Kirstie Has The Looks For The Job

Say Girl's World to most women aged in their 20s or 30s and watchthe nostalgic smile spread across their faces as the memories floodback.

This was the toy at the top of every little girl's Christmas list.A life-size doll's head with hair you could style and a tanned rubberface you could smear with make-up then wipe off and create a new look- from punk to princess to prostitute.

It was Kirstie Stanway's favourite childhood toy, and fanned aflame which was later to set the world of film and television alight.Decades on, she is now an internationally-renowned TV and film hairand make-up designer.

Kirstie said: "When I was young I had a Girl's World and I used tolove experimenting with all sorts of looks on her and cutting all herhair off.

That's where it all started for me.

"I've always been interested in hair and make-up, and I used tolook at the hair and make-up used on TV and film characters and wantto have a go myself." Born in the village of Iron Acton, north ofBristol, Kirstie was a pupil at the former Collegiate School inWinterbour ne.

She did a foundation course at Filton College before moving toLondon to study for an HND in theatrical make-up and special effectsat the prestigious London College of Fashion.

Kirstie said: "I really enjoyed the course. I had to learn allabout the different periods of history and how to get exactly theright effects, as well as learning how to use prosthetics."Prosthetics involves using materials such as latex, rubber, plasticor gelatin to create a body part, mask or gory realistic-lookingblood-gushing wound.

Kirstie left college aged 23 and became a freelance hair and make-up designer based in London.

For the next four years she worked on feature films with Oscar andBafta award-winning Bristol firm Owen, King and Turner, the companywhich makes wigs for the Lord of the Ring films.

She worked on the hit film Little Voice with Absolutely Fabulousstar Jane Horrocks and Trainspotting hunk Ewan McGregor.

She worked with McGregor again on the glam rock film VelvetGoldmine and was his personal hair and make-up artist.

Kirstie said: "Ewan remembered me because we'd worked togetherbefore. He's good fun, a really nice person. I've been really lucky.The actors I've met have all been good to work with but I've heardsome of the American stars can be difficult.

"I don't get fazed by meeting famous people - after all, they'rejust people like everybody else. But I can never sleep the nightbefore I start a new job. That's pretty nerve-wracking." Kirstie alsoworked on the film Sleepy Hollo , which starred Johnny Depp andChristina Ricci.

She said: "Johnny Depp is probably the most famous person I'veworked with so far." Working on multi-million pound film sets withsome of Hollywood's sexiest stars - and getting paid for it - soundslike the ideal job.

But Kirstie said: "People think my life must be glamorous, and Ido love my job. It can be really exciting, but it's hard work andlong hours as well.

"When filming on location, you're away from home and have to get uvery early in the morning.

"The working day is 13 hours minimum, six or seven days a week,often including night shoots.

"And before you even get to the set, loads of research andplanning has to go on before filming starts." Kirstie even had acameo role as a make-up artist in Velvet Goldmine after the directorwanted as many people as possible behind the camera to take a turnunder the spotlight.

While working on that film, Kirstie made a rare gaffe, which stillmakes her cringe.

She said: "I forgot to give one character a beauty spot which wasreally central to the role.

"It wasn't spotted until half wa through a day of filming, and itdidn't go down too well.

"But they didn't have to re-shoot the scenes in the end, they cutaround it.

"I've never had a wig fall off in a period drama, though!" Kirstiehas worked on BBC Bristol-made medical dramas Holby City andCasualty.

She said: "I've had to create burns, dog bites and a stapled headwith hair sticking out, and one time a doctor had to look like he wasdrilling into someone's head to relieve the pressure.

"I'd like to think it all looks realistic.

"It's enough to make people feel squeamish, which is reallrewarding. It's a good job I have a strong stomach.

"We have medical meetings where real doctors offer advice, and Ilook at books and videos to help recreate the look exactly." Kirstiehas designed hair and make-up for three BBC programmes about CharlesDickens and she was nominated for a Royal Television Society awardfor her work on one of the shows. She also worked on a BBC programmeabout the life of novelist George Eliot, starring the actor JohnSessions.

And she designed hair and make-up for the popular Channel 5 seriesKings and Queen , much of which was filmed in the West Country.

Kirstie gets involved with different projects through word-of-mouth, having established herself over the past eight years as amajor talent in screen hair and make-up.

She moved back to Bristol about a year ago and now lives on theHarbourside.

Kirstie said: "I'm not a huge fan of London. As I come fromBristol, I always wanted to moved back to the city. There's a lotgoing on here at the moment." When asked which actor she would mostlike to work with, she said: "I'd really like to work with moreBritish actors. We've got some fantastic ones in this country.

"My ideal job would be working as a designer on a major Britishfilm." Her work has taken her all over the world, including trips toNiagara Falls and Venice, both for the BBC, last year.

Looking to the future, 31-year-old Kirstie has more work lined upon Casualty and will soon start work on an adaptation of PeterAckroyd's book about London.