The actors who portray rock stars in biopics have a daunting task, as the figures they play are so iconic. Audiences are often skeptical because they already know how these legendary rockers look, talk, sing, and move. If the actor misses the mark, the illusion will shatter and the film will likely bomb.

Actors can’t just mimic these stars—they need to channel them. When it’s done right, the effect is magical—as if the legend has been brought back to life or the audience is getting a glimpse of the music icon at a young age.

Certain actors have portrayed their subjects so well that the illusion is never questioned—through uncanny resemblance, incredible musical performances, or sheer emotional depth. Some depictions are so believable that audiences completely forget that they’re watching an actor at all.

Gary Busey As Buddy Holly In The Buddy Holly Story (1978)

Gary Busey has become something of a punchline in recent times, but there was a period when he was a respected actor. He was at the pinnacle of his acting career when he portrayed the тιтular character in The Buddy Holly Story, a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Busey sounded so much like Buddy Holly that audiences couldn’t tell if Busey was lip-synching or singing the tunes. Not only did he actually sing, but he played guitar in the movie too.

His portrayal was particularly remarkable because Busey was 10 years older than Holly was at the time of his death. To pull it off, Busey lost 32 pounds, which shows his commitment to the role. This movie is the crowning achievement in Busey’s career.

Val Kilmer As Jim Morrison In The Doors (1991)

Val Kilmer wanted the role in The Doors so badly that he created an eight-minute videotape of himself singing songs by the band. At his own expense, he sought coaching advice from The Doors’ producer and studied Morrison’s mannerisms and vocal inflections meticulously. He was such a natural fit that all this preparation felt almost unnecessary.

The physical resemblance between the handsome actor and enigmatic rock star is uncanny. Kilmer’s vocals are so reminiscent of Morrison’s that even the surviving members of The Doors had difficulty telling them apart. This casting succeeded at the highest level.

When Kilmer showed up for the audition, he arrived in a ‘60s convertible that was blasting music by The Doors. He jumped out shirtless and barefoot, wearing black leather pants and sporting long, wild hair. No one else stood a chance.

Angela Bᴀssett As Tina Turner In What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993)

Angela Bᴀssett did an amazing job of embodying the essence of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It? Although she didn’t sing in the movie, her lip-synching was seamless, and her strut and stage moves were spot-on. Her physical transformation was so accurate that audiences had no problem believing they were seeing Turner.

Not only did Bᴀssett capture Turner’s confident stage presence, she captured the singer’s vulnerable side, showcasing the pain that Turner suffered from years of abuse by her ex-husband, Ike Turner.

Bᴀssett’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won her a Golden Globe. Her performance introduced Tina Turner to a new generation of fans and raised the bar for future musical biopics.

Jamie Foxx As Ray Charles In Ray (2004)

Jamie Foxx’s turn portraying Ray Charles was nothing short of spectacular. He immersed himself in the role in a way that few actors do, wearing prosthetic eyelids that rendered him blind for up to 14 hours a day, forcing him to navigate the set in the same way that Charles would have.

His movements, body language, and mannerisms were so accurate that those who knew Charles said it was truly like seeing him come to life again.

Foxx is a trained pianist who played the piano throughout the film. Although Ray’s vocals were used, Foxx’s acting chops sold the performance.

The role earned Foxx the Oscar for Best Actor, as well as the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award.

Kirsten Stewart As Joan Jett In The Runaways (2010)

Kirsten Stewart convincingly channeled Joan Jett’s cool vibe, toughness, and stoic demeanor. In fact, Joan Jett, who served as an executive producer, praised Stewart’s commitment to the role and her portrayal of her. Stewart played Jett with just the right amount of swagger and edge that allowed Jett to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

Stewart was fortunate to spend time with Jett to prepare for the role. She studied her ways of speaking, walking, and holding a guitar. Jett said that Stewart “absolutely nailed” her—and there could hardly be any higher praise when words like that come from the person an actor is emulating.

Prior to her role in The Runaways, Stewart was known primarily for her work in the Twilight movies. Playing Joan Jett allowed her to grow as an actor and avoid being typecast.

Rami Malek As Freddie Mercury In Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the most successful biopics ever made, and Rami Malek’s starring role as Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury is one of the elements that made it so. Malek meticulously studied for the part and worked with a movement coach to ensure that his stage persona represented Mercury perfectly.

It paid off remarkably. The recreation of Queen’s Live Aid scene drew acclaim from critics and fans, who hailed Malek’s performance for channeling the essence of Mercury.

Aside from the outrageous onstage antics, Malek conveyed the vulnerable, more human side of Mercury, which added depth to his portrayal. Consequently, Malek took home the Academy Award for Best Actor, the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, and SAG awards.

Taron Egerton As Elton John In Rocketman (2019)

Rocketman is a different kind of biopic. Rather than just tell the story using recording sessions and concerts to work in the music, Rocketman applies Elton John songs to advance the narrative. In that sense, it’s more like a musical than a traditional biopic.

The film, however, does tell the story of Elton John’s life in an unusual, artistic way that works wonderfully. The movie succeeds as it does largely due to Taron Egerton’s fantastic portrayal of Rocketman, Elton John.

Egerton doesn’t just perform Elton’s songs—he sings them much like they would be sung in a musical stage presentation, to express character development, inner turmoil, and transformation.

This theatrical approach perfectly mirrored Elton John’s flamboyant stage persona.

Austin Butler As Elvis Presley In Elvis (2022)

To prepare for his role as Elvis Presley, Austin Butler lived for nearly three years, both on and off set, mimicking the King’s way of speaking, his mannerisms, and his singing. This commitment was intense, and it paid off. His lip curl and the way he swiveled his hips were spot-on.

Most viewers were so transfixed by the portrayal that they forgot that they were watching an actor at all. Butler managed to pull off the other side of Elvis, too—the insecure man who was trapped by fame and constantly manipulated by his manager, Col. Tom Parker.

Presley’s ex-wife, Priscilla, was so impressed by Butler’s commitment to the role and his execution of it that she gave high praise to his performance, calling it “extraordinary.”