Actors From The Early Aughts That Are Totally Unrecognizable Now

The early 2000s seem like they happened a lifetime ago. Bill Clinton left the White House to make way for George W. Bush, social media was in its infancy, and many of our favorite stars looked totally different compared to now. Of course, natural aging accounts for much of this. However, in the case of why we barely recognize the likes of Amanda Bynes, Megan Fox, and Lindsay Lohan, several have been open about their cosmetic procedures. Botox, for example, is far more accessible and sought after in the 2020s compared to the early naughties. One 2002 study claimed global Botox sales amounted to just $310 million in 2001, but that figure soared to $5.45 billion in 2025, according to The Business Research Company.

However, injections aren't the only reason some notable stars from the Y2k era are unrecognizable today. Several famous folks have adopted totally new looks without any cosmetic procedures and appear different because they experimented with their hair and style to create an adult aesthetic that feels more authentic to them. In any case, we can't believe these celebs are the same people we used to watch on the big and small screen.

Amanda Bynes' transformation from child star to retired actor is truly jaw-dropping. The actor rose to fame on "The Amanda Show" from 1999 until 2002 and gained more fame via early 2000s teen movies like "What A Girl Wants" and the TV show "What I Like About You." In 2002, Bynes was your typical girl-next-door with highlighted, dirty blond hair, and eyes as bright as her smile. She also had a quirky, outgoing, personality. However, the star faced personal difficulties after she retired from acting in 2010. "[I started] hanging out with a seedier crowd and I isolated a lot... I got really into my drug usage and it became a really dark, sad world for me," she told Paper.

Bynes' physical transformation was just as dramatic as her career evolution. The former child star, who's rarely seen in public, was spotted in 2024 with long, jet black hair, a heart tattoo on her cheek and a nose ring, which made her look totally different compared to the young, fresh-faced girl we knew in the 2000s. Bynes has been open about getting lip injections and blepharoplasty surgery, and also explained how weight gain changed her appearance. "I've gained over 20 lbs in the past few months from being depressed," she told fans via Instagram Stories in 2024 (via People).

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Kate Beckinsale has debuted a drastic new look since her breakout role in 2001's "Pearl Harbour" and appearances in 2004's "Van Helsing" and the "Underworld" movies. In 2001, she stepped out in a plunging dress with her brunette locks pulled into an updo. At the time, she sported a very early aughts makeup look, complete with pastel eyeshadow and glossy lips. When Beckinsale walked the red carpet for Variety's Power Of Women event in 2024 though, social media users barely recognized her. The star wore her hair pulled back and slicked down. Her lips were noticeably fuller than 13 years earlier, and her cheekbones appeared more defined, as did her lean frame. "SHE LOOKS COMPLETELY UNRECOGNIZABLE!" one X user wrote in all caps. Another commented, "Kate is in her 50s but does look younger, but I don't know what procedures or surgery she may have had or not had."

Beckinsale addressed the plastic surgery speculation in a since-deleted Instagram upload. "Every time I post anything ... I am accused of having had unrecognisable surgery/using Botox using fillers/being obsessed with looking younger, and it's really such a tiresome and subtly vicious way to bully a person," she hit back (via E! News). "I don't actually do any of those things," she added. Instead, the star explained her new look was down to health issues and weight loss. In a since deleted Instagram comment, she responded to a social media user discussing her appearance (via Los Angeles Times) and said, "I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer, and I lost a lot of weight from stress and grief."

Megan Fox has come a long way since 2001's "Holiday in the Sun" and 2004's "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen." The Hollywood starlet later made a name for herself in the "Transformers" franchise and "Jennifer's Body," though her personal life has been just as talked about as her work. The actor has welcomed three children and has added to her extensive tattoo collection over the years (which includes a full sleeve), as well as changing her hair via a series of wigs.

But it was in 2025 when fans truly noticed how much Fox has changed. When she stepped out in a strapless, nude illusion dress for a special screening of "Jennifer's Body," fans did a double take. "I was like who is that and where is Megan," one Instagram user wrote. "I'm all for a little botox, etc but when you start looking like a whole different person then we should be worried," another commented. Compared to a snap from 2004, her nose was thinner, her lips were plumper, and her eyes had a more elongated, cat eye effect.

Unlike certain celebrities, though, Fox isn't cagey about how she achieved her physical transformation. During an appearance on the podcast "Call Her Daddy" in 2024, she listed the cosmetic procedures she'd had done, including a breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, Botox (which can have health benefits outside of vanity), and fillers. She also revealed how she keeps her skin looking youthful. "[I've had] lasers and stuff like that, I've done everything you could possibly do and I always will," she said.

You may remember Taryn Manning as Britney Spears and Zoe Saldana's "Crossroads" co-star or for her role in "8 Mile." But the actor looks totally different as of 2025. Compare a snap of her at the "Crazy/Beautiful" premiere in 2001 with one from the Last Chance for Animals Gala 23 years later and her physical transformation is obvious. The actor looked as gorgeous as ever, but swapped her bangs for a bare forehead and pushed back locks. She'd also ditched her vibrant makeup, including purple eyeshadow and pink lipstick, for more neutral shades and fluffier lashes.

The "Orange Is The New Black" star's transformation was more than just physical though. She spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 about how much her life and career had changed. "Hollywood is like that distant relative that doesn't call anymore," she said. "Look at my body of work. I can do this in my sleep, but nowadays, since the pandemic, it's like playing Monopoly. I must go all the way back to the beginning," she added.

Julie Gonzalo was one of the It Girls of the early 2000s. She appeared in several of the biggest movies from the era, including Lindsay Lohan's "Freaky Friday," Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller's "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," and Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen's "Christmas with the Kranks." Gonzalo has mainly focused on TV movies in the 2020s though. She's become a Hallmark movie star (despite their red flags) and appeared in the likes of "Dallas" and "Supergirl." She's also experienced a lot in her personal life, including welcoming her first child in 2022 with her fellow Hallmark star Chris McNally. But her transformation has also included a new look and style change.

Though she was famous in the early aughts for her blond locks and tan, her new staple hair look includes long, glossy, dark brunette strands. In a snap she shared via Instagram in 2023, she'd added curtain bangs that framed her face. The actor has also embraced her naturally fairer skin and less is more makeup that lets her ageless beauty shine.

Denise Richards gained notoriety in 2002's "Undercover Brother" and 2003's "Scary Movie 3" and "Love Actually." She later went on to appear in a handful of reality shows, including "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and "Denise Richards: It's Complicated." Her life has been just as diverse as her roles, as she's been married twice and become a mom to three children. In 2002, young Richards had long, toffee brond hair, which she wore in a side part with face-framing layers. At the time, she wore understated makeup, including a touch of gloss on her lips. But 22 years later, Richards' look had changed a lot. Her lips were even fuller, her cheeks were more defined, and her makeup was decidedly more obvious and glamorous at a "Starship Troopers" cast panel. With that in mind, it's no surprise she's fallen victim to plastic surgery speculation. 

Richards confirmed she got a breast augmentation (and a revision surgery following a rupture) but has denied any other procedures. "People always say that I've had plastic surgery on my face. I haven't," she told 7Bravo. She's revealed she's tried Botox though, but told Us Weekly she'd given up the injections. "I did try Botox and it wasn't for me," she said. Instead, she explained of her changing looks, "I kept my face out of the sun. I was always one that drank a lot of water and my skin's a bit sensitive."

You may remember Lauren German from movies like "A Walk to Remember" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." But we'd be surprised if you can still recognize her. In 2003, Graham sported caramel brunette hair with full, blunt bangs. Her skin had a youthful glow and her chin was well-defined. In 2019 though, she sported mousy brown hair with curtain bangs and balayage ends, as well as minimal makeup, which really changed her look.

German's life has changed drastically since finding fame too. After appearing in "Lucifer" from 2016 to 2021, the star stepped back from acting and fame. At the time of writing, she hasn't shared a photo of herself on her Instagram grid since 2022, instead dedicating her profile to art and photography.

Parminder Nagra shot to fame as the soccer loving Jesminder Kaur Bhamra in the early 2000s movie "Bend It Like Beckham" alongside Kiera Knightly. Since then, she's gone on to land roles in the likes of "ER," "The Blacklist," and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and looks unrecognizable compared to her early career. In 2003, the actor sported a sleek, dark bob, and trendy makeup (for the time), including darker, glossy lips and shimmery eyeshadow. When she stepped out in 2025, she had a rounder face, her hair was longer, and she was sporting a smoky eye and nude lips. Her style had also changed a lot, as she'd swapped sparkly, halter neck tops for a more classic and demure, high-neck black dress.

Plenty of fans have commented on how much Nagra has grown up before our eyes, and she hit back to The Telegraph. "It's awful when you see a tweet [saying], 'Wow, she's aged!'" she said. "That's what f***ing happens! ['Bend It Like Beckham' is] 20 years old. What did you expect me to look like?"

Tara Reid shot to fame in the "American Pie" franchise and gained more notoriety for her roles in 2001's "Josie and the Pussycats," 2002's "Van Wilder," and 2003's "My Boss's Daughter." But you may not recognize her in 2025. In 2006, she told Us Weekly she'd gotten a breast augmentation but was given a bigger size than she asked for. She also got unsuccessful surgery on her stomach. "My stomach became the most ripply, bulgy thing. I had a hernia, this huge bump next to my bellybutton," she said. Then, 12 years later, she got a procedure on her mouth to rectify an injury she suffered when she was young. "We had the veneers around it, but they never fit right. They never looked right and they made me insecure a lot," she told Us Weekly, confirming she'd had new veneers that aligned her teeth and helped her jaw function.

Reid's face was noticeably fuller as she approached her 50th birthday in 2025 than in 2000, her brows appeared more arched and her lips were super full. That could be down to the star's makeup and natural aging, but Dr. Jennifer Armstrong speculated on Instagram Reid could have gotten plastic surgery. However, fans defended the actor, as one commented, "It's called nature, she looks beautiful and natural."

Hilarie Burton is as stunning today as she was when she played Peyton Sawyer in "One Tree Hill" from 2003 until 2009. In the early 2000s, she had dark, tight, strawberry blond curls with a side part and embraced youthful, dewy foundation and orange eyeshadow. By 2025 though, Burton had proudly embraced her graying natural hair, which gave her a drastic — but equally stunning — new look. The star sported silver tresses styled in glamorous waves and a center part. She also embraced matte foundation and cooler toned makeup products that complimented her hair and complexion.

Burton hasn't shied away from aging gracefully. "I want people to understand that aging is a gift, and you can still look really hot and you can still be really powerful the older you get," the "White Collar" star and mom of three told Morning Honey. "...Your 40s, for me, are about ownership. Now my job is to set an example. I want every women in her 40s to be proud of what she's accomplished for the first two decades of adulthood — but know you're not done," she added. 

Lindsay Lohan's transformation has been head-turning – and that includes her physical evolution. Lohan has long faced plastic surgery speculation since becoming a teen icon thanks to early '00s movies including "Mean Girls," "Freaky Friday," and "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen." Compare a snap of the actor at the 2002 premiere of "Ice Age" with a photo of her at the 2025 premiere of "Freakier Friday" and it's easy to see why there's so much chatter about her appearance. In the more recent pic, Lohan's skin is noticeably smoother and brighter, her lips appear plumper, and her eyebrows seem slightly more arched. Fans noticed how different she looked from her teen star days, with one writing on X, "Lindsay Lohan is unrecognizable."

Lohan denied getting a facelift to Elle in 2025, though. However, her dad Michael Lohan confirmed she has had aesthetic treatments. "Lindsay never had any plastic surgery done ever," he told Page Six, but noted, "[She's gotten] peels, fillers and Botox." And, if it makes her feel confident, there's nothing wrong with that. Lohan's life is also looking very different these days. The star is happily married to Bader Shammas and the couple share a son. In 2014, she also left the U.S. to live in Dubai.

Few early naughties stars have transformed as much as Taylor Momsen. She appeared in 2000's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and 2002's "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams" as an adorable, fresh-faced little girl — but she's much edgier now. After gaining more fame in "Gossip Girl," she walked away from acting. "It was a childhood thing that I got put into when I was 2 years old," she said on "Podcrushed." "I wasn't making my own choices then," she added, noting she was now more interested in creating music with her band The Pretty Reckless than acting. And embracing music came with an unexpected new look.

The actor turned singer had become a rock chick in every sense of the word by 2025. Her staple look involved heavy, black eyeshadow and smudgy eyeliner, as well as bleach blond, super long hair in grungy, beachy waves. Her clothing choices seriously changed compared to her 2002 wardrobe too, as she adopted a penchant for risqué, rebellious, and edgy looks. "Fashion is the outside appearance of my inner feeling," she told In Love. "I've always said rock and roll represents freedom. Freedom from everyday life, freedom from restraints, freedom from suppression. It's where my imagination can thrive. It's how I express myself with no boundaries," she added.

Renee Zellweger has faced her fair share of speculation about her changing looks. The actor became a huge name in 2001 thanks to "Bridget Jones's Diary" and played Roxie Hart in "Chicago" the following year. Back then, she wore natural-looking makeup and had naturally plump, hydrated-looking skin. Though she was still rocking the blond locks that became her signature 'do in 2025, her lips and cheeks appeared fuller and her skin was super smooth.

Amid rampant speculation about her changing looks, Zellweger hit back. "I'm glad folks think I look different! I'm living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I'm thrilled that perhaps it shows," she told People in 2014. "People don't know me [as] healthy for a while. Perhaps I look different. Who doesn't as they get older?! Ha. But I am different. I'm happy," she added.

In 2003, Raven-Symoné became one of the brightest child stars of the moment thanks to her Disney Channel TV show "That's So Raven." She also gained notoriety for starring roles in "The Cheetah Girls," "Dr. Dolittle 2," and "The Princess Diaries 2" around the same time. Although the star's different appearance could be attributed to age, compared to 2025 Raven, it's hard not to see the notable styling differences.  At the "Dr. Dolittle 2" premiere, she sported glossy, long hair and glowing skin thanks to her glamorous makeup. At the 2025 GLAAD Media Awards though, she had a buzzcut and wore more neutral-toned makeup.

Much of Raven-Symoné's new look is down to the star becoming more comfortable with who she is. "When I first got off of 'That's so Raven' I was like, OMG, I'm free, I don't have to wear any weaves! So I cut all of my hair off and dyed it orange, purple... every color," she told Curly Nikki. The star has also been open about her weight over the years and credited her wife Miranda Maday for helping her take her health more seriously. "She doesn't want to take me to an early grave and I want to make sure I am there for her in the best health possible," former "The View" co-host told E! News, sharing she'd lost 30 pounds.