ern westmore
"There isn't a woman in the world that cannot be made to be more beautiful." - Ern Westmore
Ernie Westmore, Dean of Make-Up Artists.
The finest hand
Ern was known as the Westmore said to be the best in the business with the "finest hand". He began his career at Warner Brothers in 1925 and left to take position as the Makeup Department Head at RKO Studios in 1930. He left RKO in 1931 to partner with Max Factor and worked with him until 1934. When the House of Westmore opened in 1935 he became the full-time manager of the salon and was in charge of the makeup department at 20th Century Fox. In 1937, he returned to England where he opened his own salon of beauty in London while working with Korda Studios and British Pathe. After the war, Ern began working as Makeup Department Director at Republic and Eagle-Lion as well as freelancing for the duration of his career. During his 30 year career, he was responsible for the discovery of actresses Irene Dunne and Maureen O'Hara, as well as, actor, Tony Dexter.
Bette Davis, bee stung lip.
Ern transformed Bette Davis' look when he gave her a fuller, more natural looking brow and the "smear" lipline.
The twins, Perc and Ern, delineated the Seven Basic Face Shapes; Oval, Round, Oblong, Square, Triangle, Inverted Triangle, and Diamond-shaped.
influencing the standards of beauty: the seven basic face shapes,1935
Headlines in 1931 for the very first award ever presented to a make-up artist for his work.
how the western was won: cimmarron,1931
At the 1931 Academy Awards, Cimarron won;
Best Picture
Best Writing, Adaptation - Howard Estabrook
Best Art Direction - Max Ree'
Cimarron had 4 Oscar Nominations;
Best Actor - Richard Dix
Best Actress- Irene Dunne
Best Director- Wesley Ruggles
Best Cinematography- Edward Cronjager
Ern Westmore was awarded the Hollywood Filmograph Cup, and was crowned "King of Make-up" in recognition for his work on the epic western, Cimarron. This was the first ever award given to a Make-up Artist.
