‘Vice’: See the Cast Side-by-Side

Christian Bale as Dick Cheney

Bale transformed into Cheney for Vice. In addition to gaining 40 lbs., per Esquire, the Oscar-winning actor pored over hundreds of hours of footage to master Cheney’s voice and movements and spent four to eight hours in the makeup chair each day.

While Cheney, who died on Nov. 3, was alive during the filming of the movie, Bale “was advised” not to speak with him for legal reasons.

“He’s a tough cookie, very thick-skinned. I would have enjoyed meeting him, even if he just insulted me,” the Vice star told USA Today in December 2018.

Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney

Amy Adams was also advised not to contact Dick Cheney’s wife, Lynne Cheney, whom she portrayed in Vice. Though she conducted extensive research on the former second lady, Adams also drew inspiration from her own grandmother for the role.

“There was something in [Lynne’s] voice that reminded me of my grandmother,” the actress said on Late Night With Seth Meyers in December 2018. “My grandma was tough. She told it how it was. There was no sugarcoating it.”

When asked about the film in October 2020, Lynne described it as “cartoonish” to The Washington Post.

“I didn’t like the movie, but I have said being played by Amy Adams wasn’t half bad,” she added.

Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld

Steve Carell portrayed Donald Rumsfeld, who served as the secretary of defense under Presidents Gerald Ford and Bush.

The actor told Esquire in October 2018 that he “made an attempt” to portray Rumsfeld as accurately as possible.

“People have an idea about Rumsfeld, but it’s a very narrow idea,” Carell said. “I felt like it was my job to expand that and paint a broader picture of who he was, what he feared, what was upsetting to him.”

He continued, “You do the best you can with the material you have, with the sources you have and with your imagination.”

Rumsfeld died on June 29, 2021, of multiple myeloma, per Politico. He was 88 years old.

Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush

Rockwell received an Oscar nomination for his depiction of Bush in Vice.

“I did everything you can think of [to prepare for the role],” he told E! News at the award ceremony in February 2019. “I was like obsessed with being George Bush.”

While speaking to Bush’s daughter Jenna Bush Hager on Jenna & Friends in March 2025, Rockwell apologized for this portrayal of her dad, to which she replied, “No, you don’t need to apologize!”

Tyler Perry as Colin Powell

Tyler Perry played Colin Powell, who served as the secretary of state under Bush.

The filmmaker told Variety in January 2019 that he “never dreamed” of playing “the General,” whom he spoke with while researching the role.

“The first thing I did was call him because there are very few living African-American heroes, and he’s one, and I wanted to be sure this would honor him,” Perry shared. “He was so gracious on the phone. He sent me his book, I sent him mine.”

Powell died from COVID-19 complications in October 2021.

LisaGay Hamilton as Condoleezza Rice

LisaGay Hamilton appeared as Condoleezza Rice in Vice. The role was brief, but in a September 2018 interview with Black Girl Nerds, Hamilton expressed interest in portraying the national security advisor–turned–secretary of state on a larger scale.

“Sadly, the movie is about Cheney, and they really did eliminate Condoleezza Rice as a part of that,” Hamilton said. “It was fun to research to try to play her.”

Lily Rabe as Liz Cheney

Lily Rabe portrayed Dick Cheney’s eldest daughter, Liz Cheney.

During an on-set interview, the actress talked about her approach to portraying a real-life figure.

“You have a responsibility as an actor to never make that person a hero or a villain,” Rabe shared. “It’s not about [discovering how] Liz Cheney and I are similar, it’s about trying to find ways to tell the truth of the story.”

Liz has spoken out against the film, telling Fox & Friends in January 2019 that Bale “had the chance to play a real superhero, and he clearly screwed it up.”