Mikey Madison’s “70s Italian” Makeup Was Thanks to 8 Items

I’m a beauty editor who’s covered award shows for nearly 10 years. I feel like I’ve almost seen it all, so I rarely get excited about a red-carpet makeup look unless it’s really something special. That’s the case with Mikey Madison’s 2025 BAFTAs look. The actress, who was awarded “Best Leading Actress” for her role in Anora, appeared on the red carpet with a sophisticated, “70s Italian”-inspired makeup look. I was instantly obsessed. In fact, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

Celebrity makeup artist, Melissa Hernandez, created the look, using the famed Italian actress, Virna Lisi, as a reference. “For Mikey’s BAFTA look, we were channeling that effortless, sultry vibe of 70s Italian icon Virna Lisi—timeless, but still modern and cool,” she says. “Her custom gown was so sleek and simple, so I wanted the makeup to add a bit of soft, smoldering depth, especially around the eyes. Nothing too heavy, just that perfect balance of polish and ease. And with the vintage Tiffany necklace tying everything together, the whole look felt so chic and effortless.”