Ivana Primorac (born in Zagreb in 1965) is a Croatian make-up artist and hairstylist. She began her career working in television after a job working for the BBC. Primorac later moved on to working in feature films, including Atonement, Sweeney Todd, The Reader, and Barbie. Primorac has earned various awards and nominations for her work.
Career
Primorac started working as a hair and make-up artist in television.[1] She wanted to work at the BBC, as she believed their training was the best and eventually got a job with the BBC-trained designers as a trainee.[1] Primorac moved on to working in feature films and she has worked on many films since the nineties began, including Elizabeth, Gladiator, The Hours, Atonement, Sweeney Todd, The Reader, and Barbie.[2][1] While working on the 2000 film, Billy Elliot, Primorac graduated to hair and make-up.[1]
In 2009, Primorac donated her time to a television public service announcement promoting awareness of domestic violence. The announcement, titled Cut, starred actress Keira Knightley.[3] Commenting on her rise to prominence within the film industry, Primorac said "You can't become a makeup artist overnight."[4]
Notable recognition
Primorac has been nominated for five BAFTA awards for her work.[5][6][7][8] Primorac has attended the Academy Awards’ "bake-off" sessions for The Hours, Cold Mountain and Sweeney Todd.[9]
In 2018, Primorac and Flora Moody jointly won the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture, for Darkest Hour, as well as being jointly nominated for the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture, also for Darkest Hour.[10][11]
In 2024, Primorac and Marie Larkin and Clare Corsick jointly won the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture, for Barbie.[2]
Filmography
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Djavolji raj |
| 1990 | Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead |
| 1991 | Bernard and the Genie (TV) Under Suspicion The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: Shoscombe Old Place (TV) The Full Wax (TV) |
| 1992 | The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: The Master Blackmailer (TV) |
| 1994 | Sister My Sister Second Best The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: The Mazarin Stone (TV) The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: The Red Circle (TV) The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: The Golden Pince-Nez (TV) The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: The Three Gables (TV) |
| 1995 | A Midwinter's Tale The Infiltrator (TV) |
| 1996 | Mary Reilly Gulliver's Travels (TV) |
| 1997 | Spice World |
| 1998 | Elizabeth Cousin Bette Painted Angels The Land Girls |
| 1999 | The Last Yellow History Is Made at Night A Kind of Hush The War Zone |
| 2000 | Billy Elliot Gladiator |
| 2001 | The Martins Intimacy |
| 2002 | The Hours |
| 2003 | Cold Mountain The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King The Core |
| 2004 | The Libertine Hotel Infinity The Village Animal Passions (TV) |
| 2005 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
| 2006 | Goya's Ghosts Breaking and Entering |
| 2007 | Sweeney Todd Atonement Wednesday |
| 2008 | The Reader Bringing the Past to Life: The Making of Atonement The Other Boleyn Girl |
| 2009 | 10 Minute Tales: Perfect Day (TV) 10 Minute Tales: Through the Window (TV) 10 Minute Tales: The Three Kings (TV) 10 Minute Tales: Let It Snow (TV) 10 Minute Tales: Ding Dong (TV) 10 Minute Tales: Deep & Crisp & Even (TV) |
| 2010 | The Last Airbender Brighton Rock (post-production) |
| 2011 | Hanna (post-production) One Day Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close |
| 2012 | Anna Karenina |
| 2013 | Labor Day The Railway Man |
| 2014 | Grace of Monaco The Imitation Game |
| 2015 | Steve Jobs The Dressmaker |
| 2016 | Collateral Beauty |
| 2023 | Barbie[12] |
Notable Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair | The Hours | Nominated (with Jo Allen and Conor O'Sullivan) |
| 2003 | BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair | Cold Mountain | Nominated (with Paul Engelen) |
| 2005 | BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Nominated (with Peter Owen) |
| 2007 | BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair | Sweeney Todd | Nominated (with Peter Owen) |
| 2007 | BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair | Atonement | Nominated |
| 2018 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture | Darkest Hour | Won (with Flora Moody)[10][11] |
| 2018 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture | Darkest Hour | Nominated (with Flora Moody)[10][11] |
| 2024 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture | Barbie | Won (with Marie Larkin and Clare Corsick)[2] |