Meet Tami Lane, the Oscar-Nominated, Out Makeup Artist Behind 'The Hobbit'

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How many were on your crew?

There were 17 of us - 11 really good senior makeup artists and six assistants, which is a small team.

That sounds small.

That was just for the prosthetics. The hair department had about 18 people as well.

And how long was the shoot?

It was 18 months.

Were you going full throttle 16 hours a day for the entire time?

The shoot was broken up into three blocks. We had a few breaks in there but honestly, if we didn't have those breaks, I think everybody would be dead by now.

There’s a perception that Hollywood is such a boy’s club. Is that true for you?

That’s absolutely true, but how I deal with it is how I’ve always dealt with it. Starting out, I was the only female in the workshop at KNB that wasn’t working in the front office. The guys, at least to my face, treated me just like one of them. I never got any special treatment, or any kind of treatment different from what I witnessed everybody else got. Again, my naiveté worked in my favor. I ignored the fact that their men, and I ignored the fact that I’m a woman and got on with it. That’s just been my attitude for 17 years.

I’ve encountered that whole thing of producers being womanizers, or sexist. That exists, but I have a really good sense of humor about it, and I just ignore it as much as I can and don’t let it affect what I do. Knowing some crude jokes also help (laughs).

This year's Oscars feels like the straightest in recent history. We’ve recently had Milk, Brokeback Mountain, Penelope Cruz won for playing bisexual in Vicki Cristina Barcelona, but this one is really straight in terms of nominees.

I know. That’s why you’re talking to me!

Exactly. You may be the gayest thing about this Oscars.

That's hilarious.

Being in the business, can you shed light on why so few LGBT-themed films make it on the radar of the Oscars or even the Golden Globes?

Film, whether it’s gay or straight content, I think it's the quality of the film. And I think the quality of Brokeback and Milk was exceptional. I don't think it's a gay/ straight thing at all.  I don't think like the academy is suppressing anything. I’m sure there’s something out there (LGBT films) that just didn't get exposure.  That's the other thing -- exposure.

Other than your own film, what films/performances are you rooting for?

I think Hugh Jackman was amazing in Les Mis. I particularly didn't really like the film, but then again, I don't really like the story. I thought, production wise, it looked great, and the makeup and hair looked great. Costumes were great, but it’s such a sad story. I thought Hugh Jackman was amazing in it, but I tell you, my favorite movie, I have to say, was Silver Linings Playbook.

I’m with on that one. Did you have anything else you’d like to say about The Hobbit or the Oscars?

I’m just looking forward to it. I know it’s going to be over with the blink of an eye. I got the dress now so that's pressure off.

I think you’re going to win.

Fingers crossed. 

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