History AdaptationalAttractiveness / LiveActionFilms

** 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.

* Skin had freakish gray skin and (DependingOnTheArtist) an unsettling, impish appearance in the ''Comicbook/GenerationX'' series. In the 90's TV movie, he just looks like a typical Hispanic teenager.

* In Frank Herbert's novel ''Literature/{{Dune}}'', Gurney Halleck is repeatedly described as "an ugly lump of a man" with a hideously scarred face. In [[Film/{{Dune}} the 1984 film version]], he's played by future Sexiest Man Alive Creator/PatrickStewart, with no trace of scars to be found, and then in the 2020 version, he's Creator/JoshBrolin.

* In ''Literature/ThePrincessBride'', Prince Humperdink is ridiculously over-muscled, and Vizzini is a hunchback.

** 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 Creator/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.

* 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.
* Happens frequently in adaptations of Literature/SherlockHolmes, described in the stories as pale, gaunt and hooknosed. In this case the prettification started with the original illustrations -- Arthur Conan Doyle remarked that he had always imagined Sherlock as "uglier" than the rather dashing figure depicted by illustrator Sidney Paget; but that "perhaps from the point of view of my lady readers it was as well". In films, Holmes is often played by handsome leading men such as Creator/ChristopherLee, Rupert Everett, and Creator/RobertDowneyJr. Interestingly, the reverse is often true of Watson, who in the books is contrasted against Holmes for his skill with the ladies, but is portrayed in many adaptations as a rotund little man (except [[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 the one with Downey Jr.]], where he's Jude Law, and [[Series/{{Sherlock}} the one with Cumberbatch]], where he's the definitely middle-aged but otherwise reasonably good-looking Creator/MartinFreeman). Mocked nicely by Creator/KateBeaton [[http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/beatonna/watsonsm.png here]].

* ''Film/LetMeIn': Both the main characters, Owen and Abby:
** In the swedish novel Oskar is described as being overweight and plain looking,while his american counterpart Owen is extremely slender and fine featured, this is even reflected in the respective insults their bullies bestow upon him, in the swedish novel they call him "piggy" while in the american version hes called "little girl".
**Abby, in this version shes portrayed by a healthy looking, femine actress. While her swedish counterpart Elia was noted for how mangy and andronygous looking she was.

** In ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'', Comicbook/{{Mysterio}} is portrayed the attractive actor Creator/JakeGyllenhaal, a sharp contrast from his comic book counterpart, a short, [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSG0Y2XvgZuMUOaxjUGCCi2S76cg1zoyHa5ZfWy4quCtChDDOAX&usqp=CAU ugly middle-aged man]].

** In ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'', Mysterio is portrayed the attractive actor Creator/JakeGyllenhaal, a sharp contrast from his comic book counterpart, a short, [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSG0Y2XvgZuMUOaxjUGCCi2S76cg1zoyHa5ZfWy4quCtChDDOAX&usqp=CAU ugly middle-aged man]].

** In the comics, Comicbook/ErikKillmonger is a hulking ScaryBlackMan with an almost cartoonishly muscular physique. In the ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' movie, he's played by Creator/MichaelBJordan, who, while still ripped, is far slimmer and has a much more attractive face. The same goes for M’Baku, who is played by a ruggedly handsome Creator/WinstonDuke, while in the comics he’s [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTCdKWaeaCzoJKMFv5G8z3sCTX16cD7Mt-x-B42PJBfk1e459Ai&usqp=CAU a monstrous man in white gorilla skin]]. These changes were done to avoid the UnfortunateImplications of portraying African men in such a manner.

** In the comics, Comicbook/ErikKillmonger is a hulking ScaryBlackMan with an almost cartoonish physique. In the ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' movie, he's played by Creator/MichaelBJordan, who is far slimmer and has a much more attractive face. The same goes for M’Baku, who is played by a ruggedly handsome Creator/WinstonDuke, while in the comics he’s [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTCdKWaeaCzoJKMFv5G8z3sCTX16cD7Mt-x-B42PJBfk1e459Ai&usqp=CAU a monstrous man in white gorilla skin]]. These changes were done to avoid the UnfortunateImplications of portraying African men in such a manner.

** Likewise, Comicbook/{{Hela}}’s CoolHelmet and mask [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRyWEsk8xveNdZXERhjIB7oGjHXEMo2KVx8HHaG4IULdGmX7NOK&usqp=CAU hide her decaying, corpse-like face in the comics]]. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', she's played by Creator/CateBlanchett, and is quite beautiful even when not wearing the mask.

* In ''Film/SilentHillRevelation3D'', [[http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110728041835/silent/images/thumb/4/4c/Bio_v.jpg/830px-Bio_v.jpg Vincent]] is played by [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcQz12Yf59q3Kuh02RnFwMFopEDsIp4fJuXklg&usqp=CAU
Kit Harrington]].

* 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]].

* ''Film/LetMeIn': Both the main characters:
** In the swedish novel Oskar is described as being overweight and plain looking,while in the film hes extremely slender and fine featured, this is even reflected in the respective insults their bullies bestow upon him, in the swedish novel they call him "piggy" while in the american version hes called "little girl".

* In ''Upright Magic'' by Vadim Korostylyov, the evil witch is an ugly hag. In the film adaptation, she is portrayed by young and good-looking Elena Sanayeva.

* The novel of ''Film/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.

** In the comics, Helmut Zemo has to wear a mask to hide his charred, hideously disfigured face. In the above-mentioned ''Civil War'', he's played by the handsome Creator/DanielBruhl without any sort of mask or facial prosthetics. Of course, there's always the possibility his face could be burned in a future movie.
** Likewise, Hela's CoolHelmet and mask [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRyWEsk8xveNdZXERhjIB7oGjHXEMo2KVx8HHaG4IULdGmX7NOK&usqp=CAU hide her decaying, corpse-like face in the comics]]. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', she's played by Creator/CateBlanchett, and is quite beautiful even when not wearing the mask.
** In the comics, Comicbook/ErikKillmonger is a hulking ScaryBlackMan with an almost cartoonish physique. In the ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' movie, he's played by Creator/MichaelBJordan, who is far slimmer and has a much more attractive face. The same goes for M’baku whose played by a ruggedly handsome Creator/WinstonDuke while in comics he’s [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTCdKWaeaCzoJKMFv5G8z3sCTX16cD7Mt-x-B42PJBfk1e459Ai&usqp=CAU a monstrous man in wearing white gorilla skin]]. This changes were done to avoid the UnfortunateImplications of portraying African men in such manner.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:

** ComicBook/TheHulk (while DependingOnTheArtist factors) in the comics typically has a [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTheht11x4yHge5hUB_454NCWVdu64rfz-J3Q&usqp=CAU broad brutish face reminiscent]] of an ogre. In the MCU due to Creator/MarkRuffalo providing MotionCapture Tge Hulk’s face is far less ugly and [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTuVgYdVk-WUETKaEymbDZudeJxi9v9Vv9krg&usqp=CAU more human looking]]. This also applies to Hulk’s alter ego Bruce Banner whose usually [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRFG2QEnOyMqQ0U2EWc9jlgR-7dkpcxWSNpBw&usqp=CAU gangly looking man]] in the comics, but in the MCU and in the [[Film/{{Hulk}} 2003 movie]] is played by Creator/EdwardNorton, Creator/MarkRuffalo and Creator/EricBana who are far more good looking than the Dr Banner from the comics.

** Much like the Hulk, ComicBook/{{Thanos}} isn’t really a looker in the comics being born with the Deviant Syndrome, his mother tried to kill him as soon as she laid eyes on him. In most depictions Thanos has [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcQBCSKck5AHXeDOp1wRQMAc0_58VgpP0G4nbQ&usqp=CAU unsettling features]] with GlowingEyesOfDoom and a SlasherSmile, in the MCU thanks to Creator/JoshBrolin’s mocapping Thanos has quite the [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRoa3Uc6MRQ--xRm51zNK5ieSbq8gAY8h1ZSw&usqp=CAU rugged face]] with normal eyes.

** In the comics, Comicbook/ErikKillmonger is a hulking ScaryBlackMan with an almost cartoonish physique. In the ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' movie, he's played by Creator/MichaelBJordan, who is far slimmer and has a much more attractive face. The same goes for M’baku whose played by a ruggedly handsome Creator/WinstonDuke while in comics he’s [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTCdKWaeaCzoJKMFv5G8z3sCTX16cD7Mt-x-B42PJBfk1e459Ai&usqp=CAU monstrous man in wearing white gorilla skin]]. This changes were done to avoid the UnfortunateImplications of portraying African men in such manner.

** ComicBook/TheHulk while DependingOnTheArtist factors, in the comics typically has [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTheht11x4yHge5hUB_454NCWVdu64rfz-J3Q&usqp=CAU broad brutish face reminiscent]] of an ogre. In the MCU due to Creator/MarkRuffalo providing MotionCapture Hulk’s face is far less ugly and [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTuVgYdVk-WUETKaEymbDZudeJxi9v9Vv9krg&usqp=CAU more pleasant looking]]. This also applies to Hulk’s alter ego Bruce Banner whose usually [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRFG2QEnOyMqQ0U2EWc9jlgR-7dkpcxWSNpBw&usqp=CAU gangly looking man]] in the comics, but in the MCU and in the [[Film/{{Hulk}} 2003 movie]] is played by Creator/EdwardNorton, Creator/MarkRuffalo and Creator/EricBana who are far more good looking than the Dr Banner from the comics.
** The Collector as he appears in the comics has the visage of a fairly creepy-looking old man. [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTmKm7ZRwO8nJW-0QUMcXQ9lM4l5pQyezxxqWptjg8KhrbdsX8g&usqp=CAU Collector as played by]] Creator/BenicioDelToro has a more flamboyant, but still fairly handsome appearance in both ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' and ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''. Much like Loki Marvel [[ProgressivelyPrettier would make]] the collector [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRzR8KM96dLZHqvQv0Qiy0n_BWDtqFAxHrL8hKR1peL7v8VcQbO&usqp=CAU handsome]] in comics as well.

** Subverted with Beverly Marsh in the book Bev is descibed as a stunningly beautiful [[HeroesWantRedheads redhead]]. In the Minseries she's portrayed by the more homely [[AdaptationalDyeJob and brunette]] Annette O'Toole and Emily Perkins. The film versions have Creator/SophiaLillis and Jessica Chastain who effectively match the book’s description (and this even though Lillis goes the UnkemptBeauty route).

** Eddie Kaspbrak is described as "rat-faced" these words really don't apply to Adam Faraizl or Dennis Christopher, and ''especially not'' Jack Dylan Grazer and James Ransone.
** Simarly Richie Tozier had buck teeth in the book, in Miniseries he's played by 90s chick magnet Seth Green and the Finn Wolfhard also more attractive than the book's description. Zig-zagged with the adult portrayals as while the Miniseries's Harry Anderson Richie isn't bespectacled, it's the handsome Bill Hader's portrayal that makes book Richie look like Quasimodo in comparsion.

** Subverted with Beverly Marsh in the book Bev is descibed as a stunningly beautiful [[HeroesWantRedheads redhead]]. In the Minseries she's portrayed by the more homely [[AdaptationalDyeJob and brunette]] Annette O'Toole and Emily Perkins. The film versions have Sophia Lillis and Jessica Chastain who effectively match the book’s description.

* The movie version of ''Literature/{{Beastly}}'' is a pretty egregious offender--in the book, Kyle becomes a hairy animal, much like in [[Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast a certain other adaptation]] that it mimics. In the movie, he's clearly human, but with no hair, some scars and some tattoo-like markings...which means that he looks less like a "beast" and more like a hardcore punk. Depending on one's tastes, his cursed form may be more attractive than he is normally! The makeup actually ''is'' rather elaborate (67 pieces, taking three hours to prepare each day) but it's clear that the filmmakers didn't want their YA romance star to be "ugly," even if that's the whole premise of the story.

** While Lady Tremaine's ugliness is never addressed, in [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the 1950 animated film]] she definitely looks like a senior widow (old looking, plain clothing), here she's younger, stylish and played by ''Creator/CateBlanchett''.

* ''Film/Aladdin2019'' has several cases compared to the original [[Disney/{{Aladdin}} animated movie]]. Genie spends much more time in his human form, making him less cartoony and more like, well, Creator/WillSmith. Jafar, instead of being old and freakishly thin with a SinisterSchnoz, is younger and more muscular with a handsome face. Even the Sultan of Agrabah is a mild case, being taller, leaner and more dignified than the rotund and silly original.

** Adult Mike Hanlon gets this a heavy dose of this in the second movie, in the book Mike thanks to staying in Derry [[CastFromLifespan has been aged beyond his years and had his health effected]]. The Miniseries middle-aged Tim Reid's Mike showcased this, in ''It Chapter Two'' Mike is played by ''[[Advertising/TheManYourManCouldSmellLike Old Spice]]'''s Isaiah Mustafa whose young, fit and handsome.

** ''Film/WonderWoman'' gives us Dr. Poison as [[MindScrew a straight example and hard aversion at once]]. She's played by a lovely actress with an obvious flesh-colored partial mask over her disfigured face, the damage, once revealed, being pretty gnarly but confined to a quarter of her face, making her less ugly and more "pretty but had a thing happen the lower left side of her face." The comic version, on the other hand, is an almost comical-looking {{Gonk}}, her wide and bulging eyes and permanently stretched grin (spread your lips away from your teeth as far as you can, past the point where it hurts... now imagine a face frozen like that 24/7.) being about what you'd expect if someone was perpetually about 2/3 of the way through death by Joker venom. However, it turns out that's a mask and her true appearance is quite lovely.[[note]]Now, that was the Golden Age version, and as always, DC Comics' reboot addiction means it may or may not be true ''this'' week. However, the current comic version looks just like the Golden Age version did when masked.[[/note]]

** [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/a/a2/Loki_Laufeyson_%28Earth-616%29_from_Thor_Vol_3_12_0001.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101120182453 This is]] Comicbook/{{Loki}} in the ''[[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' comics. [[https://78.media.tumblr.com/cf8a14e1bc7e1e4f6ecac5b24817d51a/tumblr_n6tt3x0yYX1ry54nno4_1280.jpg 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" (an alternate translation is "beautiful and comely," which is closer to our modern definition of a PrettyBoy) in the [[Myth/NorseMythology original myths]]. Marvel later came up 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]] Creator/BenicioDelToro has a more flamboyant, but still fairly handsome appearance in both ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' and ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''.
** In ''Film/{{Doctor Strange|2016}}'', Karl Mordo is played by Creator/ChiwetelEjiofor, a very handsome actor who has even been included in ''People Magazine'''s annual "Sexiest Man Alive" feature. This is in ''sharp'' contrast to the comics, where Mordo (especially when drawn by Creator/SteveDitko) was often depicted as an unappealing middle-aged man with a prominent widow's peak.
** 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, and ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' shows that several men in her neighborhood find her very attractive.

** Likewise, Hela's CoolHelmet and mask hide her decaying, corpse-like face in the comics. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', she's played by Creator/CateBlanchett, and is quite beautiful even when not wearing the mask.
** In the comics, Comicbook/ErikKillmonger is a hulking ScaryBlackMan with an almost cartoonish physique. In the ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' movie, he's played by Creator/MichaelBJordan, who is far slimmer and has a much more attractive face.

** In ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'', Mysterio is portrayed the attractive actor Creator/JakeGyllenhaal, a sharp contrast from his comic book counterpart, a short, ugly middle-aged man.