Makeup is an often overlooked yet integral aspect of movie-making. Some of the most famous science fiction, fantasy, and horror films of all time would be nothing without their makeup effects, and makeup work in movies often proves thrilling, convincing, and even disgusting.
A good makeup artist can both show off and make their work invisible. While viewers can obviously recognize and appreciate great makeup work, a stellar artist will blend their work into the story itself, depicting a fantastical element that remains somehow believable. Whether it be an alien or a grotesque injury, the audience needs to buy the transformation and forget the actor underneath.
Jenny Shircore - 3 Oscar Nominations
Born in India, British makeup artist Jenny Shircore has provided some type of work for 85 films and television shows (according to IMDb). Of these 85 works, eight movies have received BAFTA nominations and three have earned Shircore Oscar nods.
Her first nomination and only win came in 1999, with the biographical period drama Elizabeth, in which Sharcore was tasked with turning Cate Blanchett into Queen Elizabeth I. Her second nomination was for The Young Victoria and her third (so far) was for the 2018 period drama, Mary Queen of Scots.
Stan Winston - 4 Oscar Nominations
Few makeup artists reach the heights of Stan Winston. His name has become synonymous with the art form, having collaborated with the likes of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron on numerous big-budget blockbusters.
He has earned four Oscar nominations for Best Makeup and a further six for Best Visual Effects. His first nomination came in 1982 with Heartbeeps, and he followed it up with Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The latter has proven his only win for Best Makeup, and one of three wins for Best Visual Effects.
Kazu Hiro - 4 Oscar Nominations
The Japanese-born American makeup artist Kazu Hiro has worked on both period dramas and comedies and has garnered acclaim for both. Throughout his decades-spanning career, he has earned four Oscar nominations. The first two came back-to-back in 2006 and 2007 with the comedies Click and Norbit, one of Eddie Murphy's worst movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, Hiro's makeup work was recognized as the sole shining light in the otherwise critically maligned film.
His other two nominations were also wins - for 2017's Darkest Hour (turning Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill) and 2019's Bombshell.
Michael Westmore - 4 Oscar Nominations
Michael Westmore is a seasoned veteran of the craft. Born in 1938, he has provided makeup for undercover CIA operations and has won nine Emmy awards for his work in television. He is most famous for providing the makeup for the Star Trek franchise.
He also earned four Oscar nominations and one win throughout the '80s, for 2010: The Year We Make Contact, The Clan of the Cave Bear, and Mask (his only win). His fourth and final Oscar nomination came in 1996 for his work on Star Trek: First Contact.
Yolanda Toussieng - 4 Oscar Nominations
Having worked in the makeup industry since the early '80s, Yolanda Toussieng first earned acclaim and award recognition by winning a Daytime Emmy for her work on Pee-wee's Playhouse.
She soon transitioned into film and won back-to-back Best Makeup Oscars - for 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire (in which she transformed Robin Williams into an elderly woman) and 1994's Ed Wood. Her other two nominations (but not wins) came from 2003's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and 2010's The Way Back.
Matthew W. Mungle - 5 Oscar Nominations
An American makeup artist with decades of experience, Matthew W. Mungle has worked in both film and television. He has earned 26 Emmy nominations throughout his TV career and is a five-time Oscar nominee for Best Makeup.
His only win (and first nomination) came in 1993 with Bram Stoker's Dracula (sharing the award with Greg Cannom and Michèle Burke). The other nominations were for Schindler's List (losing to Yolanda Toussieng's Mrs. Doubtfire), Ghosts of Mississippi, Albert Nobbs, and Hillbilly Elegy.
Michèle Burke - 6 Oscar Nominations
Hailing from Ireland, Michèle Burke has often collaborated with many other makeup artists, including Michael Westmore and Matthew W. Mungle. She shared an Oscar win with Mungle for Bram Stoker's Dracula and a nomination with Westmore for The Clan of the Cave Bear.
Her other four nominations are for Quest for Fire (her first win, in 1983), Cyrano de Bergerac, The Cell, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Ve Neill - 8 Oscar Nominations
Having worked since the late '70s, Ve Neill (real name Mary Flores) has been nominated for eight Academy Awards throughout her lengthy career. She has won three. The first came in 1989 with Beetlejuice, and she later won with Yolanda Toussieng on Mrs. Doubtfire and Ed Wood.
Neill is also a frequent collaborator of Tim Burton's, and she has earned further nominations for his works Edward Scissorhands and Batman Returns. The final three nominations came with the 1992 biopic Hoffa and two Pirates of the Caribbean movies - Curse of the Black Pearl and At World's End.
Greg Cannom - 10 Oscar Nominations
Born in Washington, Greg Cannom was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild in 2018 for his legendary contributions to the art form. This includes 10 Oscar nominations and four wins.
His first nomination was for Spielberg's Hook, and he won his first the next year with Bram Stoker's Dracula. His other three wins came in the form of Mrs. Doubtfire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Vice. In 2005, Cannom was awarded the Technical Achievement Award, bringing his total Academy Award wins to five.
Rick Baker - 11 Oscar Nominations
American makeup artist Rick Baker currently holds the record for the most Best Makeup Oscar nominations, edging out Greg Cannom by one for a total of 11. He has won a total of seven - another current record.
The wins are for the 1981 horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London, the fantasy comedy Harry and the Hendersons, 1994's Ed Wood, the Eddie Murphy comedy The Nutty Professor, the sci-fi comedy Men in Black, Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and finally, the 2010 horror film The Wolfman. The latter has also proven his final nomination, although Baker hasn't worked since 2014 when he provided the makeup effects for Disney's Maleficent. He is currently 70 years old.