Putting a Face to the Name: Chapter 3
"No one appreciates anonymity as much as those who have lost it, and you only get to lose it once." - Shawn Davis
I'm finally back with five more unseen characters who were later seen by audiences. Let's dive in...
Alexis Meade, Ugly Betty
Alexis Meade, the transgender sister of Daniel and presumably deceased editor-in-chief of Hudson Magazine, operates within the shadows for the first several episodes of Ugly Betty, obscuring her face and identity behind a mask of bandages. She finally sheds this disguise around the midpoint of the first season, shocking the fashion world and her broken family in the process.
Darth Sidious, Star Wars
Darth Sidious is an interesting example, as he's only depicted as an unseen character in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, in which he hides his face behind cloaked Sith robes. Anyone who's seen the original trilogy in the years prior to the prequels already knows Darth Sidious is the future Emperor Palpatine. Only those who avoid all spoilers and first watch the Star Wars films in chronological order will experience the full effect of Sidious' reveal as Senator/Chancellor Palpatine.
Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes
As with all the other Blofeld imitators, Professor Moriarty remains shrouded in shadowy silhouette throughout the entirety of his initial appearance in the 2009 Sherlock Holmes film. It's not until the sequel, A Game of Shadows, that the Napoleon of crime finally steps forth to unveil his mysterious visage to moviegoers.
Little Red-Haired Girl, Peanuts
Another interesting example. While the Little Red-Haired Girl sports different artistic designs throughout the various Peanuts television specials and films, her physical appearance has never been a mystery to viewers. Despite this, the Little Red-Haired Girl remains an unseen character in the canonical Peanuts comic strip, in which she is only ever depicted in silhouette. The late Charles M. Schulz, however, did draw one illustration of the Little Red-Haired Girl.
Boba Fett, Star Wars
Let's close out this chapter with another Star Wars character. Despite his limited screentime in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the enigmatic Boba Fett left a lasting impact on Star Wars fans, appearing in all manner of expanded media over the years. While the mysterious bounty hunter never removes his Mandalorian helmet in the original trilogy, he does so quite often in The Book of Boba Fett.
And that wraps up the third chapter of this ongoing series. Until next time, love, peace, and chicken grease.