Robert Downey Jr. has stunned fans with his unrecognisable transformation for his first role since winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 96th Academy Awards for his performance in Oppenheimer.
The 58-year-old actor is set to appear in the HBO miniseries The Sympathizer, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Downey Jr. plays four different characters, all antagonistic, requiring drastic physical changes.
A first glimpse of the series, released in May 2023, shows Downey Jr. with short copper-tinted hair, a bald cap, and aged, tanned skin for one of his roles. Fans expressed shock online, with comments such as: 'THIS IS NOT ROBERT. I CAN'T BELIEVE.'
Downey Jr. recruited his two younger children, Avri and Exton, in 2022 to shave his head for the role. In an interview with People, he said of the transformation: 'It wasn't particularly subtle, it wasn't meant to be, but I'm already proud of what I've seen.'
The miniseries, co-produced by Downey Jr. and his wife Susan through their company Team Downey, also stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh. It is directed by Park Chan-wook and will premiere on Max on April 14.
