Cherpulassery How did you come to work on Being the Ricardos?
Ana Lozano: I received a phone call from my agent, Daniella from the Milton Agency. Production was looking for a makeup head of department to work on the film. I was very interested in the project; Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball, Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz, and director Aaron Sorkin. It was my dream job. When I was in college studying makeup, I always enjoyed the ‘40s and ‘50s looks in American movies because it was a period of great styling and elegance in relation to makeup, hair and wardrobe. Thanks to Aaron Sorkin, executive producer Stuart Besser, Javier, and my agent Daniella, I was able to fulfill my dream and live an experience I will never forget. I frequently use elements of this period in my movies as a result of my love for it.
Norton Shores Kyra Panchenko: I’ve worked with Nicole Kidman on various films and projects for over 15 years and she asked me to do this job with her.
Whose makeup did you do?
AL: As the department head, I was in charge of all the actors and actresses. I presented my designs and ideas to the director and producers, and with the help of my team, I was available to execute the looks perfectly. I did Javier Bardem, and I managed to overlook the other actors. Nicole Kidman had a wonderful personal makeup artist, my friend Kyra Panchenko, and her hairstylist Kim Santantonio. I was in touch with Kyra before we started the movie to discuss how much we were going to be involved to match real characters. Kyra is very talented and I think she and Kim did a great job with Nicole.
KP: I was Nicole Kidman’s personal makeup artist.
What was the hardest part about designing the makeup for Being the Ricardos?
AL: I did a lot of research for the periods and the real characters. The research was huge, I could not stop looking for more pictures, videos, and documenting pages of all the actors. I studied different head positions, so I could advise and make my proposals to the director, actors and actresses. Desi was wearing big makeup, doing his lips…even if I think it was too much, it was ok for the period and the show. I saw Desi pictures in real life wearing the same lip liner and shine. Most of the time there are things in makeup that anyone would notice on the screen, but as an artist, you see the difference and help the director, actor, actresses determine the best look. The big challenge for me was to recreate the complex makeup that was used on these iconic characters and to make them look real. Therefore, when people would look at them they would remember the faces and looks of these amazing actors and actresses. I liked that this job challenged me to think and create at the same time.
How did you transform Javier Bardem into Desi Arnaz?
AL: Javier had two periods in the movie, the 1940s and 1952.It was 12 years difference, not a big change in the face, but in terms of time, makeup should always help to recreate the era to tell the story in the movie. My first thought for Javier’s makeup was that Desi had a round happy face. Javier is well-known for his bad character types. We know he is a good and happy man, and this character was a challenge for us. We wanted to show the smiling face of Desi, even if he was not smiling. There are things in makeup that cannot be accomplished without the actor’s work. I’ve changed the eyebrows and eye shape, skin tone, teeth, but really for this character, Javier did most of it. Once he was transformed into Desi, the way he was wearing the pompadour hairstyle, the way he was talking, smiling, walking, and laughing added up to build this iconic character.
What were the key elements to transforming Nicole Kidman into Lucille Ball?
KP: Nicole has thick modern brows and there was no way I was going to pluck or shave them. We had to fully cover them and I hand drew them to create a thin, arched 1940s eyebrow similar to the classic Lucille Ball eyebrow. I also did an over-drawn-on lip which was iconic to Lucille Ball.
Were there adjustments in design or application that were needed for the changes of filming in color versus black and white?
KP: Yes, definitely. I would do more contouring and use a much brighter lipstick, so it wouldn’t come out too dark on her lips. Everything would be adjusted according to what I was seeing on the monitor.
What was the most challenging part of turning Nicole Kidman into Lucille Ball?
KP: Only having 45 minutes with Nicole in the makeup chair, including hair. But, I also understand. Nicole needed time to prepare and get ready to transform not only her accent, voice, body movements, and dialogue but this very iconic person that everyone knows and loves.
What are the products you couldn’t have worked on this film without?
AL: The lip liners, lipstick, mascara, good foundations, and the particular eyeshadow color palette. I worked with the actors’ face shapes emphasizing their features, using all the above in relation to the effects I wanted to create.
KP: My Chanel Defining Long-Wear Eyebrow Pencil in Auburn, Anastasia Duo Brow Powder in Auburn, Lisa Eldridge Velvet Ribbon Lip Color, Hourglass lip liner in Iconic, Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Dark Swan Eye Lashes.
Words Shannon Levy
Photos Glen Wilson/Amazon
