps of gray hair even on the good side, also makes the deformity makeup pretty effective in the final scene.
* In the Original Cast of NotreDamedeParis, Quasimodo was played by the wonderfully babyfaced Garou.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Following on the ''MinorityReport'' film example: If you really want to see CloneDegeneration in action, look at the VideoGame adaptation of TheMovie of the short story. Here, the female mutant has breasts which were not in the original. Why? [[FanService You can probably guess]].
* In ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'', Zhuge Liang's wife ([[AscendedExtra for all of the one paragraph she appears in]]) is described as "singularly plain". When Yue Ying got included as a playable character in the ''DynastyWarriors'' series, she looks like [[http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/smusou4/chara_img/chara_popup_24.jpg this]]. Given how many liberties Koei takes with the source material, you wouldn't think they'd address this, but they do - her reputation as unattractive is the result of rumors she spread about herself as a SecretTestOfCharacter to prospective husbands.
** Almost ''everyone'' in that series applies. Just google Zhuge Liang's traditional depictions and his character design in the game.
* A male example: in the 8-bit Family Computer version of ''[[FireEmblemAkaneia Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Ken]]'', Abel (the green-clad half of the Cain and Abel duo) was originally drawn with a buck tooth and shifty eyes compared to the typically handsome Cain. When the game was remade for the Super Famicom as part of ''Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo'', he became as handsome as his red counterpart Cain.
** Also, several game portraits in [[FireEmblemJugdral Seisen no Keifu and Thracia 776]] make the charas look either only average (Andorey, Scorpio, Ishtore), YoungerThanTheyLook (Burian) or plain creepy (Pamela, De'etvar). The TCG cards's drawing style make them look much better.
* Tina/Terra's esper form from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' [[http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy/images/b/bb/Terra_Esper.jpg is intimidating and feral-looking]], but players couldn't tell from the in-game sprite - it makes it look cute. In ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', her esper form is [[http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy/images/c/cc/Dissidia_Tina_Branford_ex.png far more ethereal and beautiful]].
* Many ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' fans were surprised at how attractive certain characters were made in ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren''. Particular mention goes to: The grizzly middle-aged [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:CidHighwind-FFVIIArt.png Cid]] was turned into a [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:Advent-Children-Cid.jpg handsome, well-muscled man]], while the hunched, lanky and gangly [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:Reno-artwork.jpg Reno]] was turned into a [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:Reno3.jpg fanservicey]] {{Bishonen}}.
** Vincent's Limit Breaks underwent this treatment. Originally, they were supposed to be parodies of classic horror movie monsters: [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:Vincent-FFVIIArt.png Vincent]] himself resembles a vampire, [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:FFVII-GalianBeast.png Galian Beast]] resembles a hideous, purple beast, [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:FFVII-DeathGigas.png Death Gigas]] resembles Frankenstein's monster, [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:FFVII-HellMasker.png Hellmasker]] resembles various slasher-movie killers, and [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:FFVII-Chaos.png Chaos]] resembles a winged demon. However, in ''DirgeOfCerberus'', Galian Beast was changed to look much more like an oversized, humanoid dog. And Chaos was changed to look like a winged Vincent in [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:FFDoc_Chaos.jpg bondage gear]]. Presumably, the other two limits were too absurd or ugly to be included in the game.
* Not exactly this trope, but strongly related: In the western version of ''{{Tenchu}}: Wrath of Heaven'', the female enemies with the horned samurai masks, manly chins, and messy hair are replaced by white-haired, gray-kimono'd versions of the cuter kunoichi enemies.
* While [[SuperMarioBros Princess Peach]] is now depicted as looking like [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/3/38/NSMBWiiPeach.png/240px-NSMBWiiPeach.png this]], her sprite from the original ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Super Mario Bros.]]'' game, on the other hand, actually looked like [[http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071030160355/mario/de/images/2/21/SMB_Sprite_Peach.gif this]]. Though her official art looks [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/9/98/PrincessSML.png the same]] since she debuted, so this is more due to hardware limitations.
** Inverted with the Dic cartoons. Peach is still pretty, but not to the length of the games.
** Pauline originally was a blond girl with EightiesHair, and while she was pretty she looked quite (and understandably) distressed. By the GameBoy remake of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', she had been completely revamped.
* ''[[VideoGameRemake Remake]]'' Adaptational Attractiveness happens in many ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games. [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/6/6d/Yellow_Blue.png Blue]] and [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/2/29/Game_Freak_Red.jpg Red]] go from young boys to adorable {{Bishonen}}'s come [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/d/db/FireRed_LeafGreen_Blue.png their]] [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/8/83/FireRed_LeafGreen_Red.png remakes]], upped to eleven in the [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Gold and Silver]] remakes. Several Gym Leaders became more attractive in both remakes.
* Compare [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Chell]] [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110618001739/half-life/en/images/0/0b/Chell.jpg in-game]] to [[http://media.steampowered.com/apps/portal2/comic/ru/p25.jpg Chell in the Lab Rat comic.]] The change [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120621160761/half-life/en/images/a/a4/Chell_Portal.png carries over to Portal 2]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* Outright mocked in [[http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/414fa4b226/the-wire-the-musical-with-michael-kenneth-williams this video]] where ''TheWire'' is adapted into a musical. In the video Snoop, a female BloodKnight and ruthless enforcer who was accused of being a ButchLesbian in the show and who generally acted and dressed like OneOfTheBoys comes out dolled up and in a dress. She looks at herself and declares in disgust "Man, this some Cinderella bullshit man!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* [[http://www.titanstower.com/assets/animated/behind%20scenes/animatedcompare/terra.jpg Terra]] from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''. In [[ComicBook/TeenTitans the source comics]] she has buck teeth, short fluffy hair, and is otherwise a rather (while exaggerated) "normal" teenage girl. In the cartoon she's petite and has long hair. It's a bit hilarious though, since cartoon's version of Terra is everything the original hates.
** Starfire is quite attractive in the comics, but suffered from a case of UncannyValley due to lacking pupils and had a major case of EightiesHair. In the cartoon she was updated, and she's since been updated in the comics themselves.
* In addition to [[RaceLift having her ethnicity changed from white to Chinese]], Ellen Yindel was made younger and far more attractive when she was re-imagined as "Ellen Yin" in ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman''.
** Actually she was not made younger, as she is seen as Batman was just starting out where as the comic shows her as he is returning from retirement. In a TimeSkip episode, it is even stated in a passing conversation that [[ContinuityNod she became Commissioner]].
* In the early ''{{Bionicle}}'' movies, the animators took a number of liberties with the characters' appearances, [[ShowAccuracyToyAccuracy making them look quite different to the toys]]. In ''Mask of Light'', Gali's figure is less bulky and she now looks more like a FemBot. Pohatu is also considerably more handsome there than in his toy form.
** In ''Legends of Metru Nui'', they even went as far as giving Nokama what can only be described as a robo-cleavage. Seems unnecessary, after they had already turned her ugly toy-mug into a quite nice-looking, feminine face.
* In ''{{Voltron}}'', Hunk is fat and unremarkable and Pidge is a bit of a {{Gonk}}. In VoltronForce, they're both, well, much, MUCH more attractive.
* Sally Acorn from the ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM'' television series is a slightly complicated case. See, [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog the first game]] featured many cute animal critters rescued from defeated enemies, their names almost all ending in -cky. One of these characters was Ricky the Squirrel, who was given the moniker Sally Acorn (and a corresponding GenderFlip) in western promotional materials. Ricky/Sally looked mostly like a generic normal squirrel; some early promotional comics gave the latter a red or pink bow to offset this slightly, but that was about it. However, when it came time to make the TV series, Sally's design was ''completely'' redone, no longer bearing any resemblance to Ricky but instead being a relatively attractive FunnyAnimal. [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog The comic book]] then arguably took it UpToEleven; DependingOnTheArtist, she could either be fairly similar to her TV appearance, or have certain aspects exaggerated to make her an even ''more'' attractive, {{half dressed|FunnyAnimal}} PettingZooPerson.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats}}'' the token evil Thundercat Grune is quite homely compared to his fellow {{Catfolk}}, a textbook example of BeautyEqualsGoodness. In ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} ThunderCats (2011)]],'' he's given the severe good looks and HeroicBuild of a BarbarianHero, a reputation to match, and a promotion to the series [[TheDragon Dragon]].
* In the comics, Madame Masque wears her trademark mask to hide her horribly disfigured face. In ''IronManArmoredAdventures'', she's a pretty teenager who only wears the mask as part of her MasterOfDisguise shtick.
** An even better exemple with Justin Hammer, who was an old man in the comic but is made a eithteen years old handsome young man in the series to accentuate his status as Tony's EvilCounterpart.
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite'''s Manchester Black, while still retaining the thuggish look of the character from the comics, makes him a little bit thinner and gives him a much less gaunt face, as well as {{animesque}} hair.
* Inverted in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Darkstalkers}}'' cartoon, where Morrigan is much uglier. Played straight with Demitri: originally all his teeth were sharp, now he just has fangs.
* [[SpiderMan Dr Octopus]] is a weird exemple of this; in the comic, he is an ugly, short, overweight man with a bad haircut. ''SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'' retained the bad haircut and ugly face, but gave him the stature of a bodybuilder; reversely, ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' kept him fat and short, but made his face considerably less ugly with a decent haircut (though possibly only because of the series' simplified artstyle). WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan, on the other hand, kept all his physical characterizations from the comic intact, but explained them as the result of poor hygiene following a case of sequestration and reveals [[IWasQuiteALooker he was quite good-looking before this happened]].
* In ''Comicbook/{{Superman}}'' comics, Mr Mxyzptlk's girlfriend Miss Gsptlsnz looks pretty much the same as him, a small imp with an oversized head. In ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' ... [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/MxyDCAU.png she doesn't]].
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