Ability over Appearance: Hercule Poirot is described in the books as 5'4", black-haired, plump, and sporting a pair of meticulously styled moustaches. John Malkovich is 5'11", bald, thin, and wears a fairly ordinary white goatee beard, although he briefly dyes it black. Onscreen, Poirot's clothing style is quite bland and understated. His literary counterpart dresses more stylishly, and is always neat and impeccable.
