Friday 7 January 2011

Natalie Portman -Black Swan

Natalie Portman is outstanding in The Black Swan. I watched it again last night as I am in the middle of writing an article about her makeup in the film. The stage makeup is wonderfully dramatic and beautifully executed. It must have been a tough job for the makeup department, Margie Durand and Judy Chin, to keep the intrecut makeup in place with all the strenuous dance scenes.
The prosthetic makeup designer Michael Marino created the transition into the black swan from the small beginnings as bits of skin started pealing away, to the sprouting of feathers and wings.
When Natalie's character is not on stage she is made up to look like she is wearing no makeup. Sounds crazy, but I know from experience how tricky this is to achieve. Will Marjorie and Judy get the Oscar they are tipped for?