Celebrity Cinderellas
From faded to fabulous! Here are some spectacular star transformations…
We always suspected there was more to dowdy Downton housekeeper Mrs Hughes than the stiff black dress and no-nonsense manner suggested! Out of costume, Phyllis Logan is nothing like the buttoned-up ser vant. Her hair is loose, the clothes show confidence and she oozes high-society sophistication.
Could she be Lady
Cora’s secret cousin?
It’s hard to recognise Brenda Blethyn out of her drab get-up of baggy raincoat and bucket hat as TV detective Vera. True, Vera has more to worry about than her appearance with so many crimes to solve, but no wonder Brenda is smiling when freed from her character’s wardrobe. With her caramel curls, bright lippy and radiant skin, she really shines.
Even A-listers can have their off-days, it seems. Looking pale and drawn without make-up, you could almost pass Catherine Zeta Jones by in the street. There’s no mistaking her in sparkling Hollywood mode, however; with her raven tresses, glowing complexion and smouldering kohl-rimmed eyes, she’s in a class of her own.
She may rule the red carpet, but screen queen Helen Mirren’s look was decidedly low-key when playing our monarch in TheQueen. Kitted out in Her Maj’s signature country garb of sensible shoes, tweed skirt, cardi and headscarf, she never looked more ordinary. We bet it was a relief to get those famous curves back into figure-hugging couture.
In unforgiving Lycra with frizzy hair and no make-up, Goldie Hawn is just like any other jogger. But as her red carpet appearances prove, the 70-something’s exercise efforts are certainly paying off. With her youthful figure and glossed-up trademark blonde locks, she’s one glamorous superstar granny. Take a tip from Goldie and dust off those trainers now!
From Downton’s murderous maid to Happy Valley’s chaotic alcoholic, Siobhan Finneran has played her fair share of deadbeat characters. It’s lovely to see her looking polished and poised off-screen, thanks to a sleek blow-dry and elegant pussy-bow dress. Good grooming always pays dividends.
Who knew that behind the scraped-back hair and shapeless separates of Broadchurch’s Sergeant Miller lurked a glamorous Hollywood star? With a string of awards under her belt, Olivia Colman can walk the red carpet with ease.
Her look – a little bit old-school Hollywood, a little bit British quirkiness – is ticking all the A-lister boxes. Note to self: throw away the frumpy layers!
Sarah Lancashire captured our hearts in the ’90s as Corrie’s blonde bombshell, Raquel. She has since proved her worth in a series of gritty roles, none more so than Happy Valley’s traumatised Sergeant Catherine Cawood. She described playing the role make-up free as “liberating”. It’s a long time since Corrie, but the soap star still scrubs up well.
Princess P Anne is famously frugal with clothes, c recycling outfits over decades. Her well-worn w beige and khaki outdoor separates do d her no favours however, washing out her complexion c and hiding that trim figure. Compare C with her neat jade suit and pop of l lipstick, which add vitality to her skin. C Colour can make such a difference, so e experiment to find your best shades.