Feral, Campy, and Rich in References: Jessie Buckley's On-Screen Makeup Artist Explains ‘The…

      The name Jessie Buckley is gaining significant attention lately, particularly following her recent nomination for Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. Mere weeks before she traveled to the British countryside to embody the famous playwright’s wife, Buckley was finishing another film featuring a well-known bride—this time set in 1930s Chicago, with a very different narrative. She transformed her signature bixie haircut and minimalist glamour for a look featuring bleached brows, bruised eyes, and an ink-stained mouth to portray the undead protagonist in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s reimagined Frankenstein film, The Bride!. While Buckley’s captivating performance as the self-described “feral” lead—who shifts among the names Penelope, Ida, and ultimately, The Bride—is unforgettable, what particularly stuck in the minds of beauty editors was her striking appearance, marked by bruised discoloration and black smudges from the corners of her mouth. The source of this distinctive look? Not solely the chaotic handiwork of her mad scientist creator but also Nadia Stacey, the film’s skilled head makeup artist.

      You might recognize Stacey's work on Emma Stone in her transformative roles in Poor Things and Cruella, but this romantic thriller led the hair and makeup head down a more whimsical path. "From a makeup perspective, I saw so many fantastic chances to create character," Stacey shares with Who What Wear about her initial attraction to the script. "I love reimagining classic tales—it's an opportunity to redesign and add my own twist to something." The original material that Stacey infused with her twist was, pun intended, a Frankensteined concept. The obvious inspirations included the 1935 horror classic Bride of Frankenstein—where Elsa Lanchester, sporting an “electrocuted” wig and darkened lips, played the monster’s revived companion. Additionally, there were subtler influences from Man Ray and Pat McGrath’s runway designs for Galliano, the latter of which Stacey cited as “a major inspiration.” Ultimately, the look was a tapestry of influences merging together for the image we now associate with The Bride—but its defining signature arose from a collaboration among Nadia, Gyllenhaal, and Buckley themselves. The stark black stain on The Bride was never specified in the script; it emerged from their joint brainstorming, soon becoming a hallmark design for the film, displayed on posters and red carpets alike. "It was written that she would have black ink pumped through her veins as part of the re-invigoration process," Stacey explains. "Maggie, Jessie, and I discussed what would realistically happen during that process and imagined her sitting up and coughing, causing the ink to splash across her face." This ink spillage later appears everywhere, flowing from her ears, trickling down her collarbones, and streaming from major arteries inside her arm.

      On any film set, long shoot days and early morning hair and makeup sessions demand reliable beauty products, which is why the artist turned to Pat McGrath Labs for Buckley’s haunting look. "I needed something that would last, so I opted for Pat McGrath’s Sublime Perfection Primer," she states. While The Bride’s makeup evolves throughout the film (notably before and after her death), certain aspects of the character’s appearance remain constant—and a closer look reveals the influence of Pat McGrath. Before her “accident,” The Bride sports a "tired girl" blend of drooping plum and pink eyeshadow, reflecting the era with a dash of runway flair. "I aimed for something that encapsulated the period while also showing a 1930s party girl vibe," she clarifies. "The colors had to stay on her eyes even after her death and reawakening, so it needed to transition smoothly into the next look." After her resurrection, her rosy eye makeup transforms into purple-pink bruises, all made possible by the Pat McGrath Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream palette. Other essentials in her kit included the Mothership XI: Sunlit Seduction palette and the Perma Gel Eye Pencil in Xtreme Black.

      It was Pat McGrath’s subtle influence within Stacey’s makeup kit that sparked a vibrant collaboration—a collection of best-sellers offered in The Bride!-themed kits, along with a limited-edition Lip Sculpt + Shade Contour Duo packaged in custom movie presentation. "Working with Pat is always thrilling—she is a visionary and a significant influence in my work," says Stacey. "Creating The Bride’s makeup in a way that can be incorporated into everyday looks is incredibly exciting," she adds. "Makeup is versatile, and there are no limits, so you can choose to be as bold or understated as you wish with the look." Thanks to the latest hype surrounding Pat McGrath Labs' film collaboration, our editors had the opportunity to experiment.

      WWW associate beauty editor Alyssa