Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards

The 2016 Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards were held this past weekend. The gala event was a lovely way to celebrate all of the talented hair and make-up professionals working today in film, television, stage and digital media. Congratulations to all of the evening’s big winners as well as the nominees at large!

Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards: The Winners

The awards were presented to those who truly excelled in creating some of this past year’s most memorable looks. To begin with, the thrilling adventure Mad Max: Fury Road won in two major film categories: “Best Period Make-Up” and “Best Special Make-Up Effect.” These wins celebrate the beautifully realized work of Lesley Vanderwalt, Nadine Prigge and Ailie Smith. Thanks to their talents and artistry, Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa is likely to become a visual icon.

Additionally, the stunningly elaborate hair-styling seen in the sumptuous Cinderella was the winner in the “Best Period Hair” category.

Moreover, American Horror Story: Hotel took home 3 major TV awards for its top-notch visuals in the “Television Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television” category: “Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling,” “Best Period and/or Character Make-Up” and “Best Special-Effects Make-Up.”

And, of course, the richly detailed theatrical production Alice in Wonderland won for “Best Make-Up and “Best Hair Styling” in the “Live Stage” category.

Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards: Life time Acheivement Awards

Actor Johnny Depp presented “Lifetime Achievement Awards” to a pair of his most frequent collaborators: make-up artist Ve Neill and hair stylist Yolanda Toussieng. Partners for many years, Neill and Toussieng are known for continually injecting authenticity into their projects.

Truly a groundbreaking individual, Ve Neill was the first female make-up artist to win an Oscar (for Beetlejuice in 1988). Several years later, she collected two more Academy Awards back-to-back for Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Ed Wood (1994). Her more recent (and highly praised) work includes the Pirates of the Caribbean series as well as the Hunger Games films.

Yolanda Toussieng is the first hairstylist to ever win an Oscar (also for Mrs. Doubtfire). Indeed, she helped transform Robin Williams into one of his most unforgettable roles. The following year, she won again for Ed Wood. Of course, her first collaboration with Tim Burton – Edward Scissorhands (1990) – is also a career highlight. Her designs for that film were nothing short of brilliant!

These two legends deserve to be applauded for their decades-long contributions to the arts. To get a glimpse of their remarkable work, check out this video of Robin Williams’ transformation into Mrs. Doubtfire:

Once again, congratulations to all the winners (and the nominees) for their exceptional work in a very strong year. These artists not only create memorable looks for film and TV, but also influence major trends in the consumer industry. We salute you all!

Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards: Winners

FILM

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER MAKE-UP

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – Make-Up Artists: Lesley Vanderwalt, Nadine Prigge, Ailie Smith

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER HAIR STYLING

CINDERELLA – Hair Stylists: Carol Hemming, Orla Carroll, Wakana Yoshihara

BEST SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – Make-Up Artists: Damian Martin, Elka Wardega, Jaco Snyman

BEST CONTEMPORARY MAKE-UP

FURIOUS 7 – Make-Up Artists: James Mackinnon, Autumn Butler, Roxy D’Alonzo

BEST CONTEMPORARY HAIR STYLING

PITCH PERFECT 2 – Hair Stylists: Cheryl Marks, Meagan Herrera, Daina Daigle

TELEVISION MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER MAKE-UP

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL – Make-Up Artists: Eryn Krueger Mekash, Kim Ayers, Sarah Tanno

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER HAIR STYLING

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL – Hair Stylists: Monte C Haught, Darlene Brumfield, Frederic Aspiras

BEST SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL – Make-Up Artists: Eryn Krueger Mekash, Michael Mekash, David Anderson

TV SERIES

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER MAKE-UP

GAME OF THRONES – Make-Up Artist: Jane Walker

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER HAIR STYLING

GAME OF THRONES – Hair Stylists: Kevin Alexander, Candice Banks

BEST SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS

THE WALKING DEAD – Make-Up Artists: Greg Nicotero, Garrett Immel

THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (LIVE STAGE)

BEST MAKE-UP

ALICE IN WONDERLAND – Make-Up Artists: Vanessa Dionne, Rheanne Garcia, Deborah Bryan

BEST HAIR STYLING

ALICE IN WONDERLAND – Hair Stylists: Vanessa Dionne, Cassandra Russek