Sara Gilbert's Complete Transformation Has Been Something To See

If you grew up in the late '80s and '90s, chances are, you've watched "Roseanne" on television and laughed at Darlene Conner's many one-liners. Played by Sara Gilbert, fans saw her character literally grow up on their screens, and the actor has had a stunning transformation in real life, as well. Although Gilbert has been in the industry since she was 6 years old, it was "Roseanne" that launched her to stardom, and she became known for her grungy style and wild, curly locks.

Gilbert may be a huge celebrity, but that doesn't mean she pulls out all the stops for red-carpet looks. She's stayed true to herself throughout the years and has shown up in what made her comfortable. And when it comes to her makeup, the "Conners" star likes to keep it simple with just a touch of smoky eyes at times and a whisper of blush. From a spunky kid on a classic TV show to a talk show creator, this '80s child star is unrecognizable now.

Sara Gilbert was just 13 years old when she played Darlene Conner in "Roseanne," and quickly stole viewers' hearts with her sarcastic humor and the way she trolled her older television sister, Becky Conner. Much like Darlene, Gilbert wasn't into girly clothes or makeup in real life, and was seen during her debut season wearing a leather cap over her spiral curls, and what looked like an aged leather jacket that's a grungy staple your closet is missing. Even as a teen, she had a unique, cool style that any fashionista would have coveted.

As Gilbert's fame grew, she admirably used her platform to help support Earth Day in 1992. "It's very important to me that people who are recognizable and people who the media will pay attention to come out and promote helping the environment," the young teen shared (via YouTube). Two years later, Gilbert had the honor of hosting "Saturday Night Live" with Counting Crows as the musical guest, which was the most '90s pop culture moment. In an Instagram reel shared by a fan account, the "Poison Ivy" star looked like the ultimate cool girl in round sunglasses, loose waves, and an all-black 'fit. By the time 1999 rolled around, "Roseanne" had been off-air for two years, and Gilbert was a Yale graduate. That year, she starred in "The Big Tease" and "Light It Up," proving that her career was still thriving after being known as a child star.

2000 was a busy year for Sara Gilbert, as she starred in the hit film "High Fidelity" alongside John Cusack and other famous faces like Jack Black and Lisa Bonet. She brought her grunge aesthetic to the premiere, wearing a sheer black sweater and leather pants. Gilbert must have been feeling experimental at the time, as she had incorporated caramel-colored highlights that effortlessly elevated her hair. Later that year, she made her first big return to TV since "Roseanne" with her show, "Welcome to New York." It seemed like Gilbert had a touch of nostalgia when she shared with Entertainment Weekly, "I really like having that live audience and having a place that feels like a regular workplace."

In 2010, Gilbert went from playing characters to being her true self as a host of "The Talk," which she created and executive-produced, and she was all about the blazers in her boss-babe era. It was quite a departure from her usual work, and she told Entertainment Weekly at the time, "This is a whole new world for me ... I'm not an expert on this, or I don't analyze these things. I'm just sort of living my life." She had also come out as a lesbian prior to the show's debut, although it was no secret that she had partnered up with producer Allison Adler and shared two kids with her. Still, it was a brave move on Gilbert's part and a step toward sharing more of her life with the world.

Sara Gilbert continued to have success with "The Talk" in 2011, but sadly, her relationship with Allison Adler had come to an end, which was confirmed in late August of that year. Still, ever the professional, Gilbert was all smiles and looked gorgeous in a black and white blazer during a press tour at the beginning of that month. Her hair looked more polished than usual, with large curls framing her face, and she sported a soft glam makeup look. While normally private, Gilbert opened up about her split in a September 2011 episode of "The Talk," revealing (via The Hollywood Reporter), "I feel like I don't know if marriage is all it's cracked up to be. I've never been married, but I was in a long relationship." She then added, "I wouldn't trade that time, it's such a special time in my life."

Despite her reservations about marriage, Gilbert wed musician Linda Perry in 2014 after a year-long engagement. It seemed that being with a rocker influenced her style, as she arrived at the ABC upfronts in 2019 with a wavy shag, black eyeliner, and an all-black outfit. Gilbert's look was totally rock and roll, just like the 4 Non Blondes singer. That year was a lot of good-byes for Gilbert, as she announced her departure from "The Talk" early in August and separated from Perry four months later. Fortunately, the "Roseanne" spinoff, "The Conners," was doing well, and it looked like the producer had another hit on her hands.

After "The Conners" debuted in 2018, Sara Gilbert found success with the show for years. It was not an easy feat for a reboot, especially after the OG television mom, Roseanne Barr, posted a racist tweet and subsequently got fired. "I'm so grateful to the fans and the writers and the cast and producers and everybody for hanging in there, and like I said, the fans for continuing to watch because it was a big change," Gilbert shared with Variety in July 2020.

Gilbert toned down her rocker look, but still favored an all-black outfit, as she did at the Critics' Choice Awards in 2020. Her makeup was as low-key as ever, and the 50-something-year-old knew how to keep her youthful glow. She told New Beauty, "I think the thing that works the best is being hydrated, honestly. You can put a million things on topically, but I'm not sure that does much." Gilbert also credited herbal tea with electrolytes for maintaining her skin, and quipped, "Look, I'm not sure anybody should be coming to me for beauty tips, but that's what I got."

Although "The Conners" came to an end in 2025, Gilbert kept busy. In February 2026, she announced on Instagram that her ex Linda Perry had enlisted her to direct the "Beautiful" music video starring the "What's Up?" singer and their son, Rhodes. "I'm so proud of this music video. Sara, Rhodes, and the entire cast and crew did an incredible job," Perry gushed on Instagram. From acting to producing to directing a music video — it looks like Gilbert can do it all.