We’ve rounded up every winner for Best Makeup and Hairstyling in Oscars history, highlighting the films and artists whose work helped redefine what’s possible on screen at the Academy Awards.
Hair and makeup are incredibly transformative tools, so it's no wonder that the Academy Awards recognize this craft with the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Through prosthetics, wigs, and detailed makeup work, artists can completely reshape an actor’s appearance—aging characters decades, recreating historical figures, or inventing entirely new creatures for the screen.
The category of Best Makeup and Hairstyling was first introduced in 1981, after the groundbreaking work in “The Elephant Man”— designed by Christopher Tucker—demonstrated just how essential the craft had become to filmmaking. Since then (with the exception of 1984, when category was skipped), the award has celebrated the artists responsible for some of cinema’s most striking transformations, from elaborate fantasy creations to subtle character-driven looks, including Rick Baker (who won the inaugural award for his work on “An American Werewolf in London”) and remains the most awarded makeup artist with seven Academy Awards, Greg Cannom, Ve Neill, Mark Coulier, and Kazu Hiro.
Below, we’ve rounded up every winner for Best Makeup and Hairstyling in Oscars history, highlighting the films and artists whose work helped redefine what’s possible on screen at the Academy Awards.
2026
2025
"The Substance" (2024) — Marilyne Scarselli, Pierre-Olivier Persin, and Stéphanie Guillon
2024
"Poor Things" (2023) — Mark Coulier, Nadia Stacey, and Josh Weston
2023
"The Whale" (2022) — Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Annemarie Bradley
2022
"The Eyes of Tammy Faye" (2021) — Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh
2021
"Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" (2020) — Sergio López-Rivera, Mia Neal, and Jamika Wilson
2020
"Bombshell" (2019) — Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker
2019
"Vice" (2018) — Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe, and Patricia DeHaney
2018
"Darkest Hour" (2017) — Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, and Lucy Sibbick
2017
"Suicide Squad" (2016) — Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini, and Christopher Nelson
2016
"Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015) — Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega, and Damian Martin
2015
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014) — Mark Coulier and Frances Hannon
2014
"Dallas Buyers Club" (2013) — Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews
2013
"Les Misérables" (2012) — Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell
2012
"The Iron Lady" (2011) — Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland
2011
"The Wolfman" (2010) — Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
2010
"Star Trek" (2009) — Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, and Joel Harlow
2009
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008) — Greg Cannom
2008
"La Vie en Rose" (2007) — Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
2007
"Pan’s Labyrinth" (2006) — David Martí and Montse Ribé
2006
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (2005) — Howard Berger, and Tami Lane
2005
"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2004) — Valli O’Reilly and Bill Corso
2004
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003) — Richard Taylor and Peter King
2003
"Frida" (2002) — John E. Jackson ad Beatrice De Alba
2002
"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001) — Peter Owen and Richard Taylor
2001
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000) — Rick Baker and Gail Ryan
2000
"Topsy-Turvy" (1999) — Christine Blundell and Trefor Proud
1999
"Elizabeth" (1998) — Jenny Shircore
1998
"Men in Black" (1997) — Rick Baker and David LeRoy Anderson
1997
"The Nutty Professor" (1996) — Rick Baker and David LeRoy Anderson
1996
"Braveheart" (1995) — Peter Frampton, Paul Pattison, and Lois Burwell
1995
"Ed Wood" (1994) — Rick Baker, Ve Neill, and Yolanda Toussieng
1994
"Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993) — Greg Cannom, Ve Neill, and Yolanda Toussieng
1993
"Bram Stoker’s Dracula" (1992) — Greg Cannom, Michèle Burke, and Matthew W. Mungle
1992
"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) — Stan Winston and Jeff Dawn
1991
"Dick Tracy" (1990) — John Caglione Jr. and Doug Drexler
1990
"Driving Miss Daisy" (1989) — Manlio Rocchetti, Lynn Barber, and Kevin Haney
1989
"Beetlejuice" (1988) — Ve Neill, Steve La Porte, and Robert Short
1988
"Harry and the Hendersons" (1987) — Rick Baker
1987
"The Fly" (1986) — Chris Walas and Stephan Dupuis
1986
"Mask" (1985) — Michael Westmore and Zoltan Elek
1985
"Amadeus" (1984) — Dick Smith and Paul LeBlanc
1983
"Quest for Fire" (1982) — Sarah Monzani and Michèle Burke
1982
"An American Werewolf in London" (1981) — Rick Baker
