Discover the talented actors who took on the challenge of portraying their own twin characters in these unforgettable performances.

In the film Legend, Tom Hardy takes on the challenging roles of real-life twin Mafioso brothers, Reginald ?Reggie? and Ronald ?Ronnie? Kray. Reflecting on his experience, Tom noted that while it was relatively simple for him to switch between the characters, the true challenge lay in convincing the audience that they were witnessing two separate individuals rather than a single performer. To achieve this, Tom utilized a body double for several scenes, particularly during the intense confrontations that showcased the brothers’ tumultuous relationship.

?Whatever I laid down in the morning, I had to really follow in the afternoon with the other character. The brother fight is a perfect example of where we had to be mindful; every time I interfered with my brother?s face in the morning, in the afternoon I needed to recreate that interference and react to his face,? Tom explained to EW.

He further elaborated, ?You know that if I?m playing Reggie at the start of the day and I?m slapping Ron, Reggie?s got rings on. I need to return and film Ron?s side, and if I threw a hard slap as Reggie, Ron will feel a hard slap in return. I?m experiencing twice the impact ? and so is my body double, Jacob.?

Blake Lively showcased her versatility by playing dual roles in A Simple Favor, where her character’s secret identity unfolds later in the film. Blake plays Emily Nelson, who is revealed to be a con artist named Hope McLanden. Hope is one of a set of triplets, but only she and her sister Faith survived their childhood. Their troubled past includes burning down their family home and the tragic death of their abusive father, which led to their separation to avoid the law.

In one of his earlier roles, Leonardo DiCaprio brilliantly portrayed the twins King Louis XIV and Philippe Bourbon in The Man in the Iron Mask. This 1998 film, based on Alexandre Dumas?s The d?Artagnan Romances, showcases Leo’s ability to embody both a powerful king and his hidden brother who was forced to live in secrecy behind an iron mask.

Mark Ruffalo took on the complex roles of twins Thomas and Dominick Birdsey in I Know This Much Is True. In preparation, he gained 30 lbs. to authentically portray Thomas, reflecting the character’s struggles with schizophrenia. Mark dedicated the first 15 weeks of filming to Dominick’s scenes before taking a 5-week transformation period to embody Thomas, ensuring a clear distinction between the two characters.

?We didn?t want it to feel like I was just throwing on a wig and doing the same scene in the same day. We took six weeks off to really develop and separate these two characters,? Mark shared during the TV Critics Association Winter Press Tour.

He continued, ?Thomas is on medication, mood stabilizers, and anti-psychotics. Gaining weight was a real challenge, and I didn?t anticipate it to be difficult. I thought I would enjoy it, but force-feeding myself took away some of the joy of food,? Mark explained.

Armie Hammer seamlessly portrayed the real-life twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in the 2010 film The Social Network. Initially cast alongside actor Josh Pence, it was soon decided that Armie would take on both roles to ensure the twins looked identical. Josh remained as a body double, with some of his scenes enhanced using CGI to replace his face with Armie’s.

?I would always start as Cameron, and Josh would play Tyler. We?d shoot until [David] Fincher was satisfied, then he?d say, ?Okay, switch.? I?d change clothes, adjust my hair, and then use that time to switch characters,? Armie shared with The Wrap.

He continued, ?After that, I?d sit where Josh had been seated, and everyone else would clear the set. The set would empty, and we?d set the camera on an automatic system. We?d put a piece of tape on the wall to represent my brother, a tennis ball for Larry Summers, and I?d have an earwig with my lines playing as Cameron.?

Rachel Weisz portrayed the complex roles of Beverly and Elliot Mantle in Dead Ringers, a psychological thriller from 1988. Reflecting on her experience, Rachel described the process as ?mind-bending,? especially when physically transforming from one character to another.

?We started with Elliot; she sets the pace because she?s faster and more assertive. I worked with my scene partner, Kitty Hawthorne. She would deliver Beverly?s lines while I portrayed Elliot, and then I would go to hair and makeup to transform into Beverly. Kitty would sit on the other side of the screen as Elliot but wouldn?t speak,? she explained to THR.

She added, ?I had an earwig with Elliot?s lines in my ear, responding as Beverly while Kitty spoke. Having the other twin’s lines in my ear while I played the other twin was a learning process that pushed me beyond my limits.?

Troian Bellisario portrayed Spencer Hastings on Pretty Little Liars for seven seasons before revealing her evil long-lost twin, Alex Drake, who was raised in England. Troian took on both roles, further complicating her performance by at one point portraying Alex while pretending to be Spencer. Reflecting on her work, Troian emphasized the effort she put into differentiating the characters, especially focusing on Alex’s distinct accent.

?Alex is quick-witted and colorful, but she has a tightness around her mouth even when impersonating Spencer. I wanted to showcase that struggle for freedom in her American accent, which reflects a more rigid upper lip,? Troian shared with ET.

She added, ?I was concerned that there wouldn?t be enough distinction between the characters, but looking back, I?m proud of the differences I achieved, particularly in the finale where I could clearly see Alex and Spencer’s individuality.?

Lisa Kudrow famously portrayed twin sisters Phoebe and Ursula Buffay on Friends and also played twins in Mad About You. The decision to make these two characters twins came from both shows being on the same network and airing back-to-back. Lisa was already a part of Mad About You when she was cast in Friends, leading to the need for an explanation for viewers regarding her dual appearances.

?Everyone realized we needed to clarify for viewers why the same actress was appearing on two different shows at the same time. We needed an explanation,? she shared with Emmy TV Legends.

In 2011, Adam Sandler humorously portrayed twin siblings in the film Jack and Jill. To embody the character of Jill, Adam donned a wig and underwent significant transformation, although he maintained a recognizable look for both roles.