He has starred in everything from comedies and romances to art-house dramas and epic war films. Undeniably good looks aside, he also possesses a unique ability to convincingly transform into any role, often with the help of a thoughtfully designed wardrobe.

Here, we look at the power of costumes and the five times dressing the part helped Leung immerse himself in a role.

1. Chungking Express (1994)

As its name suggests, this film is set in Hong Kong’s famous Chungking Mansions and Leung’s character, Cop 663, frequently patrols the building. He’s mostly dressed in a pre-1997 era police uniform of a blue shirt and black pants.

2. Happy Together (1997)

He revealed in a previous interview that it wasn’t until he arrived on set in Argentina that director Wong decided to swap the roles of the two leads. Leung’s character Lai Yiu-fai travels with Cheung’s Ho Po-wing in hopes of visiting the Iguazu Falls together. But the couple’s constant toxic quarrelling gets in the way of the road trip. Instead, they both experience emotional turmoil as they struggle to gain control of their destructive relationship. All the while, Lai picks up odd jobs to earn money to get home.

Both Leung and Cheung are in ragged, worn clothing, with Leung donning mostly plaid shirts and a corduroy jacket when not dressed for work as a restaurant host or in a Chinese kitchen.

When alone, the two men often strip down to nothing but white tank tops and briefs. This look reflects the two men’s free and uninhibited feelings for each other when they’re alone.

3. 2046 (2004)

Some describe this dark sci-fi/romance film as a sequel to In the Mood for Love, where Leung played different versions of the character Chow Mo-wan.

When he reprised the role of Chow in 2046, he requested his character to have a moustache to help him “make believe that I am a new person”, Leung revealed in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio.

Chow dresses in more or less the same look of tailored suits and slicked back hair as he did in In the Mood of Love, typical of 1960s Shanghainese literati living in Hong Kong.

The results were clear: while the younger Chow in In the Mood of Love is more reserved, the more mature, mustachioed Chow is much more expressive both emotionally and sexually.

4. Lust, Caution (2007)

From director Ang Lee, who presented Leung with his award at the Venice Film Festival, the film Lust, Caution is based on a story by novelist Eileen Cheung.

In the film, Leung plays Yee, a 1930s political figure who falls in love with a young, beautiful spy. Yee’s rich, older male persona is brought to life with tailored double-breasted suits and coats.

5. Grandmaster (2013)

No period film would be complete without costumes that accurately portray an era. In Wong’s 2013 film Grandmaster, Leung assumes the role of the famous Chinese martial artist Ip Man who trained Bruce Lee, among others.

The Ip character, a wealthy landowner and kung fu practitioner, escapes war in Fo Shan and finds himself in Hong Kong in the 1930s. Early-days Ip wore black tailored traditional Chinese robes, a fedora and a plush long coat.

As the plot saw the character flee to Hong Kong, losing his wealth along the way, his clothes become more drab and worn.