The first picture of Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in a new film about his early days as prime minister shows the actor sporting heavy prosthetics, a bow tie and smoking a cigar.
Oldman takes on the role in Darkest Hour, about Churchill’s decision to galvanise Britain against the Nazi threat as forces rolled across Western Europe and the threat of invasion appeared imminent.
The British actor, 58, is almost unrecognisable in the picture, which shows him in profile with glasses, a receding hair line and double chin.
The movie is directed by Joe Wright (pictured below), who was responsible for Atonement, Anna Karenina and Hanna and also stars John Hurt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James.
It will explore Churchill’s struggle with an unprepared public, a sceptical king and political in-fighting as he leads a charge against Hitler’s army in the early days of the Second World War.
Darkest Hour will be released in UK cinemas on December 29 2017.