Makeup magic turns Streep to Thatcher

Meryl Streep applies finishing touches to her Thatcher makeup on the set of 'The Iron Lady.' Behind her: helmer Phyllida Lloyd.Margaret Thatcher, 1981Whether playing a Holocaust survivor, a doubting Catholic nun, the self-absorbed editor of a fashion glossy or a celebrity chef, Meryl Streep is best known as an actress whose characters inhabit and consume her.She has no small help in these roles from teams of craftsworkers who attend to the costumes, hair and makeup that are an intrinsic part of people she portrays. This is perhaps clearest in her latest film, "The Iron Lady," in which Streep channels Margaret Thatcher, Britain's prime minister from 1979 to 1990."I pored over scads of archival photos and newscast footage, carefully examining each photograph (of Thatcher). I wanted to have it all in my head," says hair and makeup designer Marese Langan. "We filmed initial hair and makeup tests with Meryl. We did other tests with Alexandra Roach (the actress who portrays the younger Thatcher) to see how they matched up." Langan adds: "Meryl was involved in every step of the process and did her own research as well. From the first moment on the set, Meryl had (the Thatcher character) down. It was amazing."Langan also did the makeup, hair, and brow pieces for all 30 actors portraying members of parliament.Mark Coulier, head prosthetic makeup designer, had responsibility for Streep's aging and also created makeup for Roach and Jim Broadbent, who played Thatcher's husband."It took me -- along with my assistant Barrie Gower -- four days to sculpt and refine the nose piece that Meryl wears to create a nose nearly identical to Mrs. Thatcher's," Coulier says. "After the makeup tests were done on four different bridges I'd designed, we decided on using the first one we'd tested. Both Meryl and I felt it was the most accurate and least detectable."Accuracy and comfort were top priorities on Meryl's list," he adds. "I tinted the material to create a flesh-colored base and then treated it with finishes to allow it to absorb the different makeups and rouges" used by J. Roy Helland, Streep's longtime personal makeup artist. "Roy was there with Meryl every morning at 6. Following the 2 1/2-hour makeup process, he was responsible for placing each wig on Meryl's head."All along, Meryl kept telling us, 'less heavy prosthetics, less makeup.' Meryl is a stickler for accuracy, but didn't want her performance hindered by the appliances. We worked so bloody hard, but no one worked harder than Meryl."Eye on the Oscars: Art Direction, Costume Design & Makeup:Terrific pix, period | Paris' palette competes with L.A. duotone | Makeup magic turns Streep to Thatcher | Older crafts rise to the challenge of 3D Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

WME Signs Commercial Directing Duo

WME has signed British directing team Tom Jenkins and Simon Sharp who have their own London-based commercial production company, The Theory. The two are looking to branch out beyond commercial directing and may have found their calling card in Address Is Approximate, a video short produced by Sharp and directed by Jenkins. The stop-motion animation short, about a lonely office desk toy taking a cross-country trip with the help of Google Street View, has gone viral, amassing 1.6 million viewers since it was posted 12 days ago.

Liev Schreiber to Star in Showtime Pilot 'Ray Donovan'

George Harrison, acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of one of the world's most famous pop groups, the Beatles, died 10 years ago today at age 58.our editor recommendsPaul McCartney, Ringo Starr Hit London Premiere of Martin Scorseses George Harrison Doc'George Harrison: Living in the Material World': What the Critics Are Saying (Video)TRAILER: George Harrison: Living in the Material World Harrison lost a years long battle with lung cancer in 2001 but his life was also threatened in 1999 when he was stabbed by an intruder at his home in at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. STORY: George Harrison's Life Was Transformed By India, Says Olivia Harrison The former Beatle, who met his fellow band members John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr where they grew up in Liverpool, was just 27 when the band split in 1970.They managed to conquer the world musically, achieving 27 number one records in the UK and the US during their career.Their most recent album,1, compiling all of the band's number one hits, topped both the UK and the US charts in 2000. REVIEW: 'George Harrison: Living in the Material World' Harrison's post-Beatles career started with the critically acclaimed solo album All Things Must Pass. His role as a film producer took off when he launched HandMade Films with business partner Denis O'Brien in 1978, producing Monty Python's Life of Brian in 1979.He was also responsible for The Long Good Friday, Time Bandits, Mona Lisa and Withnail & I. This year, director Martin Scorsese made Harrison the subject of an HBO documentary, Living in the Material World, borrowing the title from the name of Harrison's 1973 solo album. In the 1980s Harrison teamed up with Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison as The Travelling Wilburys. The supergroup's debut album sold more than 3 million copies in the US. Watch the Wilburys' 1988 hit "Handle With Care" along with four more musical moments from the Harrison archive below. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (1968) Eric Clapton played the guitar solo on this Harrison-penned Beatles classic. It was inspired, Harrison said in interviews, by the I Ching, a book of eastern philosophy that he was immersing himself with at the time. The 2006 Love remix features a string arrangement by Beatles producer George Martin. "Here Comes The Sun" (1969) During a trying year during which Harrison was arrested for marijuana possession and the band was increasingly involved in business affairs came one of the Beatles most popular songs, "HereComes the Sun" from the albumAbbey Road. "My Sweet Lord" (1970) Harrison's first post-Beatles single, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1970 and stayed there for four weeks. With references to Jewish, Christian and Hindu prayers, it features Eric Clapton on guitar,Billy Preston on piano,Klaus Voormann on bass andRingo Starr on drums. Shortly after it was released, a copyright infringement suit followed claiming that it lifted a melody from the Chiffons' hit "He's So Fine." The case dragged for10 years with a U.S. district court finding that Harrison had "subconsciously" copied the earlier song. The Concert for Bangladesh(1972) Harrison organized two benefit concerts and played to a total of 40,000 people at Madison Square Garden in NY City. The purpose: to fund relief efforts for refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) following the 1970 Bhola cyclone and atrocities during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Joining Harrison on the bill were performers Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Badfinger, and Ringo Starr. "Handle With Care" (1988) In the late 1980s, Harrison was one-fifth of pop-rock supergroup Traveling Wilburys, which included legendary artists Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, accompanied by drummer Jim Keltner. The band recorded two albums in 1988 and 1990, though Orbison died just after their debut was finished, and saw two modest hits, 1988's "Handle With Care" and "End of the Line." Twitter: @shirleyhalperin Related Topics The Beatles

Charlotte Church Says She Was 'Pressured' Into Waiving Fee for Singing At Rupert Murdoch's 1999 Wedding.

LONDON - Charlotte Church, the singer who was just thirteen when she sang Pie Jesu at Rupert Murdoch's 1999 wedding to Wendi Deng, told the Leveson Inquiry that she had been "pressured" into waiving her $165,000 fee in order to guarantee "good press" from News International in the future.our editor recommendsCNN's Piers Morgan to Be Called to Leveson Inquiry to Explain Comments on Phone HackingNew Shocking Details of 'News of the World' Hacking Operation Revealed At Leveson InquiryHugh Grant Accuses 'The Mail on Sunday' of Phone HackingCEO Rupert Murdoch Sells Block of Non-Voting News Corp. SharesAnother Investor Refuses to Support James Murdoch's Re-Election at BSkyB PHOTOS: News of the World's Top 10 Scandals Church, who gave evidence on oath at the Inquiry into press standards and behavior Monday, said she had been advised by her management and record company to sing for the media mogul for free because of Murdoch's power and influence. "I remember being told that [there would be] the offer of money or the offer of the favor, in order, basically, to get good press," she told the Inquiry, adding that she and her mother had been mystified as to why anyone would trade the offer of so much money for good press, she told the Inquiry. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas "I remember being 13 and thinking 'why would anyone take a favor over £100,000?' ...but I was being advised by my management and certain member of the record company that he was a very, very powerful man and could certainly do with a favor of this magnitude." In her witness statement Church had said "Despite my teenage business head screaming 'think how many Tamagotchis you could buy!' I was pressured into the latter option. But the strategy failed. In fact Mr Murdoch's newspaper's have since been some of the worst offenders, so much so that I have sometimes felt there has actually been a deliberate agenda." STORY: Daily Mail Accused of 'Intimidating' Hugh Grant After the Actor's Leveson Testimony News International has denied any suggestion that such an offer was made and said that the singer's appearance had been planned as a "surprise" for the News Corp CEO and his new bride. But Church told the Inquiry she had a different recollection and that the specifics of what she was to sing had been negotiated with Murdoch and that it was Murdoch who made the specific request for Pie Jesu. STORY: Steve Coogan Calls For Greater Rights of Privacy, Tells Leveson Inquiry: 'I Have Never Wanted to Be Famous' "When we raised the point that Pie Jesu was a requiem, it was a funeral song...he (Murdoch) didn't care. He liked that song and he wanted me to sing it, so I did." The singer told the Leveson Inquiry that child stars such as herself needed special protection because of their youth and said she wanted to be able to protect her family and children from further press intrusion. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The Rise of Rupert Murdoch Related Topics Rupert Murdoch News Corp. News International

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan Starts Wrestling Company

Shareif Ziyadat/ABC On a quiet Thanksgiving evening, specials, movies and repeats ruled the roost on Thursday evening. The highest-profile program airing on primetime was Lady Gaga's much-anticipated (and hyped) 90-minute Thanksgiving special, which the singer conceived and directed herself. Featuring a slew of performances (one with Tony Bennett) and an interview wtih Katie Couric, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving (5.5 million total viewers, 1.6 rating in adults 18-49 demographic) proved to be beneficial for ABC, boosting the network's time period performance from last year (when it aired a Beyonce music special) by 23 percent in the core adults 18-49 demo and drew more than 1 million more viewers. The 90-minute special helped ABC post its best Thanksgiving ratings since 2007. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving drew slightly more viewers at 8 p.m., luring 5.7 million and averaging a higher 1.8 rating. But, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving was not the highest-rated or most-watched program of the night. That honor goes to CBS, which dominates even with reruns of top-rated and most-watched The Big Bang Theory (11.2 million, 3.6) and Rules of Engagement (7.9 million, 2.4). An encore of Person of Interest (8 million, 1.7) topped the 9 p.m. hour and a rerun of The Mentalist (7.8 million, 1.5) also helped the network win in the demo (2.1) and total viewers (8.4 million). Fox followed CBS in the demo with a 1.7 demo average. ABC placed third with a 1.6 in primetime. NBC, airing Horton Hears a Who (3.7 million, 1.1), placed fourth. The CW followed. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Lady Gaga's Fashion Forward Style TV Ratings

Casting Standout: 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo'

Casting Standout: 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo' By Jessica Gardner November 18, 2011 Photo by Columbia Pictures Director David Fincher and casting director Laray Mayfieldcollaborators on "The Social Networking," "The Curious Situation of Benjamin Button," "Fight Club," and "Zodiac"have partnered once again to tackle Fincher's much-anticipated adaptation from the novel "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo."Mayfield, who won an Artios Award in the Casting Society of America this past year for "The Social Networking," began speaking with Fincher concerning the casting from the new film in May 2010. "I had been both excited and overcome," she states about dealing with the highly anticipated project. To organize, she read all of the books in Stieg Larsson's trilogy. Then, to possess a reason for reference, she viewed this year's Swedish film version from the novel. "There's always a concern when there's pre-existing material," Mayfield states. But she highlights that Fincher was basing his film around the book, this is not on the prior movie: "David is really honorable towards the books, figures, and Sweden, and so i wasn't worried."Their central challenge was casting the primary character Lisbeth Salander, referred to within the books like a small-in-stature 24-year-old computer hacker having a photo taking memory, past violence, along with a tragic past. The role visited Rooney Mara. Apparently, nearly every female actor in Hollywood desired to play Lisbeth. However, producer Scott Rudin states Fincher's idea right from the start ended up being to cast a family member unknown, to ensure that audiences would take their own ideas about Lisbeth onto whomever was playing her. Fincher wanted "someone who we did not have history with," Rudin describes. "Brilliant people examined for this. I am talking about, lots of stars examined for it, and were fantastic, but there is something about Rooney. She am exciting inside it, and thus fresh, and completely unpredictable. The truth that we simply have no idea her that well managed to get, gave it a type of kinetic souped up that I believe most likely wouldn't have happened with someone else."Mayfield introduced Fincher to Mara throughout auditions for "The Social Networking," by which he cast her as Erica Albright. "David loved her on 'Social Network,' " states Rudin. "From the moment we began focusing on 'Dragon Tattoo,' I believe David always really wanted Rooney to experience it. In deference towards the scale from the decision, he experienced a really lengthy process and labored with lots of people and several times of shooting film teststests with sets, tests with costumes, hair, makeup, the entire deal. And That I think back in internet marketing now and i believe, 'Why did we all do all that whether it was going to become Rooney?' "Additionally to Lisbeth, Mayfield states, there have been a number of other casting challengesmainly the generational casting of countless roles cheap most of the figures are based on one another. "We required to make that credible," she states. Another challenge was casting the role of nasty Nils Bjurman, Lisbeth's legal protector, who terrible items to her. Nederlander actor Yorick van Wageningen ("The Way In WhichInch) submitted an audition tape from Europe. "He was fantastic," states the Compact disc. Later she was surprised to locate out how different van Wageningen was from his character. "After I met him personally, I melted. He's a stuffed animal."Mayfield states she's thrilled with the way the film switched out: "I'm always excited for audiences to determine everything David does." Casting Director: Laray MayfieldDirector: David FincherWriter: Steven Zaillian, in line with the novel by Stieg LarssonStarring: Difficulties, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgrd, Christopher Plummer, Robin Wright, Yorick van WageningenThe Pitch: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) seeks out a youthful computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander (Mara) to assist him in his visit a missing lady. Casting Standout: 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo' By Jessica Gardner November 18, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Columbia Pictures Director David Fincher and casting director Laray Mayfieldcollaborators on "The Social Networking," "The Curious Situation of Benjamin Button," "Fight Club," and "Zodiac"have partnered once more to tackle Fincher's much-anticipated adaptation from the novel "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo."Mayfield, who won an Artios Award in the Casting Society of America this past year for "The Social Networking," began speaking with Fincher concerning the casting from the new film in May 2010. "I had been both excited and overcome," she states about dealing with the long awaited project. To organize, she read all of the books in Stieg Larsson's trilogy. Then, to possess a reason for reference, she viewed this year's Swedish film version from the novel. "There's always an issue when there's pre-existing material," Mayfield states. But she highlights that Fincher was basing his film around the book, this is not on the prior movie: "David is really honorable towards the books, figures, and Sweden, and so i wasn't worried."Their central challenge was casting the primary character Lisbeth Salander, referred to within the books like a small-in-stature 24-year-old computer hacker having a photo taking memory, past violence, along with a tragic past. The role visited Rooney Mara. Apparently, virtually every female actor in Hollywood desired to play Lisbeth. However, producer Scott Rudin states Fincher's idea right from the start ended up being to cast a family member unknown, to ensure that audiences would take their own ideas about Lisbeth onto whomever was playing her. Fincher wanted "someone who we did not have history with," Rudin describes. "Brilliant people examined for this. I am talking about, lots of stars examined for this, and were fantastic, but there is something about Rooney. She am exciting inside it, and thus fresh, and completely unpredictable. The truth that we simply have no idea her that well managed to get, gave it a type of kinetic souped up that I believe most likely wouldn't have happened with someone else."Mayfield introduced Fincher to Mara throughout auditions for "The Social Networking," by which he cast her as Erica Albright. "David loved her on 'Social Network,' " states Rudin. "From the moment we began focusing on 'Dragon Tattoo,' I believe David always wanted Rooney to experience it. In deference towards the scale from the decision, he experienced a really lengthy process and labored with lots of people and several times of shooting film teststests with sets, tests with costumes, hair, makeup, the entire deal. And That I think back in internet marketing now and i believe, 'Why did we all do all that whether it was always likely to be Rooney?' "Additionally to Lisbeth, Mayfield states, there have been a number of other casting challengesmainly the generational casting of countless roles cheap most of the figures are based on each other. "We required to make that credible," she states. Another challenge was casting the role of nasty Nils Bjurman, Lisbeth's legal protector, who terrible items to her. Nederlander actor Yorick van Wageningen ("The Way In WhichInch) submitted an audition tape from Europe. "He was fantastic," states the Compact disc. Later she was surprised to discover how different van Wageningen was from his character. "In him personally, I melted. He's a stuffed animal."Mayfield states she's thrilled with the way the film switched out: "I'm always excited for audiences to determine everything David does." Casting Director: Laray MayfieldDirector: David FincherWriter: Steven Zaillian, in line with the novel by Stieg LarssonStarring: Difficulties, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgrd, Christopher Plummer, Robin Wright, Yorick van WageningenThe Pitch: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) seeks out a youthful computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander (Mara) to assist him in the visit a missing lady.

'Star Trek 2' To Feature Klingons, No Khan?

If this rains, it flows. Or at best such may be the situation with "Star Trek 2" gossips. After several weeks of silence around the approaching follow up, an entire slew of production particulars -- together with a shooting start date -- hit the net the 2009 week. Now comes a juicy new plot rumor from Think McFly Believe that the Klingons will have a prominent role within the follow up like a nomadic group of players leading to difficulties for the Federation while battling Tribbles. (Yes, Tribbles!) Also, they are saying there will not be any Khan within this flick. Obviously, none of the is proven by J.J. Abrams' camping, to help you either go or let it rest. Browse the relaxation of present day film news following the jump! John Williams Reteams With Steven Spielberg For "Lincoln subsequently" Great news, film score fans! Based on Variety, John Williams is going to be creating Steven Spielberg's approaching biopic "Lincoln subsequently." Williams and Spielberg have lengthy been creative partners, and also have lately teamed on "The Adventures of Tintin" and "War Equine." It will likely be exciting to determine whatever Williams handles to develop for "Lincoln subsequently" along with the other two films. Keira Knightley Never Heard About "Pride And Prejudice And Zombies" Though Keira Knightley has clearly heard about Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice" -- she starred within the 2005 Joe Wright adaptation from the novel -- she apparently has skipped the boat on "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Vulture questioned the "A Harmful Method" celebrity, who accepted she'd never heard about the novel coupled with no clue they'd be making it a film. When requested if she'd every considered on set that "Pride and Prejudice" can use more undead figures, she chuckled and stated, "It never happened in my experience. That clearly just proves which i don't have a very good enough imagination." Can Be Offered Role In New Clint Eastwood Film Clint Eastwood is planning his triumphant go back to acting, and that he plans to possess a strong leading lady alongside him. Variety is confirming that Can Be continues to be offered a job in "Challenge with the bendInch as Eastwood's onscreen daughter. She requires a journey to Atlanta together with her father, a maturing baseball scout, to look at a possible player. The film may be the directorial debut of Eastwood's friend Robert Lorenz. Illumination Entertainment Developing Woodsy Woodpecker Film Well, why don't you? Based on Warmth Vision, "Rotor blades of Glory" authors John Altschuler and Dork Krinsky are creating a potential feature film starring Woodsy Woodpecker for Illumination Entertainment. It should be a up-to-date version from the character and apparently has franchise potential. Again, why don't you? Inform us your ideas on present day Dailies within the comments section below or on Twitter!