Lily James as Pamela Anderson in Hulu’s new limited series Pam & Tommy (photo credit ERIN SIMKIN, Hulu)
It’s “All about the brows and boobs.”
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Harper’s Bazaar recently featured Autonomous F/X special makeup effects designer Jason Collins in their article Becoming Pamela Anderson. Collins details how (along with Makeup Department Head David Williams and Hair Department Head Barry Lee Moe,) he helped transform Lily James into Pamela Anderson on the set of Hulu’s new limited series Pam & Tommy.
Collins’ makeup effects designs were the prosthetics used on James, with the meticulous application taking up to four hours each day. It’s a total team effort to accomplish such transformation goals, and “I have never seen anybody work as hard as Lily James with that role,” Collins says.
Forehead appliances widened the distance between James’ brows and hair line. And lace eyebrows that closely matched Anderson’s were applied. “We went through approximately 65 to 70 Pam foreheads throughout shooting,” Collins says.
To make James’ body look more like Anderson’s, James also received breast appliances. “The prosthetic blends just past Lily’s clavicle and about an inch past her breast line,” Collins says. “The appliances are made out of gel-filled silicone appliances, which move like real skin and absorb light similarly. A new breast prosthetic was required daily and they went through approximately 45 to 50 breast prosthetics.” Collins says.
For added authenticity, acrylic teeth dentures helped to give James “a capped-teeth feel for that perfect smile. Plus, the veneers helped push the lips out slightly.”
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