What does “caracterizar a un personaje” mean in Spanish?

English “characterize” means to describe someone’s traits. Spanish caracterizar can do that too — but with a role, it flips: caracterizar a un personaje means to become that character through costume and makeup, the way an actor or cosplayer does. So caracterizar a Padmé isn’t describing her; it’s transforming into her, face paint and all. That’s why makeup artists talk about caracterización as a craft.

The reflexive caracterizarse (de / como) means “to get done up as”: se caracterizó de reina — “she got dressed and made up as a queen.” Per the RAE, said of an actor it’s literally “to paint one’s face or dress according to the figure one is to play.” Cleaner and more theatrical than disfrazarse (“to dress up / wear a costume”).