Premium Beauty News - Where did you get that passion for make-up?
Michele Burke - I was probably predestined to it! I was born in Ireland and I emigrated to Canada late 1973. I moved to Montreal and found a job in fashion. I noticed the work of make-up professionals and then it was just like love at first sight for what will become my profession! Anyway, I always felt from the start irresistibly attracted by artistic "matters". However, I had no idea at the time that I could make a living out of it. But I really wanted to! And where there is a will...
Premium Beauty News - Precisely, from this will is going to emerge all the talent that you had in you?
Michele Burke - Absolutely! But it was necessary to spark and channel this talent. So of course I took some courses. Then I began to get clients. One of the first was with Revlon, doing live demonstrations. Then, in the early 80’s, I met two Makeup Artists, Electa and Corrado, who owned a make-up outlet with their own brand of makeup and with whom I worked with for two years doing makeovers, print and runway shows. They were truly... precursors, because today’s specialty brands that have their own makeup lines have certainly drawn their inspiration from them.
All these early years are very important to me and my evolution as a makeup artist. At this point I was firmly decided and committed, "I want to become a true professional makeup artist!"
Premium Beauty News - The die is cast but not just in any direction.
Michele Burke - That’s true! I quickly chose make-up in the film industry. Rightly or wrongly, I believed the makeup for film is one of the royal roads to do this job I love so much. And the facts will prove me right. I started by working on three films for no pay, just experience. I was a sort of multipurpose make-up artist! At this point I felt that the way ahead is almost mapped out. And actually, my career began to take off quickly. It must be said that at the time the city of Montreal attracted a lot of film producers, especially for horror movies. You can imagine in such conditions all the creative opportunities that were offered to me. Nothing like a horror film to develop one’s talent in make-up!
Premium Beauty News - And then there’s the movie, Quest for Fire. A milestone!
Michele Burke - Yes absolutely! This film will represent a major step. It will be my first Oscar. For the record, no make-up artist agreed to leave for seven months of shooting in the wild. But I was made for this kind of challenge.
After, of course, events happened even faster I participate to several wonderful films in a row, in Canada such as Ice Man, Clan of the Cave Bear, and many horror films too numerous to mention.
Premium Beauty News - An acceleration that can only lead you to the West Coast of the United States.
Michele Burke - Yes and obviously Hollywood was a necessary stop on my royal road. So in 1985 I moved to Hollywood where I had to start again almost from scratch. People weren’t waiting for me! You have to prove yourself!
This will be the case with a film, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, for which I get my second Oscar. [1]
Premium Beauty News - The other films come in quick succession and you have excelled in recent years in several major Hollywood productions such as Rock of Ages, Mission Impossible IV and III, Tropic Thunder, The Cell, Elizabethtown, Spanglish, Minority Report, As Good As It Gets, Austin Powers 2, 3, Interview with the Vampire, etc. But cinema is not all?
Michele Burke - That’s right! During that period, I also worked for some big brands like Max Factor, Procter & Gamble, etc.
Then in 2006, I have the opportunity to meet the GEKA team. The company had a desire call to utilize the experience of a make-up artist like me to develop new applicators and make the existing ones more efficient. I found the challenge interesting. This is the starting point of an exciting collaboration, which has led us to develop novel products, like for example, GEKA’s latest gloss applicator "LipDefiner Max". The applicator is inspired by my pinky finger, and is a real power loader thanks to its ergonomic shape.
In addition I have also designed a series of unique multi-functional lip and eye applicators. There’s really nothing like them in the market… Yet !
Premium Beauty News - What is your philosophy of make-up?
Michele Burke - In general make-up must first of all allow a person to feel better about themselves. Make one feel beautiful! But we have all our own personal beauty needs. We have to look at our faces and discover ourselves. Find one signature note or feature like eyes or lips and focus on that! Beauty and makeup is all about self-discovery and the image we want others to see. We have to sift through all the information about cosmetic products and beauty tips and find out what suits us and what we need.
So, my philosophy is to focus on our best features, correcting what we can and ignoring what we can’t change without doing any harm or damage. Always be ready for evolution. Don’t get stuck in applying the same colours and looks all the time. Only follow trends if they look good on you. Carefully consider the colour and style of your hair. Good grooming can make you look like a million. There is nothing more golden than a smile.
Premium Beauty News - This profession that you have taken up is really a matter of passion!
Michele Burke - As I have already had the occasion to say. I think you need a love and a passion for it. It is not for everybody, with all the hours you put in and the personal sacrifices. Those who have that passion and love, whether male or female, will make it.
See on line : www.micheleburke.com
