What The Ladies Of The Great Look Like In Real Life

For three years, Hulu transported viewers back to 18th-century Russia in the critically acclaimed period piece "The Great," and the show's costume designers certainly didn't mess around, pushing viewers to wonder what the leading ladies look like in real life. Loosely based on the rise of Russian empress Catherine the Great, the satirical, dark comedy required lead actor Elle Fanning to completely transform for the role, as she and the rest of the cast breathed new life into some real (and other not-so-real) historical figures from the time period. Premiering in 2020, the series went on for three seasons before it was canceled in 2023, but its comedic storytelling, stellar acting, and iconic wardrobe will long be remembered by fans and critics alike.

The costume department for "The Great" won not just one, but two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Period Costumes during the show's run. There's no question that regencycore is a royally fun fashion trend, and many of the actors on the cast truly looked like they were living in the 18th century. Similar to what the cast of "The Gilded Age" looks like in real life, many of the actors in "The Great" look entirely different without their period costuming. Behind the hair, makeup, and wardrobe that bring the show's central female characters to life are actors who have mastered the art of completely transforming into someone else on screen, and you might be surprised to see what some of them look like in real life. Keep scrolling to see the leading ladies who star as Catherine, Marial, Aunt Elizabeth, Georgina, and more on Hulu's "The Great," compared to what they actually look like behind the extravagant costuming.

Not only does Elle Fanning play a monarch in "The Great," but there is something undeniably regal about her in real life, too. Little sister to fellow actor Dakota Fanning and therefore one of the many celebrities with gorgeous sisters, Elle portrays a young version of Catherine, with styling made up of colorful ballgowns and elaborate, curled hairstyles. The role required Elle to wear corsets for hours at a time, and eventually caused her body to shift and reshape, which could be why she looks so regal and majestic every time she hits the red carpet in those ethereal and playfully avant-garde dresses she loves so much, with her blond hair styled in a slicked manner likes she did in the 2026 Academy Awards.

"The Great" actor Phoebe Fox played the role of Marial, who starts out as a servant in Season 1, wearing muted, dull clothing, before eventually gaining back her noble lady status and adopting a new wardrobe of bold, colorful, and extravagant ballgowns. But unlike her character's costumes, Fox's style is modern and edgy. In the photo above on the right, taken in September 2026, Fox's hair is dyed a near-black shade and cut into a stylish rounded bob. Her chic and smoldering eye makeup and ruched off-the-shoulder top further prove that Fox is highly in tune with modern fashion trends.

Many fans of "The Great" adore her performance as the eccentric and quirky Aunt Elizabeth, but Belinda Bromilow has a stunning look of her own when she's not in character, too. As depicted in the photo on the right, taken in 2022, Bromilow's hair is often dyed a vibrant shade of auburn red, which is partly why she wore wigs on set of the Hulu period piece. She previously gave the show's costume department a social media shoutout on Instagram for their "insane wig skills" when transforming her into Aunt Elizabeth, whose look is characterized by curly brunette locks and ornate, old-fashioned updos.

Charity Wakefield morphs into an entirely different person to play Georgina in "The Great," as the character we see on screen is nearly unrecognizable from the actor in real life. Not only does her personal style lack the antiquated hairstyles and vintage ballgowns Georgina often sports, but Wakefield is actually blond in real life, and she looks totally different with the lighter locks. With the honey-blond shade seen in the photo of Wakefield on the right, taken in May 2026, her face is positively radiant and glowy — as opposed to Georgina's porcelain-like skin against dark brunette tresses.

Gillian Anderson appears in "The Great" as Catherine's mother, Joanna, a narcissistic aristocrat whose wardrobe is defined by attention-grabbing gowns and over-the-top hair moments. While Anderson is a lot less showy than her character, she and Joanna aren't so different when it comes to hair. Gillian Anderson's best hair looks prove she's never afraid to try something new, and like Joanna, she frequently opts for a fancy updo, like the one seen in the photo above on the right. Taken in July 2026, this red carpet snap shows Anderson rocking a sophisticated, voluminous updo with a notably contemporary twist.

In Hulu's "The Great," Florence Keith-Roach played the role of Tatyana, a character with a flair for the extravagant when it comes to wardrobe. When it comes to her own personal style, Keith-Roach isn't afraid to think outside the box either. She frequently pushes the envelope with daring touches to her fashionable ensembles, much like the dark, glossy lips she's rocking in the photo above on the right, taken in 2024. When she's not experimenting with bold makeup colors, Keith-Roach also tries out fun, vibrant hair colors like the light copper hue she was spotted with in May 2026.