History AdaptationalAttractiveness / LiveActionFilms

* 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.

* Creator/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 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.

** Creator/MarisaTomei plays [[https://twitter.com/superherofeed/status/618848720696709120 Aunt May, who's normally a senior citizen]]. It's even acknowledged in-universe; her debut in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' inspires many compliments by Tony Stark (which becomes HilariousInHindsight if you know that Tomei and Creatr/RobertDowneyJr were an on-screen couple in 1994's ''Film/OnlyYou''...), and ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' shows several men in her neighborhood find her very attractive.

* In the comic ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}} and Cleopatra'', Cleopatra is extremely attractive but has a GagNose which other characters constantly make backhanded compliments on, and her ostentatiousness is expressed through what she surrounds herself with. In the film adaptation she is played by Monica Bellucci in just the most impossibly {{Gorgeous Period Dress}}es ever.

* ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'': The movie makes them appear much more "pretty" then they appear in illustrations (excepting Violet, who was described as being pretty in the books), making Klaus look much older than he probably should, and making him no longer need glasses, which would be a vital plot point in the fourth book.

** In the comics, ''Franchise/{{Batman}}''[='=]s butler, Alfred is a balding man who is often stick thin. This version of Alfred is played by Creator/JeremyIrons, who still has a full hair of hair and is in better shape.

* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom wears a mask to hide the severe burns he suffered as a young man. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' movie keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to from a disfiguring explosion to his new powers gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' he even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he no longer has any reason to cover his face.

* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom wears a mask to hide the severe burns he suffered as a young man. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' movie keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to from a disfiguring explosion to his new powers gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he has no longer has any reason to cover his face.

* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom hides his face face behind a mask because of severe burns he suffered as a young man. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' movie keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to Doom needing to hide his face because his new powers are gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he has no longer has any reason to conceal his face.

* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom hides his face face behind a mask because of severe burns he suffered as a young man. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' movie keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to Doom needing to hide his face because his new powers are gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he has no longer has any reason to conceal his face.

** [[http://marvel.wikia.com/File:Aldrich_Killian_(Earth-616).jpg 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]] ''Film/IronMan3''.

* In the ''Comicbook/JonahHex'' comics, Tallulah Black is basically a DistaffCounterpart of the titular protagonist, sporting a heavily-scarred face and missing one of her eyes. In the [[Film/JonahHex live-action movie]], she's played by Creator/MeganFox, has both eyes, and is missing her trademark scars.
* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom hides his face face behind a mask because of severe burns he suffered as a young man. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' movie keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to Doom needing to hide his face because his new powers are gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he has no longer has any reason to conceal his face.

* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom hides his face face behind a mask because of severe burns he suffered as a young man. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' movie keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to Doom needing to hide his face because his new powers are gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he has no longer has any reason to hide his face.

* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom hides his face face behind a mask because of hideous burns he suffered. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to Doom needing to hide his face because his new powers are gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he has no longer has any reason to hide his face.

* In the comics, Comicbook/DoctorDoom hides his face face behind a mask because of hideous burns he suffered. The first Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' keeps the mask, but the explanation is changed to Doom needing to hide his face because his new powers are gradually turning his body into living metal. The second movie then completely undoes this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom dons even bothers to don the mask during the final act, since he has no longer has any reason to hide his face.

* The Tim Story ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' movies change the nature of Comicbook/DoctorDoom's disfigurement, making it so that his body is gradually turning into metal instead of simply being horribly burned. The second movie goes out of its way to completely reverse this by having the Comicbook/SilverSurfer accidentally heal his face with an energy blast, which somehow conveniently lets Doom keep his powers ''and'' his good looks. This also raises the question of ''why'' Doom dons his trademark mask during the final act, even though he has no longer has any reason to hide his face.

** Likewise, Hela's CoolHelmet and mask hide her decaying, corpse-like face in the comics. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', she's quite beautiful even when not wearing the mask.
** In the comics, Erik Killmonger is a hulking ScaryBlackMan with an almost cartoonish physique. In the ''Film/BlackPanther'' movie, he's played by Creator/MichaelBJordan, who is far slimmer and handsomer.

** As mentioned in the Western Animation section, Alistair Smythe was originally a fat, hairy slob in the comics, at least until he was transformed into the Ultimate Spider-Slayer. In ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', he's played by B.J. Novak as a thin and clean shaven man.

* In the ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' comics, Harry Osborn is drawn with the same hairdo as his [[Comicbook/NormanOsborn father]], and never drawn particularly attractively. Somehow that translated to both film series casting attractive actors - Creator/JamesFranco in [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy the Sam Raimi trilogy]] and Dane deHaan in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2''.
* As mentioned in the Western Animation section, Alistair Smythe was originally a fat, hairy slob in the comics, at least until he was transformed into the Ultimate Spider-Slayer. In ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', he's played by B.J. Novak as a thin and clean shaven man.

* In the ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' comics, Harry Osborn is drawn with the same hairdo as his father, and never drawn particularly attractively. Somehow that translated to both film series casting attractive actors - Creator/JamesFranco in [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy the Sam Raimi trilogy]] and Dane deHaan in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2''.

** Creator/MarisaTomei plays [[https://twitter.com/superherofeed/status/618848720696709120 Aunt May, who's normally a senior citizen]]. Her debut in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' even inspires many compliments by Tony Stark (which becomes HilariousInHindsight if you know that Tomei and Creatr/RobertDowneyJunior were an on-screen couple in 1994's ''Film/OnlyYou''...), and ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' reveals that several men in her neighborhood also find her very attractive.

** [[http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a108/JokerSoze/Loki6.jpg This is]] Comicbook/{{Loki}} in the ''[[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' comics. [[http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1382009/tom-hiddleston-loki.jpg?w=720 This is]] Creator/TomHiddleston as Loki in the movies. Good grief. There's a reason why he has so many fangirls. Coincidentally, the Norse god of mischief was described as "pleasing and handsome" in the original myths. Recently Marvel came out with a younger version of Loki ... who looks suspiciously like Tom Hiddleston.
** The Collector as he appears in the comics has the visage of a fairly creepy-looking old man. [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_pOpFTjOOqU/hqdefault.jpg Collector as played by Benicio Del Toro]] has a more flamboyant, but still fairly handsome appearance in both ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' and ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''.
** [[https://twitter.com/superherofeed/status/618848720696709120 Marisa Tomei is cast as Aunt May, who's normally a senior citizen.]] Her debut in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' even inspires many compliments by Tony. (and add the HilariousInHindsight fact that Tomei and Downey Jr. were an on-screen couple in 1994's ''Film/OnlyYou''...)

* 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 original ''Literature/CasinoRoyale'' novel, Le Chiffre is described as an overweight, unattractive man. Averted in the original television adaptation, where he was played by overweight, unattractive Creator/PeterLorre. Subverted in the first movie adaptation, where he was played by overweight but dapper and stylish Creator/OrsonWelles. Played straight in [[Film/CasinoRoyale2006 the 2006 film]], in which he's played by trim and handsome Mads Mikkelsen.

* In Billie Letts' novel ''Where The Heart Is'', Novalee Nation is described on the first page as "seventeen years old, seven months pregnant, and thirty-seven pounds overweight," and her friend Lexie is described as morbidly obese. Naturally, the [[Film/WhereTheHeartIs film]] has them played by Creator/NataliePortman and Creator/AshleyJudd.

* In ''Literature/WhereTheHeartIs'', Novalee Nation is described on the first page of the novel as "seventeen years old, seven months pregnant, and thirty-seven pounds overweight," and Lexie is described as morbidly obese; naturally, the [[Film/WhereTheHeartIs film]] has them played by Creator/NataliePortman and Creator/AshleyJudd.

!!Straight examples

!!Inversions
* The Red Queen from Tim Burton's ''Film/AliceInWonderland2010''. While she may not have been attractive in the original illustrations, the film version is a literal freak with a grotesquely over-sized head (though played by perfectly lovely actress Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter). However, as with many other adaptations, the movie conflates the characters of the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts, and the Queen of Hearts ''is'' depicted with an oversized head in Tenniel's original illustrations.
* In ''Film/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.
* 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 ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'', he is played by Creator/JoePesci.
* In the original novel that inspired ''Film/TheGraduate'', the protagonist Ben is described as a handsome, "All American Athlete" {{W|hiteAngloSaxonProtestant}}ASP type, but is played by Dustin Hoffman in the film -- probably to increase Ben's awkwardness and Mrs. Robinson's desperateness.
* Greek mythology describes the huntress Atalanta as a gorgeous blonde with AmazonianBeauty and endless suitors. However in Hallmark's ''Film/JasonAndTheArgonauts'' she is portrayed as a plain {{Tomboy}} -- so much so that Jason refers to their relationship as a '''brotherly''' one (he clearly thinks of her as a man rather than a woman). Though despite this, Atalanta does attract one man in the course of the film.
* ''Film/TheShining'':
** Wendy is described as being conventionally attractive in [[Literature/TheShining the book]], whereas in the film she's portrayed by Shelley Duvall, who is more [[TheWoobie waif-like and fragile-looking]] than her novel counterpart. This was a deliberate choice on Creator/StanleyKubrick's part, as Wendy was supposed to be progressively beaten down over the course of the story, and he felt that casting a more plain-looking actress in the role made it easier to sell that part of the character as the story went on. The Creator/StephenKing-overseen TV miniseries cast Rebecca [=DeMornay=], who's somewhat closer to Wendy in the book.
** Jack, is at least reasonably handsome in the books, but played by Creator/JackNicholson. Needless to say, [[SlasherSmile he wasn't chosen for]] [[UncannyValley being the typical Hollywood stud]].
* Ozymandias from ''Film/{{Watchmen}}''. 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.
* Eddie Valiant in ''Literature/WhoCensoredRogerRabbit'' has his attractiveness remarked on by several characters, but in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', he's played by schlubby Bob Hoskins. The comic adaptation of the film returned him to a strikingly handsome young man.
* Inverted with Creator/IanMcKellen's Magneto in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''. While [[GrandmaWhatMassiveHotnessYouHave not ugly by any means]], he's considerably older than the character in the comics and much less physically imposing. While Magneto was buff and chiseled in the comics, in the original trilogy, 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, so he had to be a realistic age for a Holocaust survivor. This gets rectified when you see Creator/MichaelFassbender's Erik Lehnsherr in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', where his younger self is [[TallDarkAndHandsome conventionally handsome]].
* There was a lot of complaining by fans of ''Film/TheHungerGames'' that both Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) and Sam Claflin (Finnick) are too ''un''attractive for their roles.
* In the ''Film/{{Fletch}}'' books, Fletch is a handsome, young, blond, extremely muscular man who can bed any woman he wants. In the movies, he is played by a forty-something Chevy Chase. This may be an example of why [[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]], since the novel is a fairly straightforward and uninspired noir potboiler, while the film is a comedy, and frankly much cleverer. Chevy Chase's appearance is probably much better suited to a comedic hero.
* In the novel ''Literature/TheBonfireOfTheVanities'', Assistant District Attorney Larry Kramer is described as a vain bodybuilder obsessed with his physique. In the film, his name is changed to Jed Kramer for some reason, and he's played by the rather schlubby-looking [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007210/?ref_=tt_cl_t5 Saul Rubinek]]. Played appallingly straight, however, with the character of Caroline Heftshank: in the book, she's short, obese, and all-around unattractive. In the movie, she was played by Beth Broderick and looked like [[http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsB/2109-2212.gif this]].
* In the original ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' stories, Watson is described as a rather handsome and athletic man and something of a womanizer. After one of the first films had him played by the somewhat pudgy Nigel Bruce, most followed suit, assuming that's how he's supposed to look. It really wasn't until the one-two punch of [[Film/SherlockHolmes Jude Law]] and [[Series/{{Sherlock}} Martin Freeman,]] with [[Series/{{Elementary}} Lucy Liu]] delivering a knockout blow, that depiction of him started getting back on track. Note that this tradition pretty much never got established behind the UsefulNotes/IronCurtain, and in the seminal [[TheEighties Eighties]] [[Series/TheAdventuresOfSherlockHolmesAndDoctorWatson Soviet adaptation]] Watson was played by [[http://www.kino-teatr.ru/acter/album/4049/198361.jpg boyishly handsome]] VitalySolomin.
* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''True Story'': BasedOnATrueStory about the OddFriendship between a disgraced, globe-trotting ''New York Times'' journalist and TheSociopath who pretended to be him while he was hiding out in Mexico after [[spoiler:killing his wife and three young children]]. The real-life pair are both fit white guys in their thirties who do look rather alike; in the film the sociopath is played by Creator/JamesFranco while the journalist is played by ''Creator/JonahHill''.
* The titular character of ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' is not quite as attractive adaptations make him out to be, but he looks like an average enough older man. In ''Film/{{Nosferatu}}'' [[AdaptationNameChange Orlok]] is a creepy, monstrous looking man with PointyEars and long fingers.
* ''Film/{{Suicide Squad|2016}}'' features a version of the Enchantress who looks messier and creepier than her comic counterpart--despite [[HotterAndSexier wearing a more revealing outfit]] than her comic counterpart.
* ''Film/BatmanBegins'' has Detective Flass as a sloppy, unkempt, physically unpleasant slob of a corrupt cop. His original comics self from ''Batman: Year One'' was just as corrupted if not more, but he also was much taller and muscular, blue-eyed with a blonde well kept haircut.

* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'':
** In the comics, Wolverine is an extremely stocky, short and [[KavorkaMan not an attractive man (who nonetheless has lots of lovers)]]. In the movie-verse, he's a TallDarkAndHandsome Creator/HughJackman, who is so tall that castmate Creator/JamesMarsden had to [[ScullyBox stand on boxes to not be dwarfed by him]].
** Similarly, [[http://images.wikia.com/marveldatabase/images/c/c9/Toad.png Toad]] is a short, ugly little hunchback in the comics. In ''Film/XMen1'', he's played by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ray_Park_as_Toad_(comics).jpg Ray Park]] with some very half-hearted attempts at uglying him up. However, in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', the younger Toad has many more noticeable bumps and wrinkles on his face.
** [[http://geekindenial.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/callisto.jpg Callisto.]]
** Comics Leech resembles a pseudo-amphibious humanoid creature (''not like that's a bad thing''). See [[http://comicicons.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/leech_cameron_bright.jpg here]] for comparison.
** Professor Charles Xavier in the comics was never depicted being [[PrettyBoy gorgeous]] like Creator/JamesMcAvoy, and instead of being bald for his entire adulthood, the film version is blessed with luxurious locks when he's a younger man. He's aware of how good-looking he is, and is a ProudBeauty in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' and ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.
** In the comics, Beast's original (human) form included oversized hands and feet. In ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', while his feet are different than normal, they are still the right size and he has no problem passing for an ordinary human.
** In the comics, Sebastian Shaw is [[http://marvel.wikia.com/File:SHAW.jpg a thuggish-looking, middle-aged businessman]] with a heavy build best described as "gorilla-like." In ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', he's played by a suave Creator/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 handsome as the [[http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23500000/Riptide-x-men-first-class-23542290-700-464.jpg movie version.]]
** In the comics, Darwin had bulging eyes, slits for a nose, and reptilian grey skin. In ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', he looks like a normal human. [[http://media.egotvonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/x-men-first-class-darwin-Edi-Gathegi.jpg?41ed4f Compare the two.]]
** In TheStinger for ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', the adolescent [[ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}} En Sabah Nur]] has reached DudeLooksLikeALady levels. In ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', one of his mutant hosts is a shirtless Creator/OscarIsaac, and even in his "ascended" Apocalypse form, he lacks his comic counterpart's distinct squashed pug face.
** By nature of being played by Creator/RyanReynolds, Wade Wilson is much more handsome in the film than his comic counterpart. Even when his face is scarred, it's still hard to say he's ugly given Reynolds' natural attractiveness is still prevalent. This is PlayedForDrama; unlike the comics (where Deadpool doesn't like his scars, but has come to accept them and still actively pursues romance in spite of them), Wade is so ashamed of his scars that he can't even bring himself to approach Vanessa.
** Negasonic Teenage Warhead is [[http://static2.hypable.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/deadpool-negasonic-teenage-warhead.jpg prettier in the movie-verse]] than in the comics; the latter is slightly creepy-looking.