Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd, Amanda Brugel, Elisabeth Moss. Just four of the many cast members that are part of HBOs incredible show “The Handmaids Tale.” But one person pulls all of these together on screen. It’s not the author with her original words. It’s not the screenwriter with the adaptation of the original words. It is the incredible work of Burton LeBlanc, Emmy award winning make-up artist for The Handmaids Tale. Recently, I was lucky enough to have a chat with him across continents, time differences and emails.
Welcome Burton and thank you so much for your time.
Many people know and love The Handmaids Tale, but will not be aware of Burton LeBlanc, quite literally the man behind the mask. Would you share a little about yourself?
Hi. My name is Burton. I’m the head of the makeup team department for The Handmaids Tale. When I was a young age, my parents realised that I had a natural artistic talent, so they enrolled me in after school art classes. This is where I discovered my artistic side and my natural abilities.
When did you first get the desire to work in the industry and what training did you have?
As an adult I researched makeup schools that catered to film and television in particular, enrolling in the acclaimed Joe Blasco Makeup Center in Orlando, Florida. I had always been interested in the film industry and started learning everything I could.
How did you become involved with “The Handmaids Tale”?
I did a show with a producer a couple of years earlier. When The Handmaid’s Tale was gearing up, the producer thought that I would be a great fit with Elisabeth Moss and the show. He connected us and as they say the rest is history.
Where do you start the make-up process for a show that is so ‘stripped down’ of the archetypal Hollywood ‘beauty’ and is seen at its absolute rawness??
It was very important for me to keep the show looking as real as possible. To not be distracted by too much makeup. For the raw emotion of all of the characters to come through vividly. There were camera tests for the main characters to test makeup looks and get them just right before day one of filming.
In a 2021 interview with btlnews.com Burton was asked about his personal goals for his make-up artistry on The Handmaids Tale. He said, “My goal was to get each and every character exactly right, with the right makeup in place, in particular for those intense closeups. The makeup is supposed to enhance, but not distract, and a lot of the looks aren’t meant to look like makeup at all. I felt a great deal of responsibility to Margaret Atwood’s book. I knew that each character had to be exactly right since the audience needed to feel completely emotionally connected. I always have the viewers in mind when creating each makeup look.”
When speaking with On MakeUp Magazine, Burton described how he drew his inspiration for the Gilead women. He said, “I was so taken aback with the script and the rawness of the story that I knew the makeup had to look real. In the beginning, there were a few people behind the scenes that were uneasy by how badly the women looked on camera. But I knew I had to keep making the same makeup choices for the characters in order for the show to visually look right.”
How do you describe your style? I’ve heard you say ‘less is more’ – is it as simple as it sounds?
My style for this particular show is definitely less is more. There is always last-minute makeup tweaking on set in that particular lighting. In the beginning I would rather do less makeup in the trailer and add if need be once we were on set with that particular lighting.
There is a massive difference in Elisabeth’s Gilead v flashback looks. Are there any challenges for you when you are making up Elisabeth for those scenes?
For June’s looks there is a definite difference when we see her in Gilead versus flashback June. Flashback June is a more made-up look, but a fresh clean simple one. Her Gilead makeup has more dark shadows added for a worn-down distressed look.
With Serena, I see a subtle make up hiding severe undertones. Would I be right and how do you achieve that?
Serena’s look is clean beautiful but simple with a rosy cheek and lip. Structured brows and mascara for eye definition. They (the wives) would have access to certain products in Gilead as they have standards to uphold for their husbands.
When you are making up Aunt Lydia, how do you help to bring out the character of someone so complex through your work? After all, we have seen the fierce Aunt Lydia and in Season 4, the softer version of Lydia as she cares for Jeanine.
For Aunt Lydia her makeup is very raw. Dark shadows were often used to intensify her makeup look, depending on the scene. Of course, compare this to the scenes of Lydia in pre-Gilead days, and we see a different façade with her. Hair down and more make up.
What has been your biggest challenge on the show so far?
By far the biggest challenge on the show has been to not show makeup, in particular on June for those super intense closeups. It has to look natural as opposed to my trying to cover something with make-up.
What’s been the most enjoyable part of THT so far?
The most enjoyable part of the show has been working with so many remarkable and talented people. From all of the performers and the huge crew that work on the show, there’s only a handful of us who have been there from day one. And of course, to be part of a huge critically acclaimed show like Handmaid’s Tale is pretty sweet.
What are you most looking forward to in season 6? (If you can share anything)
No series secrets that I can or will spill!! As for me, I’m looking forward to Season 6 and working with everyone again. It really is a family at this point.
What’s on the horizon for you?
I just finished a Steven Knight show in June called The Veil with Elisabeth Moss. We filmed in Turkey, France and England for the first 6 mths of this year. That will be out next year.
Thank you so much for your time, Burton. Good luck with all of your future endeavours.
Can’t wait for series 6!
