themakeupgallery
updated: 20/03/2008
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old before her time: old-age makeups

late 2000s
mid-2000s
early 2000s
late 1990s
mid 1990s
early 1990s
the 1980s
the 1970s
1950s & 1960s
1930s & 1940s
black & asian actresses
soaps & comedies

Many films require the characters to age during the story, or tell the story in flashback from an older perspective. Less often an actor or actress undertakes the role of a character considerably older than themselves. Particularly for women there has been a tendency for the ageing to be handled, shall we say, delicately: the studio didn’t want to portray a star with wrinkles or the star herself objected. But an increasing number of makeups have gone much further than the gray wig. Sometimes TV mini-series such as Roots have done better than many films.

There are so many of these makeups that I have had to sub-divide the section by the date of the movie.

You will also find many examples of ageing makeup in the creating a likeness section taken from various biopics.