Makeup your mind: Films about Queen Elizabeth I

Since 1937, quite a few films were made about Queen Elizabeth I. Every actress portrayed her in her own way, but looking at the makeup and expecially the hair, they looked flawless. All thanks to the amazing makeup artists and hairstylists.
After doing the research, I think my personal favourite is Glenda Jackson.

Flora Robson
Flora Robson played the role of Queen Elizabeth twice; in Fire Over England (1937) and The Sea Hawk (1940). The films are black and white. Flora didn't have the 'Hollywood Beauty' but I think she was perfect for the role of Elizabeth I. In the first film, you can clearly see that she had a prosthetic nose. The makeup artist on the set of The Sea Hawk was Perc Westmore.

Flora Robson in Fire Over England

1937

(source:http://www.themakeupgallery.info/period/c16/uk/elizabeth/fire.htm -date: Oct 20th 2014)

A clip from the film The Sea Hawk
1940
(source: Youtube -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Queen Elizabeth and her buccaneer in The Sea Hawk
1940

(source: http://www.doctormacro.com/Movie%20Star%20Pages/Flynn,%20Errol-Annex3.htm -date: Oct 20th 2014 )

Bette Davis
Bette also played Elizabeth I twice, in the film The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) and The virgin queen (1955).
The Art Director was Anton Grot and Perc Westmore was the makeup artist in the first film. Bette was 31 at that time and agreed to change her appearance and to look just like Queen Elizabeth when she was older. Her eyebrows were shaved off and replaced with a thin penciled line and her hairline was shaved 3 intches. Using makeup, Perc made her lips look thinner and pouches were drawn under her eyes. When she was doing the second film, her age was closer to Queen Elizabeths but in this film looked younger than she did in the first one.

Bette in The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

1939

(source: http://www.pinterest.com/sweetleighsewn/muse-bette-davis/ -date: Oct 20th 2014)

A clip from the film The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

1939

(source: Youtube -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Bette Davis in The Virgin Queen

1955

(source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/2814818489014541/ -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Glenda Jackson
She played the role of Elizabeth in a TV mini-series about her life called Elizabeth R (1971).
The makeup artists were Dawn Alcock and Sandra Shepard. There was a lot of prosthetic makeup involed.

Glenda Jackson in Elizabeth R

(source: http://www.pinterest.com/seelieah17/her-majesty-queens-elizabeth-i-ii/ -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Comparing Glenda's costume/ hair and makeup and Queen Elizabeths

(source: http://www.pinterest.com/seelieah17/her-majesty-queens-elizabeth-i-ii/ -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Diane D'Aquila

Elizabeth Rex (2003) is a TV play starring Diane D'Aquila. A. Jeffrey Schoenberg was the Costume Designer and Robin McWilliams was responsible for hair and makeup.

I really like this photo of her, as back in the Elizabethan era it was hard for them to smile becuase if they did, their makeup would crack. And that is the reason why, even though she is laughing here, you can see how shes trying to contain her laughter.

Diane D'Aquila as Elizabeth

(source: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/findleys-elizabeth-rex-has-world-premiere-at-stratford-fest-june-29-90281 -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren portrays Queen Elizabeth I in TV mini-series Elizabeth I (2005). There were a few makeup artists and hairstylists. The hairstylists were: Fae Hammond, Sue Westwood and Jan Hope-Kavanagh, Gemma Richards and Laura Kreivyte were both hairstylists and makeup artists. Josh Weston was the special makeup effects artist.

Helen Mirren as Elizabeth

(source: http://www.pinterest.com/darlene9947/costumes/ -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Anne Marie Duff
Anne Marie played Elizabeth in the TV mini-series The Virgin Queen (2005).
Anna Morena and Maureen McGill were the hairstylists. Karen Hartley was the makeup designer and Sjaan Gillings and Laura Schiavo were the makeup artists. Special makeup effect artist was Josh Weston, and Chris Lyons did the special effects for the teeth only. Prostethic makeup artists were Victoria Bancroft and Neill Gorton.

Elizabeth at a younger age

(source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/virginqueen/photogallery.shtml -date: Oct 20th 2014 )

Elizabeth when she's older

(source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7155903.stm -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Judi Dench

In 1998, Judi played Elizabeth I of England in Shakespeare in love, a romantic drama comedy. She even won an Oscar for this role. Gwyneth Palthrow (Viola de Lesseps), Colin Firth (Lord Wessex) and Ben Affleck (Ned Alleyn) were also part of the cast.
The makeup and hair designer was Lisa Westcott, and Tina Earnshaw and Kay Georgiou were makeup and hair designers for Gwyneth. Makeup and hairstylists were: Julie Dartnell, Karen Ferguson, Philippa Hall, Deborah Jarvis, Lesley Smith, Anita burger, Demelza Rogers, Caitlin Tanner and the crowd dresser was Vicky Voller.

Gwyneth Palthrow

(source: http://boullan.org/2013/03/03/penteado-elizabetano/ -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love

(source: theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/oct/17/sandy-powell-oscar-winning-costumes -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Judi Dench - makeup and hair

(source: hub.yourtakeonlife.com/hub/colinfirthnetcol?w=1440;rh=http://webspace.webring.com/people/lf/firthfan.geo/siltheatres.html;rd=1;rd=n -date: Oct 20th 2014)

Cate Blanchett

Just like Bette and Flora, Kate was asked to play Elizabeth twice. Makeup and hair departments have outdone theirselves in both films, I think it would be extemely hard to do a better job than them. The first film, Elizabeth (1998) is about her at a younger age, when she came to the trone and how she dealt with the pressure of becoming the Queen of England. The makeup and hairstylists were: Anita Burger, Karen Ferguson, Ivana Primorac and many more, with Jenny Shircore as a makeup and her designer. The special effects artist was Susan Howard and Sarah Weatherburn the facial hair maker. Richard Glass the contact lens optician and Jemma Scott- Knox-Gore the contact lens technician.

The second film is Elizabeth "The Golden Age" (2007). Elizabeth is all grown up now and deals with issues such as the Spanish Armada, multiple crisis in her reign and romantic dissapointments. There were 34 people all together in the makeup and hair department, some were only for one actor/actress and some were for the entire crowd. The makeup and hair designer was Jenny Shircore, like in the film Elizabeth. Morag Ross did Kates makeup and hair.