From Cleopatra to Maleficent, from Marilyn to Marie Antoinette, we reinterpret cinema history’s most iconic movie makeup looks through the lens of today’s beauty trends.
When we think of truly iconic makeup, our first reference point is the legendary films that shaped Hollywood. These beauty moments—discussed as much as the plots and costumes—live on not only in the memories of cinephiles, but also on the mood boards of makeup lovers, even influencing contemporary trends. We’ve compiled cult looks from cult films, spanning Elizabeth Taylor’s graphic eyes in Cleopatra to Angelina Jolie’s razor-sharp cheekbones in Maleficent.
We begin with perhaps the most emblematic makeup of all: Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra. Framing her violet eyes with boldly graphic eyeliner inspired by Ancient Egyptian aesthetics, the star enhanced her gaze with blue eyeshadow and brought Cleopatra’s Hollywood interpretation to life with shimmering blue glitter. The rest of her makeup appears to bow to the dominance of her eyes—her cheeks are only lightly contoured with minimal blush, and her lips follow the same logic with concealer-toned shading to keep the balance.
Margot Tenenbaum, played by Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums, offers the perfect mood-board reference now that early-2000s grunge makeup is back in rotation. At the center of this look are eyes framed with jet-black eyeliner—yet this frame is a world apart from Cleopatra’s sharp precision. Here, the liner is messy, slightly smudged, and never intentionally neat. To recreate it, opt for blendable gel or kajal pencils. Complete the rebellious effect with Margot’s clean complexion and natural caramel-nude lips.
No exploration of iconic Hollywood makeup would be complete without Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. With party season approaching, Lorelei Lee’s legendary look deserves a spot on your beauty-to-try list. This time, all attention shifts to the lips. Marilyn brightens her porcelain skin with a soft wash of pink and keeps the under-eye area luminous, creating a mesmerising contrast with deep red lipstick topped with a glassy gloss. Today’s long-lasting, non-smudging gloss formulas make this easier than ever. For Marilyn’s famously sensual gaze, there is a precise technique: her eyes are half-closed to create a subtly mysterious effect. To achieve it, she applied half a false eyelash to the outer corners—on top of her eyeliner—leaving a slight gap between her natural lash line and the falsie, pressing the lash downward instead of lifting it. This produces that sleepy, seductive finish at the outer corners.
