Return of the King wins best make-up Oscar

4.40pm

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King's wigs, make-up and prosthetic add-ons were honoured tonight with the Best Make Up award at the Academy Awards.

Richard Taylor and Peter King accepted the Oscar, saying the award was a tribute to a huge number of unsung workers in Taylor's Wellington effects studio, Weta.

"I'd like to thank all the team back in New Zealand who worked so hard for such a long, long time," King said.

Taylor thanked the people who made and applied the thousands of hobbit feet and other prosthetics needed to make the three Lord Of The Rings, "and the cast who had to wear it all."

"I apologise for rubbery feet and funny noses, but cheers to you all."

Backstage, Taylor said the make-up for the Orc warrior Lurz, played by Lawrence Makaore, was his favourite achievement in a film full of complex make-up jobs.

"The only scary thing in real life are humans, and the Uruk Hai were the closest we could get to what's evil in us humans, so I was very proud of him. It's been a great ride."

King said he did not think the much-awarded visual effects of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy had over-shadowed the actors.

"I think the whole thing about the acting in the Lord Of The Rings is that it's an ensemble piece and not one person outshines the other. The makeup just compliments what they do."


- NZPA