In a bid to revolutionize the hair and makeup experience for Black actors on set, renowned stars Naomie Harris and Lashana Lynch have thrown their weight behind a Time’s Up UK campaign.
According to a report by Deadline, the initiative, supported by the PMA Diverse Squad, the British Blacklist, and Garden Studios, seeks to address the persistent issue of discrimination in the industry.
At the forefront of the campaign is the advocacy for a hair and makeup clause to be included in deal memos for Black and Global Majority actors.
This clause mandates meaningful consultation between actors and makeup artists, ensuring professionals with expertise in afro textured hair and darker skin tones are provided on set.
The proposed deal memo reads:
“There will be a meaningful consultation between the Actor and Hair & Makeup. Production will provide a hair and makeup stylist(s) with knowledge and experience of working with afro-textured hair and darker skin tones; and ensure that the makeup artist will have a reasonable selection of makeup which is actually suited to darker skin tones.”
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the campaign was discussed at an event in Cannes, where a screening of the Sky documentary “Untold Stories: Hair on Set” took place. Director Jordan Pitt, alongside the show’s host Fola Evans-Akingbola, lent their support to the cause.
Sky, having acquired the Untold Stories doc, has pledged to implement changes in all its original productions featuring Black talent.
They have committed to ensuring makeup artists and hair stylists with expertise in afro textured hair and darker skin tones are present on set.
Naomie Harris emphasized the significance of addressing this inequality, stating:
“Hair and makeup discrimination is a persistent and unspoken issue which causes harm.” She added, “I am delighted to support Time’s Up UK and partners in their campaign to raise awareness of this inequality in our industry and to find ways to ensure that there are professionals on set that can support everyone.”
With influential figures like Harris and Lynch championing the cause, the campaign aims to bring about tangible change in the industry, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for Black actors.
