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The Oscars have served up some of the most iconic moments not only in Awards history, but in beauty history. Here, we take a trip down Hollywood’s memory lane, and celebrate the most noteworthy beauty moments of the Academy Awards.
Audrey Hepburn
1954; Winner, Roman Holiday
When it comes to Hepburn, you can’t go past her 1954 win for Roman Holiday; the pixie, the winged line, the architectural brows, the red lip. An iconic look which will forever be etched in beauty folklore, and forever imitated for years to come.
Halle Berry
2002; Winner, Monsters Ball
For Berry’s teary Oscars win in 2002, the actress debuted her now-iconic pixie cut; piecey on top and shorn at the sides, plus that beautifully tonal makeup, deliciously caramel and glossy in finish.
Cher
1974
When it comes to memorable moments, Cher’s name is usually thrown into the ring. Who could forget her 1988 win for Moonstruck – clad in nothing but a sheet of sheer gauzy tulle which hugged every curve and was strategically embellished at her ‘bits’ (care of Bob Mackie) – it was iconic and catapulted the sheer movement in fashion. In terms of beauty, as much as we loved ’88’s corkscrew perm, it was 1974’s Oscars performance which served up the most melodramatic beauty notes thus far: frosty lids, giraffe-like lashes, bold blush, metallic nails, glossy lips and that hair; a sculptural top-knot adorned with embellished floral headpiece care of Mackie. Standing ovation.
Michelle Williams
2006
The girl-next-door turned golden girl at the 2006 Awards; a whimsical side bun which was both romantic and effortless and a statement pout – glossy and fire engine red – made for Oscars beauty 101.
Cate Blanchet
2005; Winner, The Aviator
“Our” Cate was dazzling in Valentino to accept her award as Katherine Hepburn in the Howard Hughes biopic, sporting Old-Hollywood curls (perhaps a beauty nod to Hepburn) and a bold coral pink lip.
Anne Hathaway
2013; Winner, Les Misérables
Accepting a Best Actress award for her portrayal of Fantine, Hathaway sported a top-heavy pixie, gently mussed and pulled to one side, and a soft pink lip – matte and slightly muted.
Barbara Streisand
1961; Winner, Funny Girl
Oscar-winning performance aside, it was Barbra’s beehived bob which really set the Awards ablaze; suitably ’60s and as high as the heavens, it was complimeted with another beauty trope of the era; a strong yet delicate feline flick.
Mara Rooney
2012
When it comes to Awards etiquette, then-newcomer Rooney brought a brand of quirk typically left at home. A conceptual beauty look; hair was avant-garde and slightly gothic – jet-black with a cropped blunt fringe – whilst skin was porcelain and lips were ruby red.
Kate Winslet
1998; Winner, Titanic
Fresh off the boat, Winslet was ravishing at 1998’s Oscars, with her red locks loosely curled (and slightly wet-looking – perhaps an ode to Rose) and lips painted in a strong brick red, it was quintessentially ’90s and perfect for the time.
Grace Kelly
1955; Winner, The Country Girl
Before becoming a real-life princess, Kelly won for her role in The Country Girl the only way she knew how – with style and grace – and a perfectly waved chignon secured with lemon roses. Add a pink lip, and Kelly was the true “picture of a beauty queen”.
Lupita Nyong’O
2014; Winner, 12 Years A Slave
In 2014, the stunning Nyong’O won for her incredible performance in 12 Years A Slave. At the ceremony, her beauty performance was also award-winning; punchy coral lips and cheeks against luminous skin, whilst hair was adorned with a simple yet elegant headband.
Nicole Kidman
1997
Kidman has been keeping up (Oscars) appearances for some time now, and despite amassing some serious red carpet mileage, her 1997 appearance arm-in-arm with Tom Cruise was momentous in terms of both beauty and fashion; wearing a simple up ‘do, rounded rosy blush and deep vermillion lip, and a Galliano for Dior chartreuse, chinoiseries gown, respectively,
Julia Roberts
2001; Winner, Erin Brockovich
Who could forget that smile – sweeping and seemingly never-ending – across Robert’s face when she won Best Actress for Erin Brockovich? Who could also forget that hair? The sculptural up ‘do has firmly cemented itself in Hollywood hair history, with ’60s height at the top and a big, bulbous bun at the back.
Lauren Hutton
1974
Hutton’s 1974 Oscars look is nothing short of iconic, and continues to persist in the beauty narrative of today. Mimicked for years to come, the model’s shoulder-skimming blow-wave, deep contour (before it was even coined a contour), brown smokey eye and spidery lash was ’70s glamour personified.
Meryl Streep
1979
Where would any Oscars list be without its indomitable Queen? Having clocked up more Oscars wins (and appearances) than any other golden girl (or boy, for that matter), deciding on one Streep beauty look is a most difficult feat. We’re partial to 1979, though, when Streep wore her hair long, out, side-swept and naturally tousled – a far cry from the rigid up ‘dos which defined the ceremony (and long before hair extensions ruled the red carpet).
Charlize Theron
Monster, 2004
Theron’s transformation in Monster earned her the Best Actress Award in 2004, and on the red carpet her beauty transformation was also momentous, rending a very noughties bombshell aesthetic: rich perma-tan, taupe smokey eye and bleached-out blonde bob which had been waved to perfection.
Elizabeth Taylor
1957
It’s near impossible to pick just one beauty moment from Taylor’s Oscars repertoire; from the deep tan and lilac lids of 1974 to the beehive of ’61 and ’62, all her beauty looks are iconic. But our favourite was her rather royal 1957 attendance, wearing a Cartier tiara (gifted by her third husband, Mike Todd), bold brows and statement lip, it was suitably sovereign given her queenly standing in Hollywood at the time.
Jennifer Lawrence
2013, Silver Linings Playbook
Hollywood’s new favourite girl-about-town won for the beautifully idiosyncratic Tiffany Maxwell, and accepted the Award with humour, spunk, a Haute tumble (blame Dior) and a perfectly romantic bun and smokey eye – silver, of course.
Angelina Jolie
2009
Jolie’s ultra-long raven hair for her 1991 win for Girl, Interrupted was no doubt memorable, but it was 2009’s appearance with Brad which was truly stellar (for the right reasons). A cascading quiff and her signature smokey cat-eye made for a simple yet perfect rendition of Oscars beauty.
Gwyneth paltrow
2001, Shakespeare in Love
Long before her Goop days, Gwyn was accepting Awards with a girlish inclination; a sleek bun, radiant skin, berry lips and a generous helping of blush – polished, powdery and pink.
Emma Stone
2015
Before becoming an Oscar winner in 2017, Stone attended the 2015 Awards with a notable beauty look; punchy coral lip, peach blush and side-swept up ‘do, which showed off her famous red locks with both pizzazz and beauty.
Tile and cover image: Getty Images
