Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1490669
EMPIRE OF LIGHT B Y N A O M I D O N N E | H A I R & M A K E - U P D E S I G N E R There's a special joy in the familiarity of working with the same director over and over again. It's a special relationship that becomes layered over time, and within those layers, there's a freedom to create—the safety of that relationship allowing you to try anything. Empire of Light is my fourth film with Sam Mendes. Two James Bonds (Skyfall and Spectre) and 1917 have given me great insight into the way Sam likes to see actors on the screen. There's a reality to his work that was especially evident in 1917. Empire of Light is an intensely personal project for Sam, and it was even more important to me to fulfill his vision with the actors. Sam always has a very strong idea of how he wants people to look and has a very keen eye for make-up and hair. Set in 1981, Empire of Light is about a woman battling mental illness, depicted against the backdrop of a crumbling cinema and the racial violence of the time. My reference involved researching the music and trends, as well as skinheads, goths, and mods. It's an era I lived through, and I referenced my own hair and make-up and that of my friends. For Olivia Colman, who plays the main character of Hilary, I decided to cut her hair into a layered sort of curly shag. Olivia has very fine hair, and I wanted to use extensions to fill it out. Zoe Tahir is well known for her delicate work, and she spent an entire day adding very tiny extensions of naturally curly hair all over Olivia's head. This gave a much fuller look and lasted the entire 12-week shoot. Her make-up was quite simple for the bulk of the film. I used Ellis Faas Skin Veil foundation with a primer by Sculpted by Aimee Connolly. Her eyes were rimmed PHOTOS BY PARISA TAGHIZADEH/COURTESY OF SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES THE VISION OF L-R: Ward, director Sam Mendes and Colman