Analysis of Miss Havisham interpretations

Many actresses have taken on the role of Miss Havisham over the years, these include Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian Anderson and Martitia Hunt.
These different actresses have similarities and differences in the makeup, hair and overall styling.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9622620/Helena-Bonham-Carter-plays-Miss-Havisham-in-new-Great-Expectations-film.html

Helena Bonham Carter. 

As you can see this version of Great Expectations was filmed using a sepia tone. In terms of the makeup and hair design, Helena Bonham Carter seems to have a pale complexion with darker eyes and possibly lips. The hair seems to be styled in a traditional Victorian way, as it looks to be in an updo with curls added. The overall styling of Carter for this version of Miss Havisham is tattered and old, due to the circumstances Miss Havisham found herself in (jilted at the alter). 

Movie still from Great Expectations (2011)

Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham 

http://kpitalrisk.free.fr/images/stars/16000/s_martita.jpg

Gillian Anderson. (BBC Adaption 2011) 

As you can see this version of Great Expectations was filmed in a cloudy, grey tone. This reflects the mood of the character Miss Havisham. The styling of Miss Havisham's hair in this version is again an updo, however this looks to be more undone and messy compared to that of the styling in the version that Helena Bonham Carter played in. The hair has been curled towards the face and has been pulled out in places and backcombed, the hair is also coloured white. The styling of the makeup is a pale, grey tone to the skin, with darker eyes to give the appearance of them being tired and sunken. Miss Havisham's lips in this version are chapped and grey and her cheekbones are very prominent. Once again in the terms of styling Miss Havisham's wedding dress has been made to look old and worn out.

I like this version of Miss Havisham, I think the hair works well with the makeup and gives the overall look a sense of consistency. I like the fact that the lips have been chapped and that Miss Havisham, while looking worn down and older, still looks quite young as I feel that she wouldn't have been that old in the novel. 

Paula Wilcox 

West End Adaption. (2013)

Photograph from Great Expectations,
The West End Production (2013)
Paula Wilcox as Miss Havisham
http://www.greatexpectationstheplay.com/gallery.php

This adaption of Miss Havisham is by far the most exaggerated. The makeup artist has decided to go for a strong contour of the cheekbones to give a jaunt expression, the lips have been coloured black and the eyes are dark. Furthermore the eyebrows look quite high and therefore expressive. The complexion, much like the other adaptions of Miss Havisham is pale and the hair is also white. 

In terms of the hair styling the have once again decided to use girls in Miss Havisham's hair, the hair has been parted in the middle and the overall outcome is somewhat messy. I feel this look is very suited to the theatre and for that the makeup and hair styling are very good, however I don't think I will be creating something as strong as this when it comes to me interpretation of Miss Havisham.