Here’s a question worthy of Marvel’s all-knowing Watchers: how does actor Zoe Saldana transform into the Guardians of the Galaxy’s kick-ass alien Gamora?

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Answer: it takes a lot of time in makeup to create the deadliest and greenest comic book character this side of The Hulk. In fact, according to a mesmerising time-lapse video recently tweeted by Saldana, she has to spend three hours in the chair to Gamora-up.

Her makeover might seem like a lengthy one, but Jennifer Lawrence’s prosthetics and full-body makeup for mutant Mystique in the X-Men films could take between eight and 10 hours a time. And Guardians of the Galaxy co-star Karen Gillian had to shave her head to play the meddling Nebula.

But that’s to take nothing away from Saldana; it’s certainly not easy being green.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is in UK cinemas now

Authors

Thomas LingDigital editor, BBC Science Focus

Thomas is Digital editor at BBC Science Focus. Writing about everything from cosmology to anthropology, he specialises in the latest psychology, health and neuroscience discoveries. Thomas has a Masters degree (distinction) in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield and has written for Men’s Health, Vice and Radio Times. He has been shortlisted as the New Digital Talent of the Year at the national magazine Professional Publishers Association (PPA) awards. Also working in academia, Thomas has lectured on the topic of journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Sheffield.

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