Ivana Primorac (born in Zagreb in 1965) is a Croatian make-up artist and hairstylist. She began her career working in television after a job working for the BBC. Primorac later moved on to working in feature films, including Atonement, Sweeney Todd, The Reader, and Barbie. Primorac has earned various awards and nominations for her work.

Career

Primorac started working as a hair and make-up artist in television. She wanted to work at the BBC, as she believed their training was the best and eventually got a job with the BBC-trained designers as a trainee. Primorac moved on to working in feature films and she has worked on many films since the nineties began, including Elizabeth, Gladiator, The Hours, Atonement, Sweeney Todd, The Reader, and Barbie. While working on the 2000 film, Billy Elliot, Primorac graduated to hair and make-up. In 2009, Primorac donated her time to a television public service announcement promoting awareness of domestic violence. The announcement, titled Cut, starred actress Keira Knightley. Commenting on her rise to prominence within the film industry, Primorac said "You can't become a makeup artist overnight."

Notable recognition

Primorac has been nominated for five BAFTA awards for her work. Primorac has attended the Academy Awards’ "bake-off" sessions for The Hours, Cold Mountain and Sweeney Todd. In 2018, Primorac and Flora Moody jointly won the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture, for Darkest Hour, as well as being jointly nominated for the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture, also for Darkest Hour. In 2024, Primorac and Marie Larkin and Clare Corsick jointly won the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture, for Barbie.

Filmography

Notable Awards and Nominations