updated: 04/02/2003
The use of masks for disguise almost invariably involves trickery: but then the moving image itself is a mere trick of the eye. Done well the mask trick can be very effective. Usually, the actress is never disguised at all but the putting on or taking off of a mask hides a cut between actresses (the usual Mission Impossible trick). Occasionally, the actress is disguised with prosthetic makeup but is seen apparently removing a pull-off mask (eg the pilot of F/X: the Series) or a discarded mask is found (eg Penelope).
These images are mostly taken from movies and TV programmes from the 1980s: there are separate thumbnail pages for mask tricks pre-1980, of the 1990s and in recent movies.
These movies illustrate the various forms of the mask trick: but don’t forget to visit the Mission Impossible section for some classic examples.