It is good to look at a range of different films to see how interpretations about how queen have varied from film to film, each makeup and hair design will be completely different as they can be influenced by different sources of research or can even be influenced by some of the fashions of the era that the film was made. Every makeup designer would have used different research techniques to design their ideal Elizabeth. Some of the key actors and films that that included Elizabeth are:
Kate Blanchett - Elizabeth (1998)
Kate Blanchett in the 1998 film of Elizabeth is probably one of the most iconic versions of this look. This make-up was designed by Jenny Shircore and was created by the make-up artist Anita Burger, for this film Kate had her hairline shaved to complete the iconic Elizabethan hairline, this film won an Oscar for best hair and makeup. I really like this version of Elizabeth because of how strongly the hair and makeup is referenced to the portraiture of the time my favourite being the reference to the coronation portrait when she is crowned it they have recreated this to a T in the film, and even shows the love of her hands and reference her need for perfection, as she re arranges the crown as it is placed on her head.
Flora Robson - Fire over England (1937)
Fire over England was about Elizabeth 1 during the time of the Spanish Armarda and was played by Flora Robson I am not the biggest fan of this makeup, I really like all of the wig work in the films but I don't think there is very much going on cosmetics wise which is not a very accurate representation of Elizabeth herself as she was a big fan of cosmetics.
Bette Davis - The Private Lives of Elizabeth & Essex (1939)
Bette Davis in the private lives of Elizabeth & Essex is probably my favourite interpretation of Elizabeth it was created by Perc Westmore, the Westmore's were the most important makeup artists in Hollywood. Bette Davis was one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1930's and she courageously agreed to have her image dramatically altered to star as Elizabeth, her hairline was shaved back 3 inches, her eyebrows were completely shaved off and replaced with thin lines, her lips were drawn thinner and bags were also drawn under her eyes. This was such a good transformation because Bette was clearly more passionate about her career and this completely came over her looks. This look was then later re created when Bette was older in the Virgin Queen, but this version was nowhere near the first.
Glenda Jackson - Elizabeth R (1971)
Glenda Jackson in Elizabeth R was a BBC mini series about Elizabeth from young princess to aged monarch Dawn Alcock was responsible for the makeup. It is a completely different take to the other Elizabeth's and was in some ways very bizarre, there was a heavy use of prosthetics that develops with her transformation, in the end she is a haggard old woman with wiry hair. I believe this is a very imaginative approach to Elizabeth, but it isn't my favourite, I think it is heavily influenced by the 1970's you can see this with the thin dark pencilled eyebrows, and also the heavy blush that is applied in a stripe, I believe this makeup is more influenced by the 1970's rather than the Elizabethans.
Shekhar Kapur, Elizabeth (1998)
William. K Howard, Fire Over England (1937)
Micheal Curtiz, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
British Broadcasting Corporation, Elizabeth R (1971)
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