Valencia in a week Nelly Guimaras continues to receive recognition for Best Prosthetic Makeup at the Emmy Awards for her work on the HBO series The Last of Us. The project, rooted in a horror, action and adventure video game, captivated viewers and critics alike. It was a moment of surprise for Guimaras, who was working in Malta when the nomination appeared online. The boss had included the team in the nomination to acknowledge the hard work poured into the project, and the Valencian, based in Port de Sagunt, accepted the honor on behalf of Levante-EMV, part of the Prensa Ibérica group.
Guimaras, who spends most of the year in England where many of her projects unfold, joined the series two years ago after receiving a summons from her boss to relocate to Canada for the prosthetic makeup work on the post-apocalyptic drama. A total of 80 people traveled to the country to begin preparations and filming for the nine-episode series, which premiered on January 15, 2023. Guimaras recalls that the preparation took a full year, with months of work before filming. During that time, she was responsible for the entire makeup process, including creating molds of the actors’ faces and applying the makeup used by the characters during the shoots.
Yet this is not the only project Guimaras has contributed to throughout her career. She has also worked on productions like Pan’s Labyrinth, Guardians of the Galaxy and World War Z, among others.
An advertisement in the newspaper
Her beginnings in the world of makeup came quite by accident. She recalls loving drawing and painting since childhood. One day her sister brought home a newspaper featuring an advertisement for a makeup school, and she decided to give it a try. Shortly after, she began working in a workshop in Paris. A few months later, the Valencian artist returned to Spain to collaborate on her first project. Guimaras took on the prosthetic makeup for the film Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), directed by Guillermo del Toro, and she remembers it with fondness, describing a sense of family and long-reaching collaboration that propelled her career forward.
‘Succession’, ‘The Bear’ and ‘Bronca’ rule the nostalgia-filled Emmys
From that moment onward, Guimaras did not stop working in the prosthetic makeup industry. After that film, she began contacting British production companies, and although opportunities arose across borders, many Spanish colleagues found themselves moving to other countries. She notes the industry has substantial potential and that professionals are highly regarded, often leading to international collaborations.
Travel to other countries
The Valencian artist continually travels to different destinations to advance her craft. While the work demands significant sacrifice, it also becomes a true passion that keeps her engaged. The biggest trade-off, she admits, is putting personal life on hold because home is rarely found for extended periods.
She works across various studios, managing to carve out a place for herself. Still, she admits that having her own workshop initially appealed. She realized that too much time was spent organizing rather than sculpting and painting, which are the elements she truly loves.
The Television Academy recognized the awards ceremony in Los Angeles, following the postponed first delivery of last week. The drama series Succession and the comedy The Bear continued their dominance with six awards for the 75th time, while the miniseries Beef earned five. The ceremony took place in Los Angeles after the event was delayed in 2023 due to strikes by Hollywood unions.