These actors sat in the make-up for their roles for up to 20 hours

There are film roles where it's not enough to just be there as an actor. Some characters also have to be created visually first, and that's where make-up artists come into play. They can transform some Hollywood stars into a completely different person on the outside - but see for yourself.

Nowadays, such long periods of time in the mask are no longer absolutely necessary because a lot can be done on the computer. But back then you couldn't avoid it for some roles and you had to bring a lot of strength with you.

Recently on everyone's lips again - Christmas time - is Jim Carrey, who played the main character in a classic Christmas film: the Grinch. It's celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, and back then it was extremely time-consuming to transform someone into such a different character that Jim Carrey was made into back then. However, he hated it – and so did his make-up artist at the time. No wonder, since it always took Jim Carrey eight hours to finish filming, something like that can put a damper on your mood. The main reason it took so long was because Carrey was playing a furry character - and fur is just a lot of makeup work. But hey: at least it's become a classic. By the way, Jim Carrey can be seen in the cinema again these days: inSonic The Hedgehog 3.Make-up time: 8 hours

The mask pictures for the The mummyfrom 1932 was Jack Pierce. He always started his work at 11 a.m. and was finally finished around 7 p.m. - so the good Boris Karloff had to sit in the make-up for around eight hours for his role. But it was a real effort at the time: Pierce applied cotton wool, collodion (used in medicine to seal wounds) and chewing gum to his face. He also smeared clay into Karloff's hair and wrapped him in linen bandages treated with acid and baked in the oven. Filming started at 7 p.m., always until around two in the morning, and then it took another two hours until the make-up was completely removed. Karloff once said that this entire effort was the most strenuous ordeal he had ever endured. Maybe that's why you only see Karloff with this makeup at the beginning of the film. As he goes on, he wears far less make-up.Make-up time: 8 hours

In several films theX-Men seriesplayed Rebecca Romijn andthe blue-skinned shapeshifter Mystique - but that wasn't fun. They previously had to wear the mask for up to eight hours for each day of filming. And during filming, going to the toilet in particular was anything but a walk, as Jennifer Lawrence once revealed - because she simply couldn't sit down. She therefore had to follow nature's call while standing and used a funnel to do this. Since such a funnel is also a bit impractical and splashes quickly occur when you pee in it, Mystique was often surrounded by not only something mystical in the evening, but also a slight smell of urine.Make-up time: 8 hours

The fantasy horror filmAmerican Werewolfthat's probably it- not least because the make-up artist Rick Baker received an Oscar in 1982 for the werewolf's splendid look. But: This win had its price. Actor David Naughton had to spend up to ten hours in the mask until he fully became a werewolf. But the transformation scene in particular is still legendary today. Michael Jackson was also so enthusiastic about the film and the transformation at the time that he also hired Rich Baker to transform him into a werewolf - for the video for his songThriller. Ultimately, both decided to turn Jackson into a zombie instead. The rest is history.Duration of make-up: 10 hours

It took up to eleven hours for actor Peter Weller to put on his prosthetic make-up for today's cult filmRoboCopby Paul Verhoeven was finished. As a result, several different suits were used throughout the film, with the increasing damage from the fighting getting progressively worse. You can well imagine that Weller could hardly move in his outfit. I have no idea how things were regulated back then when Weller had to. But it must have been tiring. But here too: at least such an icon was created.Duration of make-up: 10 to 11 hours

New Zealand actor Lawrence Makoare took over- andThe Hobbit-Films several monstrous and demanding make-up roles - including that of Uruk-hai Lurtz inThe Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring, that of the Witch-King of Angmar inThe Lord of the Rings - The Return of the Kingand the character Bolg inThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. No money was saved anywhere in Peter Jackson's films, not even when it came to make-up. There was a huge amount of orcs on set, most of which were played by extras. But one of them was played by Lawrence Makoare, who played Lurtz, who was also mentioned by name. And because he had a slightly more important role, a little more effort was put into the make-up. There is certainly another way to be pleasant.Make-up time: 11 hours

David Cronenberg'sThe flyfrom 1986 is an absolute horror film classic and the showcase film when it comes to body horror. The successorThe Fly IIby Chris Walas, which appeared three years later, largely failed with criticism and left far less of an impression - apart from the elaborate make-up that actor Eric Stoltz (who is best known from films likeThe mask,Killing Zoe,Jerry Maguire – Game of Lifeand of coursePulp Fictionknows). It turns into a gigantic fly-like monster. And it was such a lengthy process that took up to twelve hours. What was lucky for Stoltz, however, was that he was able to spend a large part of this time lying down - at least.Make-up time: 12 hours

This placement by Patricia Velasquez from the 1999 version ofThe mummyThird place among the most elaborate make-ups in the film is a bit surprising - because you can't tell how much effort was put into her character, the pharaoh Anck-Su-Namun, at first glance. But she was body painted from head to toe with a base coat of gold metallic - and that took up to 13 hours, as Velasquez once mentioned in an interview. How her makeup may have taken longer than, say, David Naughton's inAmerican Werewolf, is a mystery to us, but we weren't there.Make-up time: 13 hours

New Zealand actor and stuntman Greg Lane was in theThe Lord of the Ringsseries not only was the stuntman for Saruman and Isildur, but also played various orcs and Uruk-Hais - including the legendary torchbearer during the Battle of Helm's Deep. An article about Lane once mentioned that he spent 16 hours in make-up for this very role until the make-up, prosthetics and costume looked the way we didThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towerscan see. An immense effort considering how long he ends up being in the film. Unfortunately, you can't find a decent photo of him online of what he looks like outside of the mask.Make-up time: 16 hours

The supposed world record for the longest time an actor had to spend in a mask is held by actor Rod Steiger. It was for the film in 1969The Illustrated Manin front of the camera. To do this, he received full-body tattoos, which were applied to the actor's entire body by a makeup artist and a team of eight assistants. This is said to have taken a total of twenty hours. And it can be assumed that this record will no longer be broken in the future because a lot of work is now done on computers. In this respect: Congratulations, dear Rod, on the world record!Make-up time: 20 hours