Glenda Jackson played Elizabeth in the 1971. It is said to
be the most historically realistic representation of the queen to date. It is a
six part series that portrays Elizabeth up until her death in 1603. As each
episode is about different stages of Elizabeth’s reign, the make up changes to accommodate
this. In the first series, Elizabeth is pale skinned and youthful looking, with
visible eyebrows. By the end of the series, she has aged dramatically and has
white makeup on. Her skin looks awful- I think this was done intentionally as a
representation of Elizabeth’s dreadful skin in her latter years. She contracted
small pox and as a result had to over use ceruse to cover the scars. This left
her with extremely white, dry and damaged complexion. Aside from the horrible
skin, she has very bold red cheeks, lips and drawn on eyebrows. I actually thought
this make up was hideous and im not sure that the rouge would have been that
bold. As they were trying to create a historically correct drama, I feel that
they were trying to show how strained the queen was after her long reign
through the use of make up. However, I think they may have over done it
slightly!
Make up artists:
Dawn Alcock and Sandra Shepherd
Dame Helen Mirin played Elizabeth in the 2007 drama
Elizabeth 1. This drama also portrayed Elizabeth in later life. This series
goes more into her personal life and her relations with Robert Dudley. I much
prefer this make up to the make up Glenda Jackson wore. Her skin is still very
pale and tired looking, but I feel like this portrayal is a lot more realistic.
Her lips are stained and her cheeks are flushed in a more natural way. However,
this drama was made over 30 years on from ‘Elizabeth R’, and make up and film
making would have developed a lot in that time.
Make up artist:
Laura Krievyte, Josh Weston
Joely Richardson- Anonymous
Joely Richardson played a young queen Elizabeth in the 2011
film Anonymous. Like Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth 1, Richardson wears very
minimal, youthful make up. Her skin is pale, and she has barely-there eyebrows
with very subtle pink blush on the cheeks. However, In some images that I found
she is wearing lip gloss, which is obviously not historically correct! Maybe this
was done to emphasise her youth and innocence before all the hassle of being
queen came along.
Make up artist: anna sophie evenkamp
Interestingly, Joely Ricahrdson’s mother, Vanessa Reedgrave, plays the queen in
her later years in the same film. I think this is the best make up I have seen
so far for an Older queen Elizabeth. Obviously, her skin is very pale as it is
known that Elizabeth’s skin got paler as she got older. Her skin is made to
look dry and tired but in what I feel to be a realistic way. Her cheeks and
lips are ever so slightly flushed with rouge.
Make up artist: anna sophie evenkamp
Dame Judi dench- Shakespeare in love
Judi dench starred as an Older Elizabeth in the
1998 film, Shakespeare in love. I found this portrayal of the queen quite
interesting as the pale skin isn’t as emphasised in the way it is in other
adaptations. The designers took a different approach and chose to really
emphasise the high forehead which the queen famously had, as an older woman. The
make up is extremely subtle-fair skin, a bit of pink blush and bleached out
brows. However, the wigs are very beautiful and intricate. 
Bette Davis actually played Elizabeth twice. First in 'the private lives of Elizabeth and essex' in 1939 and then again in 'the virgin queen' in 1955. I actually quite like the make up in her first Elizabeth role, especially as it was done in the thirties. The skin is pale with a soft pink lip. the transformation from Bette's regular appearance to Elizabeth is amazing. I do prefer this make up to the make up she wore in the film 'the virgin queen'. I feel like wigs in the virgin queen are not realistic. The wigs are plastic looking and too vibrant and don't look like a natural red hair.
the private lives of Elizabeth and Essex make up artist- Perc Westmore
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