Mariah Carey plays frumpy film character

Mariah Carey is unrecognisable in her new movie – because she doesn't wear make-up.

The singer-and-actress had to tone down her glamorous appearance for 'Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire' – where she plays a dowdy social worker – and says cast and crew were shocked with the results.

She said: "It was cool, because a lot of people in the film don't recognise me – they don't notice me – and that to me, was the great gift that the director Lee Daniels gave me, to be able to go that far away from who I am.

"You can thank Lee. He had a very specific look in mind."

Despite being pleased with the end results, the 40-year-old star initially put up a fight when she was first told she would have to tone down her appearance.

Mariah turned up on set for her first day with a collection of extravagant hair pieces and cosmetics only to be informed she wouldn't be needing them for the film – which is due for release on November 6.

She told America's OK! magazine: "I brought in all my wigs for the character, and Lee was like, 'No. This is not happening.' It really brought up what everyone was going through was not about that."