Working As A Deputy And A Wookie
The beloved Wookie in Star Wars is all thanks to Peter Mayhew, an actor who towered at 7’4″. His suit was layered with a combination of real yak and rabbit, and it included a water-cooling system so Mayhew wouldn’t overheat. Amazingly, Mayhew kept his day job as a deputy head porter while filming the movies.
According to makeup supervisor Stuart Freeborn, the biggest problem with Mayhew’s suit was the eyes. His eyes would frequently detach from the suit, which made them look separate and hollow. He passed away in 2019 at 74 years old.
How A Comedian Became Terrifying
The comedic actor from The Flight of the Conchords took a different route in Men in Black III. Jemaine Clement became the bike-riding, time-traveling alien Boris through hours of makeup. “I think the first day we put the makeup on, it took eight hours,” Clement recalled. On a normal day, the makeup would take four hours.
Clement said that he didn’t mind the four hours because it gave him a chance to talk to the legendary makeup artist, Rick Baker. His appearance was so effective that when Clement joined the staff for lunch, no one would know who he was.
Cate Blanchett In Thor: Ragnarok
The marvelous Cate Blanchett played the character of Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, otherwise known as the Goddess of Death. She was certainly terrifying with her massive antlers, known for destroying anyone in her path. Blanchett nailed the character even though it was something that she might usually not play.
However, according to Blanchett, “I just try to look the best I can at whatever age I am […] I always find people attractive when they are comfortable with their own skin and not trying to be someone else, but their best selves.