Katy Perry as Elizabeth Taylor? Oprah Winfrey as Glinda the Good Witch? These Amazing Transformations Made Our Jaws Drop

Is there anything more fun than seeing celebs way out of their comfort zones? Like Kim Kardashian modeling in a pile of dirt? For our money, the answer is no. So Harper’s Bazaar’s new 2015 Icons spread (which will appear in its September issue) gave us true joy, thanks to its fantastic spread that includes stars such as Oprah Winfrey dressed as Glinda the Good Witch, Katy Perry as Elizabeth Taylor and even more jaw-dropping makeovers.

Jean-Paul Goude/Andy Warhol Artwork © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

The spread was photographed by legendary photographer Jean-Paul Goude and styled by the magazine’s global fashion director Carine Roitfeld, who has a history of incorporating mega-celebs into her work (most recently, she styled the Givenchy/Donatella Versace mash-up). She tapped talents of today — including Dakota Johnson, Jessica Chastain, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey and model-actor-musician Lucky Blue — to represent luminaries of years past, and the results are stunning.

For her part, Perry (who’s no stranger to a total magazine makeover) calls legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor an icon who “transcends time.” In the interview that accompanies her piece, Perry tells Harper’s Bazaar, “Liz was so fabulous and decadent and had a style that evolved with the years … and I’m sure I’ll be married just as many times!”

Jean-Paul Goude

Winfrey (who portrays Glinda the Good Witch) says that The Wizard of Oz is one of her favorite inspirational stories. “Glinda is a spiritual goddess,” she says. “I love when she says to Dorothy, ‘You’ve always had the power.’ That is the message for all of us: You’re born with it, you always have it. It doesn’t matter how many yellow brick roads you go down, it’s always right there in your heart.”

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Jean-Paul Goude

Carey (who, according to the magazine, is portraying Marie Antoinette — who else? — in a tableau that’s a tribute to Fragonard) enjoyed her photo shoot because she’s “pretty much the opposite of Marie Antoinette, but it’s always fun to throw on a costume,” she says. (Though we’re holding out judgment on that; have you seen her selection of gold heels alone? Or the 2002 MTV Cribs tour of her home?)

Jean-Paul Goude

And finally, Fifty Shades of Grey‘s Dakota Johnson channels Aphrodite (the image of feminine divine love in Greek mythology), saying, “To me, she embodies the power of love and pleasure, and represents the mystery and intricacy of women.” We’re fairly sure Aphrodite flew rather than rolling in on a skateboard, but we always appreciate some artistic license.

Click here to see all of the celeb transformations and pick up a copy of the September issue, which hits stands on Aug. 18. Tell us: Which photo is your favorite? Share in the comments below!

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–Colleen Kratofil