The Hair of Liz & Dick

This month, the much anticipated and hyped up exclusive television movie,  Liz & Dick, chronicling the tumultuous relationship of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, will air on Lifetime. What makes this so buzz-worthy is the movie's star—Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor— and her transformation into one of Hollywood's most iconic beauties.

Hair Department Head Beatrice De Alba was responsible for recreating the hairstyles of Ms. Taylor for Lohan.

With an impressive resume spanning 25 years working on hair for the film and television industry, De Alba's credits include Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Frida. She's also worked as the personal onset hairstylist to such stars as Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Dustin Hoffman, to name a few.

Here De Alba takes a moment out of her busy schedule to chat with me about her work on Liz & Dick.

Jolene Turner: Tell me a little of what it was like to work on this film.

Beatrice De Alba: I was very excited to do this project. I had been interested in doing it since I saw an interview with Lindsay on The Today Show sometime in March. I love a challenge and really wanted to make it work!

I'm not even sure how many looks I created for Lindsay. I’m going to have to count them when the film airs!  She had about 63 costume changes so I had to make sure that the hair went well with the costumes in addition to being  period correct and true to Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic look.

JT: Was it your goal to perfectly recreate Elizabeth Taylor or did you add any special touches all your own, and/or part Lindsay?

BDA: I tried to create iconic Elizabeth Taylor looks as much as I could. Of course there was input from Lindsay on several occasions and in the end part of my job is making sure the actress is happy and comfortable with her look on camera.

 

JT: Were these wigs? Lindsay's hair and/or a mix of both depending on styles?

BDA: I had eight wigs and hairpieces that I used on Lindsay throughout the show. When I did the tight updos on her I used her own hairline most of the time.

JT: Which look is your favorite and why?
BDA: There were many looks in the film that I love but my favorite look is the one portrayed in the publicity pictures for the poster. It is the one that I find to look most like Miss Taylor.

  (Photo Credits: Jack Zeman/Adam Taylor/A&E Television Networks)