10 Actors Who Went Undercover For Famous Movie Roles

Sometimes an actor is required to think outside the box should an obstacle prevent them from conducting the sort of research they feel is intrinsic to understanding the character they are playing in a feature.

With Ralph Fiennes set to play none other than real-life American writer and editor Charles Van Doren, who was involved in a quiz show scandal in the '50s, in 1994's Quiz Show, the actor understandably wanted to sit down with the figure to really digest the way he spoke and conducted himself as a person.

Those involved with the feature, however, simply felt that Van Doren would want no part of the project that would be documenting his rise and fall as a contestant on Twenty-One. So, a plan was hatched involving Fiennes and a member of film staff driving out to his Connecticut hometown. When there, the two just so happened to stumble upon Von Doren sat on a chair outside his house, with Fiennes then thinking on his feet and pretending to be a lost driver as a way to get Charles to converse with him.

Directions were soon delivered and Fiennes was given the precious first-hand research he so desired, albeit via some cheeky deception.