The Five Most Iconic Movie Make-Up Looks Ever, From Cat Eyes to Red Lips

While the wardrobe gets the Oscar, it’s often the beauty looks that people remember from some of the most acclaimed films in history. From the classic beauty of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to the elegant glam of Cate Blanchett in Carol, make-up is part of the legacy of these films. But more importantly, these beauty looks have stood the test of time, inspiring endless homage in pop culture.

And when you think of timeless beauty looks, you look to Italian fashion house Armani’s beauty range to achieve them. Go-to products like the Luminous Silk Foundation have a legacy of their own, while the brand keeps looking towards innovation.

We take a look at iconic, timeless looks from film history, as well as how the hard-working people behind the scenes achieved them.

Elizabeth Taylor’s cerulean blue eye shadow in Cleopatra (1963)

The iconic sweep of cerulean blue across Elizabeth Taylor’s lid, extending well past the outer corner and lifting into a hard black wing, was less a beauty look than a piece of set design worn on the face.

Make-up artist Alberto de Rossi built it around contrast: gold shimmer at the inner corner against saturated blue, all of it framed by a graphic liner that ran from the tear duct to the temple. The base was warm and burnished rather than pale, and the lip was kept deliberately quiet – a soft coral that let the eyes do the work. To achieve the look today, try Armani Beauty’s Lip Power Lipstick in Selfless, a satin-finish shade that brings a similar softness to the lips without competing with the eyes. Sixty years on, it remains the shorthand for Egyptian glamour, however historically loose that shorthand may be.

Audrey Hepburn’s elegant cat eye in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

While most people think of Audrey Hepburn’s statement LBD and pearls when they think of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, her make-up look has the same memorable effect given it has been replicated in recent years due to the icon she was. This look reflects Hepburn’s natural beauty: a simple black cat eye, luminous skin, a hint of blush – which you can recreate with a similar shade from Armani Beauty – and that perfect subtle pink lip.

The beauty team focused on a more natural version of high glamour, softening the brows and adding fluttery lashes to the signature crisp black winged liner. The overall look’s balance between soft femininity and aspirational glamour is the perfect metaphor for Hepburn’s character – the enigmatic and charming Holly Golightly.

Jennifer Lopez’s defined red lip in Selena (1997)

Mark Sanchez worked on singer Selena’s make-up backstage over the course of her career in the 1990s, so he knew exactly how he was going to transform Jennifer Lopez into the superstar singer. It came down to three key elements: softening Lopez’s more naturally angular face with clever contours, achieving a glowing bronzed base, and of course, recreating that red lip.

Sanchez added softness and roundness to Lopez’s cheekbones and contoured her nose, then elongated her eyes with waterline eyeliner. A bold, crafted brow followed, before applying the signature red lip – overdrawn with lip liner, just like Selena’s. The look matched the much-loved pop star’s expressive beauty.

Natalie Portman’s graphic avant-garde eyes in Black Swan (2010)

The make-up in Black Swan is one of the most potent examples of beauty expressing a character’s state of mind. As Natalie Portman’s ballerina, Nina, undergoes a metamorphosis – descending into an obsessive, unravelling state – her make-up transforms with her.

The wings sweeping across her eyes in bold, dark pigment turn the character into the Black Swan, mimicking feathers, while the pale, luminous base delivers an ominous overtone when paired with blood-red lips. It’s a look you won’t forget.

Cate Blanchett’s glamorous base in Carol (2015)

Cate Blanchett’s dreamy, flawless complexion as the titular Carol in Todd Haynes’s film, reflects the era of make-up from the 1950s that focused on soft femininity and the beauty of perfection. The velvety foundation base is paired with minimal contouring to achieve a softer, more rounded look than we see in many modern applications.

The accompaniments never outshine the overall look: satiny powder, warm highlights, pretty rose lips and apple-hued cheek blush. It’s unapologetically feminine, reflecting the beauty standards of the era.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Armani Beauty. The Armani Beauty Cinema Club is screening now as part of MIFF 2026. Six films from Cannes, Venice and Berlin – see the full lineup and book tickets at miff.com.au.