Great Scott!
With flame red hair and a blotchy complexion, Margot Robbie got into character as Queen Elizabeth I for Focus Features' Mary, Queen of Scots in Goldthorpe, England, over the weekend. Robbie, who was photographed in and out of costume on the set of the movie, also appeared to be wearing a prosthetic nose to resemble the Virgin Queen, who ruled from 1558 to 1603; John Mathieson officially photographed Robbie's co-star, Saoirse Ronan, in costume last week.
Production on the Working Title Films production, directed by Josie Rourke, began late last week in the U.K. Starring Ronan in the titular role, Joe Alwyn, Martin Compston, Brendan Coyle, Jack Lowden, Guy Pearce and David Tennant round out the cast. The period drama is based on John Guy's popular biography My Heart Is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots.
Beau Willimon wrote the adapted screenplay. "Mary, Queen of Scots explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart. Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I," the studio said in a press release. "Each young Queen beholds her 'sister' in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth's sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones—and change the course of history."
Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are producing the film with Debra Hayward.
In addition to Rourke and Willimon, the behind-the-scenes team working on the film includes costume designer Alexandra Byrne; editor Chris Dickens; director of photography John Mathieson; production designer James Merifield; and makeup/hair designer Jenny Shircore.
"We are privileged to be collaborating with our partners at Working Title on this stellar production, and with Josie as she makes the exciting move from stage to screen work," Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said. "With two of today's most vital actresses bringing to life two female titans, Mary, Queen of Scots will be one of the movie events of 2018."
Robbie isn't the first actress to transform her look to play a real person, of course:
The Oscar-winning actress plays the late I Love Lucy star in Aaron Sorkin's film Being the Ricardos.
The English actress transformed into one of Hollywood's most celebrated sex symbols, Pamela Anderson, for the upcoming Hulu miniseries, Pam & Tommy.
The actor dropped jaws after showing off his epic makeover as the Mötley Crüe rock star, Tommy Lee. Sebastian will play the musician for the new Hulu miniseries, Pam & Tommy.
The actress portrayed the late Tejano star and Mexican American legend, Selena Quintanilla, for the Netflix show, Selena: The Series.
Andra Day earned her first Golden Globe win for her role as the iconic singer in the biopic, The United States Vs. Billie Holiday.
The Oscar winner and chameleon extraordinaire had fans doing a double-take when the trailer for Bombshell first premiered. In it, Charlize stars alongside Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie as the Fox News employees who helped take Roger Ailes' career down after he was accused of sexual misconduct.
In Rocketman, the British actor played one of the most iconic musicians in the history of rock 'n' roll.
The actor played the late Fred Rogers in the 2019 movie You Are My Friend.
The singer and actress will take on the role of playing the Queen of Soul in an upcoming biopic about her life. It's set to release in August 2021.
After Natalie Portman dropped out, Felicity stepped in to play the late Supreme Court Justice in On the Basis of Sex, a biopic directed by Mimi Leder.
The actress produced and starred in I, Tonya, based on the disgraced figure skater's life.
The actor played the civil rights leader opposite Bryan Cranston as President Lyndon B. Johnson in HBO's All the Way.
The Oscar winner stepped into the shoes of the late movie legend in Feud, Ryan Murphy's FX series about the making of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
The Dead Man Walking star played the acting legend in Feud.
The Oscar-nominated actor portrayed the famed inventor of the light bulb in Current War.
The British actor starred as the late country singer in the 2015 film, I Saw the Light.
The Lovesick star played the late rock legend in the 2020 biopic, Stardust.
Parker Sawyers played the former president in Southside With You, a romantic dramedy loosely based on Barack's first date with Michelle Obama back in 1989.
Tika Sumpter starred as the former First Lady in Southside With You.
"She was a groundbreaking woman, so ahead of her time. It's such an honor to play her," Odette previously told E! News of her Astronaut Wives Club character, who was an extremely skilled pilot in her own right.
The Scandal star took on the role of the aide who accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual assault in 1991 in HBO's biopic Confirmation.
The Oscar nominee starred in The Founder, a biopic about the founder of the McDonald's empire.
The Kardashians are headed to TV in a very different after being portrayed in Ryan Murphy's American Crime Story: The People V O.J. Simpson. Selma Blair played Kris Jenner, who was married to Simpson's attorney Robert Kardashian.
The Friends actor portrayed the late Kardashian patriarch in FX's American Crime Story.
The Unbroken star was set to take on the role of the late designer in a film about his life. However, in 2020, it was announced he is being replaced.
Travolta starred as O.J. Simpson's lawyer in FX's American Crime Story.
The Oscar winner played the transgender pioneer in The Danish Girl.
The Irish hunk stepped into the Apple co-founder's shoes in Danny Boyles' biopic.
In The Imitation Game, the Sherlock star took on the role of the English mathematician who helped crack the German Enigma code during World War II.
The British actor portrayed the iconic civil rights activist in the film Selma, which chronicled his crusade for equal voting rights.
For more entertainment news, watch Daily Pop at noon and E! News tonight at 7 and 11, only on E!
(E! and Focus Features are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)