What the Cast of 'On the Basis of Sex' Look Like with Their IRL Counterparts
Remember when Elle Woods wanted to get into Harvard Law School, and said, "What, like it's hard?" Well, Ruth Bader Ginsburg did it first, and no shade against Legally Blonde, but it actually was a lot harder back then. RBG's biopic, On the Basis of Sex, premieres December 25 and tells the story of her 1971 fight to overturn sex discrimination.
Obviously, as the movie takes place back in the '70s, the characters look a little different than you may have expected. (Unless you're expecting Armie Hammer to look like a hot dad in this, because *plot spoiler* he totally does.) Here's what the On the Basis of Sex cast looks like alongside their real life counterparts.
Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Felicity Jones plays a 39-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the English actress totally nails RBG's mannerisms and Brooklyn accent. In fact, according to director Mimi Leder, everyone's favorite Supreme Court Justice has seen the film three times already (and absolutely loves it).
Armie Hammer as Marty Ginsburg
Armie Hammer plays the role of Ruth's late husband, Martin, AKA Marty. IRL, the couple met at Cornell University and decided to pursue law together. Excuse me while I sob over how perfectly romantic and inspiring that is.
Justin Theroux as Mel Wulf
Mel Wulf was the legal director of the ACLU, and helped Ruth prepare to present to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Kathy Bates as Dorothy Kenyon
Dorothy Kenyon was a judge, feminist and activist who basically worked her ass off her entire life to fight for civil rights. She even participated in The Women's Strike for Equality in 1971, the year before she passed away at 83.
Sam Waterson as Erwin Griswold
Erwin Griswold was an appellate attorney and the Dean of Harvard Law School for a whopping 21 years.
Cailee Spaeny as Jane Ginsburg
Jane is Ruth and Marty's daughter, and although she's just a teen in the movie, she's certainly upholding the Ginsburg family name. She also went on to attend Harvard Law School, and her daughter, Clara Spera, graduated from there in 2017.
Felicity Jones slays as the Notorious RBG.