What a transformation! Gossip Girl Michelle Trachtenberg undergoes dramatic makeover to play the wife of an assassin in new TV movie about JFK's murder

By Sarah Fitzmaurice and George Stark
PUBLISHED: 09:49 GMT, 26 June 2013 | UPDATED: 13:18 GMT, 26 June 2013
She is known for playing scheming Georgina Sparks on hit soap Gossip Girl but Michelle Trachtenberg is unrecognisable in her new role.
The 27-year-old actress is starring as Marina Oswald, in the biopic Killing Kennedy, and the actress has undergone a dramatic transformation for the role.
Michelle's dark locks have been lightened to a chestnut brown shade and styled in loose curls that fall to just above her shoulders.
She looks completely different! Michelle Trachtenberg has undergone a dramatic transformation for her latest role in Killing Kennedy
She looks completely different! Michelle Trachtenberg has undergone a dramatic transformation for her latest role in Killing Kennedy

The star is dressed in 60s clothing, an olive knit and an orange and brown striped skirt, which completes her retro look.

In the snap from the TV film the actress is seen cuddling a child, as she stares into space with a worried look on her face.

Marina was the wife of Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Osward, who killed the President in 1963.
Speaking about the role Michelle told E! 'Killing Kennedy is a transitional moment for me as an actress—and working alongside industry icons like Ridley Scott and Rob Lowe has been a great learning experience.'
Gossip Girl gone: Michelle is best known for her role in hit TV shoe Gossip Girl, pictured filming final scenes of the show in October last year
Gossip Girl gone: Michelle is best known for her role in hit TV shoe Gossip Girl, pictured filming final scenes of the show in October last year
And speaking about her dramatic new look she said: 'Donning her '60's style wardrobe is the biggest step into Marina Oswald's shoes. The hair and makeup is a process, but compliments the transformation.
'Prior to shooting, I did a ton of research on Marina—I watched DVDs, YouTube videos, read books and interviews—so I can honestly say that every aspect of her look is well thought-out and as authentic as possible.
The image of Michelle comes after snaps of Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays Jackie O, and Rob Lowe who plays the President, were released.
Strikingly alike: Ginnifer Goodwin looks just like Jackie Kennedy
Strikingly alike: Ginnifer Goodwin as Jackie Kennedy in a newly released still from Killing Kennedy
First Lady: Jacqueline Kennedy enjoys a picnic in the 1960's
Strikingly alike: Ginnifer Goodwin looks just like Jackie Kennedy
First Ladies: Ginnifer, right, is made-up just to look like Jackie Kennedy for the new TV movie

The National Geographic Channel's film adaptation is from Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's book Killing Kennedy: The End Of Camelot and will have it's small screen release in November.
The make-up and wardrobe specialists on the project have obviously pulled-out all the stops to make both Ginnifer and Rob look just like the iconic couple for the new movie.
Lowe, 49, too bares an uncanny resemblance to the late former president and strikes a mirror image pose of JFK in his promotional shot for Killing Kennedy.
Rob Lowe
Resemblance: Rob Lowe as John F Kennedy in the upcoming television movie Killing Kennedy which will air in November
Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Resemblance: Rob Lowe as John F Kennedy in the upcoming television movie Killing Kennedy which will air in November
With the same posture, and president's classic comb-over, Rob somehow manages to the evoke the image of JFK, who was assassinated in 1963.

Rob started filming the movie earlier this week, and  the National Geographic Channel will be hoping that it proves to be ratings gold with viewers.
Lowe of course previously played Sam Seaborne in The West Wing from 1999 to 2003 so he knows all about the workings of The White House albeit from a different era from his new project.
Rob Lowe
Versatile: Rob Lowe has won critical acclaim for his role in Behind the Candelabra playing a plastic surgeon
Chronicling the final years of JFK and his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald before their deaths in 1963, the subject of the film seems to have had an effect on Rob.

The actor tweeted: 'Just saw Ginnifer Goodwin as Jackie Kennedy in the sad and awful blood-stained dress. Extremely emotional.'

He also said the show will be to mark the 50th anniversary of the president's death, adding: 'We were never the same.'
Rob Lowe
Extreme makeover: Rob has confessed that enjoyed scaring his friends with pictures of him as Dr. Jack Startz in Behind the Candelabra
Rob isn't the only actor to be playing JFK this year, as James Marsden will also portray the late president in the film The Butler.

The film by director Lee Daniels also stars Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey, and is scheduled for release on 16 August.
Rob recently confessed to having a ball getting a makeover as plastic surgeon Jack Startz in Behind the Candelabra.

He told EW: I’ve taken great glee in showing pictures that I have on my iPhone of Dr. Startz to people.

'People, honestly, fall over. They are so repelled and engaged, which is sort of what I was going for. I wanted him to be at once repellant and engaging, if that’s possible.'

Rob also plays the hyperactive character Chris Traeger on Parks and Recreation and Ulysses S. Grant in the upcoming American Civil War drama To Appomattox.
Rob Lowe
Happy couple: Rob and his wife Sheryl Berkoff last year, who he has been married to since 1991
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Comments (8)

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Of course that's what the world needs. Yet another over makeup-ed dodgy drama about Kennedy that will look dated in 2 years time, last to be seen on True Movies at 2am.
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"Gossip Girl? Please! Buffy the Vampire Slayer..." Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Please! Harriet the Spy...
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Gossip Girl? Please! Buffy the Vampire Slayer...good for her!
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Now why didn't Buffy think of this, Glory would never have found her under that transformation.
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A long time since the whiney teenage Dawn days in Buffy!
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Dawn buffy.never would have noticed it was her.
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Best know as Dawn in Buffy as far as I am concerned.
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I'd say she was best known for her role as Dawn - but I'm probably showing my age!
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27! that girl does not age! still looks like Harriet the Spy!
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