Personality erasure
Personality erasure is a plot device that involves the original personality of a character being erased or buried, and a hidden personality coming to the fore or a new personality taking over. It has been useful for media works involving actors. It typically permits the same actor to continue playing in the role, but assume a very different role.
Examples:
- Talia Winters on Babylon 5
- Fred Burkle (Winifred "Fred" Burkle) on Angel