3 days ago
6
Alias' Michael Vartan Looks Unrecognizable in New Photo 8 Years After Leaving Hollywood
Kit Connor is making hearts stop with his latest transformation.
Indeed, the Heartstopper actor—who plays Nick Nelson in the Netflix teen drama—shocked fans when he looked nearly unrecognizable after growing out his beard and long hair.
In a since-deleted Instagram Story photo shared by GQ style director Zak Maoui, Kit showed off his new look while sitting beside his Heartstopper costars Joe Locke and Tobie Donovan.
The 22-year-old held his thumb up and smiled, while Joe—who plays Kit’s onscreen love interest Charlie Spring—stuck his tongue out for the camera. Meanwhile, Tobie—who portrays Charlie and Nick’s friend Isaac Henderson—smiled as he held up his drink.
This isn’t the first time that Kit has turned heads with his physical transformation. The Warfare actor also wowed fans in 2023 after showing off his physique and fitness regimen in a YouTube video shared by powerlifter Nathaniel Massiah.
At the time, Kit said he was inspired to change up his look after receiving feedback from Heartstopper fans about his portrayal of Nick, who is depicted as a buff man in the Alice Oseman graphic novels of the same name.
"The character that I'm based on is like six [foot] two, very big. And I was shorter than I am now and skinnier," he recalled. "When it got announced, there were some people on the internet going like, ‘He's a bit too skinny to play him.' I saw that and I was like, ‘S--t,' so then I just started eating loads."
"I was doing like 200 push-ups a day and then the only thing that was developing was my chest," he continued. "So, if you look at Heartstopper, there's a couple points where I'm wearing quite a tight shirt and my chest… the boobies were looking quite large. Then I started properly hitting gym."
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
But for Kit, not all online chatter is constructive. After all, he felt forced to come out as bisexual after being accused of queerbaiting—a term used to describe people who lean into suspicion that they may be queer in hopes of attracting publicity—while promoting the coming-of-age dramedy.
"I'm bi. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself," Kit wrote in a since deleted-post on X in 2022. "I think some of you missed the point of the show. Bye."
Samuel Dore/Netflix
Still, the passionate fanbase hasn’t prevented Kit from embracing his character. In fact, the actor—who won a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in 2022— is expected to reprise his role as Nick one last time in an upcoming conclusion film for the series.
Kit isn’t the only star who has shown off a major transformation. Keep reading to see more celebrities who haven’t been afraid to change it up…
Sami Sheen/Instagram
Sami Sheen
The daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards shared her at-home hair dying journey, including its many missteps, on TikTok and raved about the results.
“I've been wanting to do this to my hair for years now," she said, "and I'm so happy that I finally did it.”
Raymond Hall/GC Images; Instagram/Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Trading in her signature golden locks, the country music star wrote on Instagram in August 2025, "Well, the last time I saw my natural hair color, I was probably about 12 years old, but I thought it might be time to give it a second chance."
Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images; Instagram/Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa
In July 2025, the actor shaved off his beard for the first time in six years to film Dune: Part Three, which required him to rock a clean shaven look to reprise his role of Duncan Idaho.
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Live Nation Las Vegas/Instagram/NBC
Kelly Clarkson
The American Idol winner debuted a shorter hairdo in a July 2025 The Voice promo, trading her signature blonde waves for a shorter, darker bob style.
Instagram / Chris Pratt / Matt Baron/BEI
Chris Pratt
The actor debuted a bearded look, which he sports on season two of The Terminal List, in June 2025.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images; Jun Sato/WireImage
Finn Wolfhard
The Stranger Things star changed up his trademark shaggy hairstyle in May 2025 by debuting a buzzcut at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo, Japan.
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage; Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Sebastian Stan
The Marvel actor said goodbye to Bucky Barnes' signature long hair in April 2025, showing off a shaved head at the Los Angeles premiere of Thunderbolts*.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
JoJo Siwa
In March 2025, the "Karma" singer debuted her rainbow mohawk at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Instagram; TikTok
Emily Ratajkowski
In a March 2025 TikTok video, the model called this 'do with shaggy bangs the "worst haircut of my life."
Instagram / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Gypsy Rose Blanchard
The Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup star debuted a short bob in March 2025, more than two months after giving birth to her and fiancé Ken Urker's first child, daughter Aurora Urker.
Clifton Prescod/Bravo/Charles Sykes
Whitney Rose
The formerly blond Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star debuted a red bob on Watch What Happens Live in January 2025.
Instagram / Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber
The model debuted lighter locks in September 2024, a month after giving birth to her and Justin Bieber's first baby, son Jack Blues Bieber.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images/Araya Doheny/FilmMagic
Lily Collins
The Emily in Paris star debuted her dramatic transformation at the world premiere of her new horror movie, MAXXXINE, in June 2024.
"Changing my hair always brings out different sides of my personality and I love playing around," Lily told Vogue. "This cut and color feels bolder and yet somehow lighter. And completely more me—right now."
Sean Zanni/WireImage/John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
Katie Holmes
While attending Chanel's Tribeca Film Festival Artists dinner in June 2024, Katie debuted a subtle, yet striking transformation of rich caramel balayage highlights that were blended throughout her brunette tresses.
Kylie Jenner / Instagram
Kylie Jenner
The Kardashians star debuted a platinum blonde look and a bob haircut after rocking waist-length strands for quite some time.
"Did someone say they missed king kylie," Kylie teased in the caption of her June 8 Instagram post, to which her sister Khloe Kardashian cheekily replied, "I did! I did!!!!!!"
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images/Pierre Suu/Getty Images
Lisa Rinna
The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during 2024 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.
Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images for Bulgari/Prodip Guha/Getty Images
Priyanka Chopra
The Heads of State star debuted a drastic haircut—a shoulder-grazing bob—while attending a Bulgari event in Rome i May 2024.
TikTok / Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel
In May 2024, the actress chopped her hair into a bob that many fans on social media said reminded them of one of the looks she sported as Mary Camden on the '90s series 7th Heaven.
Instagram / Megan Fox
Megan Fox
The Transformers actress returned to her dark brown tresses and debuted a sassy bob in May 2024, a month after she dyed her hair blue to enter what she dubbed her "Jedi era."
Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images
Dannielynn Birkhead
At age 17, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith debuted a new lob hairstyle overnight during 2024 Kentucky Derby weekend, which she attended with dad Larry Birkhead.
Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Baby2Baby / Instagram / Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato
The singer debuted a lighter, shorter 'do in April 2024.
Kelly Osbourne/Instagram
Kelly Osbourne
The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.
Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Homeboy Industries / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Kim Kardashian
Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum 'do in April 2024.
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images/Neil Mockford/WireImage
Rihanna
The Fenty Beauty founder debuted a bright blonde hair transformation April 17 while celebrating her latest Fenty x Puma collection in London.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for FRAME/Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Delilah Belle Hamlin
The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.
Megan Fox/Instagram/Dimitris Giannetos/Instagram
Megan Fox
The Jennifer's Body star traded in her bubblegum pink tresses for a baby blue bob, which she debuted April 2.
James Gourley/Getty Images/Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Zendaya
Less than a month afer chopping her hair into a long bob, Zendaya debuted a honey blonde transformation at the Challengers premiere March 26.
Elle Fanning / Instagram
Elle Fanning
The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.
John Nacion/Getty Images/John Nacion/Getty Images
Rachel McAdams
The Mean Girls alum swapped out her signature blonde hair for a dark brunette transformation on March 18.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Forever 21/Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Bre Tiesi
The Selling Sunset star looked completely unrecognizable after debuting a dramatic blonde transformation March 16.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
English (US) ·