9 things you need to know about Angelina Jolie’s epic Maleficent makeup (prosthetics and all)

Maleficent makeup
Photo courtesy of Disney
Maleficent makeup
Photo courtesy of Disney

There’s no question that we’re excited for the much-anticipated premiere of Maleficent in less than a week. Between viewing multiple movie trailers on repeat and shopping the limited edition M.A.C Maleficent makeup collection, it’d be safe to say we’re ready for the real deal on May 30th. While there are a few more days to cross off on the calendar, we add to the movie excitement with an exclusive Maleficent beauty scoop with Angelina Jolie’s makeup fairy godmother Toni G.

Having worked with some of Hollywood’s most beautiful stars, (she’s responsible for Charlize Theron’s beauty transformation for her Academy Award-winning role in Monster), the renowned makeup artist partners with M.A.C Cosmetics and makes beauty headlines, once again, bringing out our most-feared fairytale villain to life. From talking about the inspiration and process behind Maleficent’s makeup to tips and tricks on how to achieve the villainous look for everyday, we give you the beauty intel on everything you need to know about the eerie makeup looks from Maleficent.

Get the look with M.A.C’a Maleficent collection »

What were you most excited about when asked to be part of the film?
I was fascinated and terrified by Maleficent as a child, which made her my favorite villain. So when I was told about the production, needless to say I was very excited. It’s a perfect match, Angelina as Maleficent.

What inspirations did you draw from for each of the beauty looks?
I would say it was finding the balance between Maleficent and Angelina—a fusion of old Hollywood and modern beauty. Something dark and dramatic, but not too theatrical.

Were you heavily influenced by the Disney animated film?
Yes, we wanted to maintain her essence, which is why I bombarded Rick Baker to design her prosthetics, he is amazing at designing transformations that aren’t distracting. The same theory applied to her beauty make up – it was important to maintain Maleficent’s essence and look, without it becoming distracting.

How has the aesthetic of an animated villain from the 1950s change? Would you say Maleficent’s look was modernized for this film?
Absolutely, as I said, it’s a fusion of old Hollywood and now, but her elegance and power are just as it was then. In this film we just find out a little more about Maleficent and gain an understanding that she has circumstances in her life that have influenced her.

How does the makeup change as the character of Maleficent evolves throughout the film?
When she is innocent and young, so is her makeup. When she turns to the dark side, her eyes become much more dark, dramatic and large.

Which beauty look did you have the most fun playing with?
Her dark side! I enjoyed doing the dramatic eyes.

Was it easier to create a look for Aurora or for Maleficent?
A very talented Paul Gooch did Aurora’s make-up, as well as being the Department Head of Makeup for the rest of the film. Although I can safely say, Aurora did not have prosthetics, so it took much less time to finish her look.

Did you have a favourite M.A.C. product you used during the film?
I love M.A.C. They had just what I needed. They are first and foremost a company that was started by makeup artists and geared towards makeup artists. They have such a vast selection of shades and textures – we also used it on the prosthetics as well!

How can fans of the film achieve Maleficent’s red lips?
M.A.C Maleficent Anthurium Pro Longwear Lipglass.

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