20 films that won an Oscar for best makeup and hairstyles (22 photos)

The list of winners also included a couple of films that, if not for this category, would hardly have otherwise qualified for an Oscar due to their outright mediocrity in all other aspects.





The Oscar category for best makeup appeared surprisingly relatively recently, in 1981. The reason for its establishment was the David Lynch film “The Elephant Man”, the breakthrough work of the make-up artists in which was never noted in any way, which caused criticism towards the Academy.

At first, only two films were nominated each year, then three or four, but now five films are competing for the statuette. In 2012, the award was supplemented with a mention of hairstyles.

Since this category is a technical one that few people follow, we decided to remind you which films have won this award in the 21st century, that is, in the last 20 ceremonies. Most often, the winning films turn out to be biographical with famous actors who are made up to look like historical figures, and there is also a lot of fantasy.

2001 - “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”



The filmmakers estimated that about 8,000 make-up artists needed to make the film. The specific makeup went to not only Jim Carrey (it was applied every day for three hours), but also to all the residents of the town of Ktograd, who do not look quite like ordinary people.

2002 - “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”





The first film of the great trilogy, where we were first shown the appearance of a large number of races living in Middle-earth. Without the brilliant work of production designers and make-up artists, the success of the film would hardly have been so significant.

2003 - “Frida”



The biographical drama about the life of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo looks very juicy and colorful, in addition, there was room for several interesting transformations, carried out through the work of make-up artists. Take a look, for example, at what Geoffrey Rush looks like as Leon Trotsky.

2004 - “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”



Imagine for a second what tasks (and to what extent) faced the make-up artists involved in creating the picture. It's scary to even think about it! The orcs alone are worth it.

Moreover, the Oscar for the third part of “The Lord of the Rings” was given jointly for it and “The Two Towers,” which for some reason was not even nominated for makeup.

2005 - “Lemony Snicket: 33 Misfortunes”



Jim Carrey still does not have a single Oscar nomination, but, as you can see, he is often given Oscar-winning makeup.

2006 - “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”



Another proof that a fantasy film and an award for best makeup always go hand in hand.

2007 - “Pan’s Labyrinth”



One of those films for which the Oscars created the “Best Makeup” category. An example of brilliant work without any CGI.

2008 - “La Vie En Rose”



Actress Marion Cotillard is nothing like the legendary singer Edith Piaf, except for her citizenship, but in the end this did not stop her from making the Oscar transformation. Not least with the help of make-up artists.

2009 - “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”



Throughout the entire film, the makeup artists never left Brad Pitt's side, and each time they were faced with new tasks, which they handled very convincingly, showing us 50 shades of the actor's old age.

2010 - “Star Trek”



It would seem that if such a science-fiction film were to be given awards, it would be for visual effects, but in 2010, the Oscar in this category went to (guess three times who), of course, Avatar. But in “Star Trek,” the faces of representatives of alien races were not created on a computer, so it was the film’s makeup artists who were deservedly awarded.

2011 - “The Wolf Man”



One of those films that is unlikely to be remembered by the mass audience for anything other than a cool cast and a high-quality transformation of the main character into a werewolf. For the latter, the unremarkable thriller received its Oscar.

2012 - “The Iron Lady”



The biographical film about Margaret Thatcher with Meryl Streep received low ratings due to the plot, but everyone unanimously praised the excellent performance of the actress (except Margaret Thatcher herself), and the high-quality work of the make-up artists helped the actress successfully transform herself.

2013 - “Les Miserables”



A musical about France at the beginning of the 19th century could not help but boast interesting visual images of the characters. And although the Oscar for costumes that year went to Anna Karenina with Keira Knightley, the statuette for makeup and hairstyles was given to Les Misérables.

2014 - “Dallas Buyers Club”



As in the cases of Meryl Streep and Marion Cotillard, the outstanding work of the make-up artists coincided with the coolest acting performance. The roles of a brutal rodeo cowboy played by Matthew McConaughey and a transvestite played by Jared Leto brought both actors Oscars.

2015 - “The Grand Budapest Hotel”



A very beautiful and stylish film by Wes Anderson, among other things, could boast of some transformations. For example, Tilda Swinton, aged 40 years, is simply unrecognizable here.

2016 - “Mad Max: Fury Road”



The film won six Oscars exclusively in technical sound and visual categories, including costumes, makeup and hairstyling.

2017 - “Suicide Squad”



That unique case when a film that fails on almost all fronts will go down in history as an Oscar-winner. Thanks to the make-up artists, who (unlike the scriptwriters) worked 100 points.

2018 - “Darkest Hours”



The make-up artists successfully turned the unlikeable Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill, and he himself played the role for his first Oscar in his career.

2019 - “Power”



Another transformation of Christian Bale, who gained 20 kg for the role, into an aged fat man and the very successful transformation of Sam Rockwell into George Bush Jr. (well, he really looks like it!) provided the biographical film, this time about American politicians, with a well-deserved trophy.

2020 - “Scandal”



A well-deserved Oscar for the film, in which, of the three star actresses Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, you will unmistakably recognize only Robbie.

2021 - “Ma Rainey: Mother of the Blues”



The signature style of blues musicians and the atmosphere of Chicago a century ago are perfectly conveyed through the appearance of the characters, for which the film received two Oscars for makeup and hairstyles and, of course, costumes.