Feature MAKUP & McAleer Oscar nominated make-up artist Veronica McAleer achieved a dream ambition this year by opening up her own make-up school in Birmingham. She talks to David Baldwin about her storied career. ooking at the list of courses available at the new Ashley Johnson for 2004 biopic The Life & Death Of LMAKUP Film & Media Make-Up Academy that Peter Sellers), the selection of films she’s worked seasoned make-up artist Veronica McAleer has on runs the gamut from Charlotte Gray to The Da opened in the heart of Digbeth, one of the course Vinci Code via Jane Eyre, primping and coiffing topics instantly jumps out at you. In amongst the actors like Judi Dench, Anne Hathaway and Colin modules on period make-up, hair styling and pros- Firth. It’s a career that first took shape when she thetics sits the title of ‘Set Etiquette’. made a visit to BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham, the ‘Set etiquette is make-up artist there in- SO important,’ says ‘Set etiquette is so important for a make- spiring her to follow her Paul Bettany in The Da Vinci Code McAleer, a veteran of dreams and begin train- film sets all over the up artist; you need to learn the who, what, ing in hair and make-up. world. ‘You need to And it’s just as inspiring 75 to 80 hours per week) and then months with no Birmingham, a chance for Midlands based artists to learn the who, what, when and why of the film world’ to learn that McAleer work. Slower in the winter and more productive learn skills from a seasoned pro who’s been recog- when and why of the got her big break not in the summer, very few artists work constantly, nised as one of the best in her field. film world. Who is the DoP? Why should I not sit through luck, but through honest to goodness tal- although early on McAleer developed a friendship Most impressive is the sheer breadth of the in that prop chair? When is the right time for me ent. with Paul Bettany that helped her through quieter courses available. McAleer touches on SFX make- to go up to the actors and do my checks? Knowing ‘When I first moved to London I had - nocon times when she became his personal make-up art- up (scars, cuts, bruises, burns), prosthetics (sculpt- who does what on a film set and how you should tacts, but I managed to get some work on dailies ist. ing, moulding facial casts), period hair from behave is very important for the film version of ‘I first worked with Paul on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Victorian times through to the 1960s, the afore- to your own self esteem Hamlet, directed by Ken- He said that I was the first person that had ever mentioned set etiquette, and hair cutting, styling too, as well as knowing neth Branagh. The make made him look pretty and not given him Groucho and blow drying. Students can do a sixteen week how to take constructive up designer asked all the Marx eyebrows! We just intensive course or a criticism. As well as just men wearing false facial got on really well, we ‘Paul said that I was the first person that three week top up course plain criticism!’ hair to stand in a line so seemed to second guess aimed at making students That’s the kind of she could check them, each other. It’s a great had ever made him look pretty and not set ready, plus McAleer topic you’d only see on a and she told my extra relationship for an actor hopes to be doing some course run by somebody to sit back down as she and make-up artist. If you given him Groucho Marx eyebrows!’ skill set courses in con- who’s had years of ex- thought he was wearing can see things that they junction with Creative perience on high budget a false beard. She was so can’t see it makes it so much easier for them, as Skillset, offering individual modules at a reduced feature films, somebody impressed that his beard they don’t need to worry about it and can concen- rate. who has the CV to back was fake, she offered me trate on their own job of acting.’ Ask McAleer about the lessons she wants to in- up her claims and knows work on her next film. McAleer has been back in Birmingham for a few stil in her students, and she’s quick to reply. ‘Less that as important as it is Which turned out to be years now so sees Bettany less, although she re- is more. That’s especially true when it comes to to do a great job, it’s also Titanic. Not a bad result cently made him ‘look pretty’ for his appearance blood and injuries. When you’ve done your blood important to stay on the for doing something at the Avengers: Age Of Ultron premiere and still effect, take a wet wipe and take half of it off.It good side of the director. well!’ gets e-mails from him begging her to come back. will look much more believable. And when your And boy, does McAleer From there she put in But McAleer’s focus now, alongside the upbringing make-up isn’t working for you, take a tea break! It’s have the CV. the hours, the working of her young son, is the school that she’s wanted amazing how you’ll see what’s wrong once you’ve A two time Oscar nom- life of a make-up artist di- to open up ever since that fateful visit to Pebble given your eyes a break. A good example is when I inee and Emmy winner vided between insanely Mill. Located at the Custard Factory, the MAKUP was working on The Da Vinci Code. I had just done (the latter with assistant long weeks (sometimes Film & Media Make-Up Academy is a huge boon for a six hour make-up on Paul for the self flagellation 16 Ashley Johnson (L) & Veronica McAleer (R) 17 Feature MAKUP & McAleer Oscar nominated make-up artist Veronica McAleer achieved a dream ambition this year by opening up her own make-up school in Birmingham. She talks to David Baldwin about her storied career. ooking at the list of courses available at the new Ashley Johnson for 2004 biopic The Life & Death Of LMAKUP Film & Media Make-Up Academy that Peter Sellers), the selection of films she’s worked seasoned make-up artist Veronica McAleer has on runs the gamut from Charlotte Gray to The Da opened in the heart of Digbeth, one of the course Vinci Code via Jane Eyre, primping and coiffing topics instantly jumps out at you. In amongst the actors like Judi Dench, Anne Hathaway and Colin modules on period make-up, hair styling and pros- Firth. It’s a career that first took shape when she thetics sits the title of ‘Set Etiquette’. made a visit to BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham, the ‘Set etiquette is make-up artist there in- SO important,’ says ‘Set etiquette is so important for a make- spiring her to follow her Paul Bettany in The Da Vinci Code McAleer, a veteran of dreams and begin train- film sets all over the up artist; you need to learn the who, what, ing in hair and make-up. world. ‘You need to And it’s just as inspiring 75 to 80 hours per week) and then months with no Birmingham, a chance for Midlands based artists to learn the who, what, when and why of the film world’ to learn that McAleer work. Slower in the winter and more productive learn skills from a seasoned pro who’s been recog- when and why of the got her big break not in the summer, very few artists work constantly, nised as one of the best in her field. film world. Who is the DoP? Why should I not sit through luck, but through honest to goodness tal- although early on McAleer developed a friendship Most impressive is the sheer breadth of the in that prop chair? When is the right time for me ent. with Paul Bettany that helped her through quieter courses available. McAleer touches on SFX make- to go up to the actors and do my checks? Knowing ‘When I first moved to London I had - nocon times when she became his personal make-up art- up (scars, cuts, bruises, burns), prosthetics (sculpt- who does what on a film set and how you should tacts, but I managed to get some work on dailies ist. ing, moulding facial casts), period hair from behave is very important for the film version of ‘I first worked with Paul on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Victorian times through to the 1960s, the afore- to your own self esteem Hamlet, directed by Ken- He said that I was the first person that had ever mentioned set etiquette, and hair cutting, styling too, as well as knowing neth Branagh. The make made him look pretty and not given him Groucho and blow drying. Students can do a sixteen week how to take constructive up designer asked all the Marx eyebrows! We just intensive course or a criticism. As well as just men wearing false facial got on really well, we ‘Paul said that I was the first person that three week top up course plain criticism!’ hair to stand in a line so seemed to second guess aimed at making students That’s the kind of she could check them, each other. It’s a great had ever made him look pretty and not set ready, plus McAleer topic you’d only see on a and she told my extra relationship for an actor hopes to be doing some course run by somebody to sit back down as she and make-up artist. If you given him Groucho Marx eyebrows!’ skill set courses in con- who’s had years of ex- thought he was wearing can see things that they junction with Creative perience on high budget a false beard. She was so can’t see it makes it so much easier for them, as Skillset, offering individual modules at a reduced feature films, somebody impressed that his beard they don’t need to worry about it and can concen- rate. who has the CV to back was fake, she offered me trate on their own job of acting.’ Ask McAleer about the lessons she wants to in- up her claims and knows work on her next film. McAleer has been back in Birmingham for a few stil in her students, and she’s quick to reply. ‘Less that as important as it is Which turned out to be years now so sees Bettany less, although she re- is more. That’s especially true when it comes to to do a great job, it’s also Titanic. Not a bad result cently made him ‘look pretty’ for his appearance blood and injuries. When you’ve done your blood important to stay on the for doing something at the Avengers: Age Of Ultron premiere and still effect, take a wet wipe and take half of it off.It good side of the director. well!’ gets e-mails from him begging her to come back. will look much more believable. And when your And boy, does McAleer From there she put in But McAleer’s focus now, alongside the upbringing make-up isn’t working for you, take a tea break! It’s have the CV. the hours, the working of her young son, is the school that she’s wanted amazing how you’ll see what’s wrong once you’ve A two time Oscar nom- life of a make-up artist di- to open up ever since that fateful visit to Pebble given your eyes a break. A good example is when I inee and Emmy winner vided between insanely Mill. Located at the Custard Factory, the MAKUP was working on The Da Vinci Code. I had just done (the latter with assistant long weeks (sometimes Film & Media Make-Up Academy is a huge boon for a six hour make-up on Paul for the self flagellation 16 Ashley Johnson (L) & Veronica McAleer (R) 17 Feature

Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth

scene where he had to whip his back with a rope. I gush over celebrities. She might talk of working hated all the freehand injuries that I’d done on his with famous actors, but that’s just part of her job back, so Paul took a break and when he walked and the focus is always on the work, another as- back into the make up van I could see exactly what pect to the set etiquette that she’s so adamant was missing. Underlined bruising! Problem solved.’ about. McAleer has actually been teaching ever since But we wouldn’t be a scurrilous film magazine she returned to the Midlands, working with stu- if we didn’t ask Veronica for some gossip from dents at the University College Birmingham, and the set. With people sat around waiting for long across her career she’s known the importance of periods, make-up rooms are notorious for being having great collaborators and mentors to learn hotbeds of gossip and rumour, although McAleer from. Take the make-up is adamant that she’s job she’s most proud of, ‘I wanted to make a prosthetic nose for ‘the last to know’ when the one that won Judi it comes to anything like Dench an Oscar for her Judi as I felt that her nose was just too that. Push her a little short appearance as though, and you do get a Queen Elizabeth in Shake- cute for Queen Elizabeth’ peek into the many perks speare In Love. that come from working ‘I worked with a great make-up designer called on film sets, specifically when she was working on Lisa Westcott, who was very supportive and en- glossy 2010 action adventure The Tourist, starring couraged you to be adventurous and creative. I Johnny Depp and Bettany. wanted to make a prosthetic nose for Judi as I had ‘As we were filming in Venice, there were no just made her up on Mrs Brown and felt that her green rooms for the actors to hang out in between nose was just too cute for Queen Elizabeth. In re- scenes, so Paul had a green boat and Johnny had a ality Elizabeth had a hooked, aristocratic nose, so green yacht! Needless to say Paul hung out there I made a new nose for Judi. It completely trans- quite a bit. Johnny would invite me along too. Sit- formed her character, she loved it. The best make- ting at a table with Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany up is when you don’t even notice it’s there because eating pizza and drinking wine from Johnny’s own the character or the effect is totally believable.’ vineyard....can’t be bad for a girl from Birming- What’s particularly noticeable about McAleer is ham!’ that when she talks about her career, she doesn’t For more information on Veronica’s MAKUP Film & Media Make- 18 Up Academy or to book on a course, visit www.mmakup.com