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68 • THE ARTISAN WINTER 2026 EXTENDED FAMILY NEWS Michele Burke (1949-2025) JOURNEYMAN MAKE-UP ARTIST After emigrating from Ireland to Canada with only basic make-up skills, Michele Burke took classes offered by the Canadian government, then apprenticed with a well-known Canadian make-up artist. She slept on the floor and worked on three films for no pay. After the third one, she grabbed a film no one else would take—Quest for Fire. The production took her to Africa and the Scottish Highlands; she had a crew of 25 and ended up winning the Oscar—the first woman to win the award for make-up artistry. Two more films depicting Neanderthals (Iceman and Clan of the Cave Bear, with Michael Westmore), plus her skills and abilities to do her own lab work and proficiency with prosthetics, launched Michele and gave her a platform to pioneer gore and special make-up effects that are commonplace today. She was also one of the first women to have her own make-up lab. Michele won her second Oscar for Bram Stoker's Dracula and has been nominated six more times (Interview with the Vampire, Austin Powers, The Cell, Rock of Ages, Vanilla Sky, Cyrano de Bergerac) and has been awarded with the BAFTA, Saturn Award, Hollywood Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards, IATSE 706 Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Emmy. Even though she is credited often as the make-up designer for a film, Michele is also very hands-on as the Department you, and you believe in me too." She has traveled the world as a lecturer and conducted workshops and was awarded an Honorary Professorship at the University of Shanghai. Michele Burke has also been acknowledged with a very special recognition by the Irish Film and Television Awards. Michele created a line of unique-shaped flocked make-up applicator tips, which are used by many different make-up lines for lip, cheek, and other cosmetic uses. Michele was a strong advocate and supporter of animal causes and humanity from a spiritual base. In Memoriam Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky Head and normally does the make-up on principal actors and maintains the budget. Her roster of actors includes Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Renée Zellweger, Penélope Cruz, Sharon Stone, Kirsten Dunst, Beyoncé, and Keri Russell. As a longtime member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, Michele was a diligent advocate for hair stylists to be listed as part of the team on the Oscar. She has been a mentor to make- up artists around the world, including AMPAS Gold. Michele's prime philosophy regarding her team and crew on set: "I believe in