Madame Web: How Vasilios Tanis Transformed Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney Into Superheroes

Onscreen, the makings of a superhero usually include a tragic origin story, a shiny suit, and fantastical superpowers. But behind the scenes, it’s a team of costume designers and makeup and hair department heads, all working together to bring a beloved comic book character to life.

When makeup artist Vasilios Tanis was tasked with creating the makeup looks for Sony’s new superhero film Madame Web, he immediately knew what the character needed. A lifelong comics fan, Tanis has worked on numerous Marvel blockbusters, including Thor: Love and Thunder and Spiderman: No Way Home. But he always loved Madame Web’s Cassie Webb for her clairvoyant powers and signature red lip.

“I grew up in New York City and I was that kid at school who would get into heated debates with my classmates, because we all collected comic books,” he tells Glamour. “[I’d say] ‘If they turn this into a movie, they have to do it like this, and they have to do like this.’ Now I’m doing it, and I’m so happy because it’s a genre that I’ve always been in love with because I am a geek.”

Makeup typically isn’t central to a superhero movie, since most are helmed by men. Madame Web, which hit theaters February 14, not only puts a woman in the titular role but also features a supporting cast of women.

The film stars Dakota Johnson as Cassie Webb, a paramedic who develops clairvoyant powers. She’s joined by Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor, who play a group of teenage girls in danger. The movie’s villain, another clairvoyant named Ezekiel (played by Tahar Rahim), is trying to kill the girls for unknown reasons. Inexplicably pulled in by these three young women, Cassie makes it her mission to keep them safe.

“The fact that the movie is female-driven, it’s all women of diversity—it’s empowering in so many regards,” says Tanis. “So many little girls are going to look at this and be empowered.”

Creating a beauty look for a female superhero is one challenge, but Tanis was tasked with overseeing four. In the trailer, each girl has a distinct everyday look, but fans get a glimpse of them transformed into superheroes. Tanis knew makeup would be crucial to the characters’ journey onscreen.

“I don’t want a natural-looking female superhero,” says Tanis. “I grew up with Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. I probably would not have felt so strongly about Catwoman if she looked natural and dewy in that outfit.”

After all, makeup is very much a superpower, and its ability to transform and empower is exemplified in the film.

“All these characters go from normal everyday looks to this superpowered, evolved human beings,” says Tanis. “It’s not just the costume that changes, but it’s also their face. That changes and it’s very empowering. It’s a very strong message, considering it’s a diverse group of women.”

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