ABSTRACT
A successful male-to-female makeup change requires careful casting. The actor must be able to convincingly portray the female character he was selected to perform. Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblatt in Hairspray, Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel in RENT, and Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Ernest are examples of successful male-to-female cross-gender makeup design. An actor playing a female part should shave immediately before applying his makeup. Then, if any trace of beard shadow remains, it can be counteracted with an application of beard neutralizer. This beard cover should be lightly powdered, with the excess powder dusted off before the foundation is applied. If a complete physical transformation is requested, a full prosthetic makeup can be created. Examples of this are two endearing characters in modern film history, Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire and John Travolta as Edna Turnblatt in Hairspray.
