If you didn’t recognize Margot Robbie in this month’s blockbuster Mary Queen of Scots, you’re not alone—and Jenny Shircore thanks you. The award-winning hair and makeup designer, who’s worked on films like Notting Hill, The Secret Garden, and Beauty and the Beast, was the mastermind behind Robbie’s complete transformation as Elizabeth I, as well as beauty looks for Saiorse Ronan as Mary Queen of Scots and the rest of the cast. We gave Shircore a ring to get the behind-the-scenes scoop.
Margot Robbie completely transformed in this film. What was that process like?
Credit: Liam Daniel / Focus Features
But eventually, she is caked in makeup and wearing elaborate wigs.
How did you create Saiorse’s look? Was that as complicated?
It’s very non-fussy. Saiorse’s look loses that European feel once she returns from France to Scotland, and takes on the strong English fashion sense. Her makeup was fresh-faced and freckly when she arrived and during the course of her stay in Scotland, it strengthens, but without looking like makeup. We used fake hair pieces that we rolled around tiny frames of wire and hair lace to create various shapes. This is what they would have done back then. I made them slightly more modern—slightly bigger and slightly higher to give her the strength she would need as she made her case for being queen.
Credit: Liam Daniel / Focus Features
What was the beauty trend of that time?
What happens over and over again through the ages is that if royalty—or these days, a celebrity—has a particular fondness for a look, everybody follows them. But back then there was always a reason for why they had a particular look, and it was usually pretty practical. Elizabeth’s reason was scarring and hair loss from smallpox. People followed that look—it didn’t necessarily exist before her. As usual, it can become ridiculous.
Plus, watch Margot Robbie show off her "hot" Mary Queen of Scots look on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: