A new memoir providing a fascinating look at life on film sets, at home and abroad, and the almost non-existent Irish film industry in the early 1960s was launched in Dublin on the 5th March.
"MADE UP – Tales of an Irish Make-Up Artist in Film" (Ashfield Press), was written by Dubliner Toni Delany, Ireland’s first female film make-up artist. During her long career, Toni worked with a veritable "who’s who" of international stars including Daniel Day Lewis, Richard Burton, Fred Astaire, Sean Connery, Martin Sheen, Vanessa Redgrave, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson.
Her entertaining memoir was launched at a reception in the IADT, Dun Laoghaire, by the National Film School’s creative director, Donald Taylor Black. Those present included the director of IADT, Annie Doona, as well as family, friends and former film industry colleagues.
In the book, Toni writes about her involvement in the formation of the technicians’ film union in Ireland and the new film section in ITGWU (now SIPTU) in the 1970s. It was formed from the Irish Film Workers Association and she remained involved in its committee work for many years. She was also a committee member of The Irish Film and Television Guild.
There are tales of Toni’s work on TV commercials, pop promo videos for U2, Clannad, Depeche Mode and UB40, as well as theatre productions in Dublin, London and Toronto. The book is illustrated throughout by photographs from the film locations she worked on around the world.
In the mid-1990s Toni designed and taught the first HETAC-approved film make-up course in Ireland at IADT, Dun Laoghaire. Although now retired, she loves hearing about the successes of her students, many of whom have won awards for their work in the film industry. Graduates of the course have worked on films including Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, King Arthur, The Vikings, Albert Nobbs, The Hobbit, Apocalypto, Les Miserables, Mad Max, and for TV, The Tudors and Dr Who.
Toni Delany lives in Piltown, County Kilkenny.
"MADE UP – Tales of an Irish Make-Up Artist in Film" by Toni Delany is published by Ashfield Press, price €14.99.
