Davina Lamont works her magic on Einstein actor Geoffrey Rush. Photo supplied.Ashburton-raised Davina Lamont is in the running for a make-up artist award at the Emmys.

The American entertainment industry awards recognise excellence in all aspects of television and Davina has been nominated for her work on Genius, a National Geographic Channel drama charting the life of legendary physicist Albert Einstein.

Her journey to the top of the profession began after a year-long make-up course in Christchurch, after she left Ashburton College at the age of 16.

Before that she attended Netherby and Hampstead schools and Ashburton Intermediate.

“I first thought I wanted to be a sound engineer, but I walked past a make-up studio in Christchurch one day and it struck a chord with me.

“I’m very much a free spirit and I love doing what I do.”

The big break for Davina came five years into the profession, when she landed a job on Lord of The Rings.

For almost 25 years she has worked on dozens of films and television productions.

Her skills with wig making, prosthetics and make-up have featured on vampire flick 30 Days of Night, Sherlock Holmes, Avatar and mini series Sons of Liberty, to name but a few.

She has worked for top directors like Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and Jane Campion and with a number of top Hollywood actors.

Working on Genius with actors Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Flynn has been “brilliant”, she said.

There had been lots of prosthetics, wigs and facial hair needed to age both actors, as well as the trade mark Einstein moustache and halo hair style.

The ageing needed for the role had spanned the period from the 1890s until the 1950s.

The series had been filmed in the Czech Republic and she would work on a second series later in the year.

She usually spent 10 months a year working overseas, but had a home in Queenstown and made regular visits to Ashburton where she caught up with her parents, siblings and old school friends.

Davina will be in Los Angeles on September 10 when the Emmy award winners are announced.

© The Ashburton Courier - 24 August 2017