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Comments<\/a><\/p>\nActor Robert Downey Jr has in the past been applauded for his edgy roles. But his latest may be a step too far – as the actor dons make-up to play a rather convincing looking black man in a new Hollywood film starring comic actor Ben Stiller.<\/p>\n
In a still from film Tropic Thunder, Downey Jnr is sandwiched between Ben Stiller, and a blonde Jack Black.<\/p>\n
Scroll down for more…<\/strong><\/p>\n With his afro hair and brown skin, he is virtually unrecognisable as the 42-year-old star of stage and screen.<\/p>\n Downey Jr plays a worthy Oscar-winning actor taking on a role originally written for a black actor, and rather than re-write the part, he goes method.<\/p>\n Clearing anticipating a backlash, Downey Jr told a US magazine: “If it’s done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago. If you don’t do it right, we’re going to hell.”<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/img.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2008\/03_01\/StillerVietL_468x607.jpg\")
Controversial: Actor Robert Downey Jr is virtually unrecognisble seen here sandwiched between actors Jack Black, left, and Ben Stiller, in an image from new film Tropic Thunder in which he wore a wig and make-up to look like a black man<\/p>\n