Oscar-Winning Makeup Artist Kazu Hiro Details Tom Cruise's Dramatic Transformation for New Film

Oscar-winning prosthetic makeup artist Kazu Hiro created a complete 12-piece physical transformation for Tom Cruise in the upcoming film "Digger," turning the action star into an aged Texas oil tycoon with a belly, jowls, thinning hair, and a disheveled look. Alejandro González Iñárritu directs the movie, which also features Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, and Sandra Hüller and centers on an oil tycoon whose company causes a potential global catastrophe.

Fast Application

Cruise refused to spend six hours in the makeup chair and pushed the team to speed up the process. Hiro ultimately cut the application time down to two hours and 15 minutes, which included hair work and putting on a wig, though he noted that rushing past that limit would sacrifice quality. For shirtless scenes early in the movie, the team built a spandex suit with glued-down prosthetics so Cruise would not have to glue the prosthetic belly directly onto his skin.

Context

Prosthetic makeup design in modern cinema often requires balancing extreme physical alterations with the practical demands of an actor's shooting schedule. Complex character transformations rely on layered pieces like bald caps, specialized skin appliances, and custom wigs to alter an actor's recognizable features entirely.