British Make-Up Artist Lisa Westcott, Known for ‘Les Misérables,’ Dies at 76

Lisa Westcott, who earned an Academy Award for her work on Les Misérables in 2012, has passed away at the age of 76, her husband confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday.

Westcott, a distinguished British make-up artist, was honored with the Oscar for Best Make-Up and Hairstyling in 2013 alongside Julie Dartnell, recognizing their contributions to the film adaptation of the musical starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway. The duo had been celebrated in a memorable ceremony where Jennifer Aniston and Channing Tatum presented the award.

She passed away at her Oxford home on July 30, surrounded by her husband, Jeremy Ancock, and their twin children, George Ancock and Harriette Rothwell. Westcott was known for her passionate advocacy for crew workers’ rights, a cause she fervently supported throughout her career.

Westcott’s remarkable career included two consecutive Oscar nominations: one for Mrs Brown (1997) featuring Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, and Gerard Butler, and another for Shakespeare in Love (1998) with Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. Her contributions to the latter involved designing the look for nearly all characters and overseeing the make-up. Additionally, she received two BAFTA Awards for her work on The Madness of King George and Les Misérables.

Her other accolades include a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2001 for her hairstyling on The Last of the Blonde Bombshells starring Dench and Ian Holm. Westcott also worked on Captain America: The First Avenger and contributed to films such as Notes on a Scandal, Fred Claus, Miss Potter, and Iris.