Donald James Mowat, C.M., is a Canadian-British (naturalized American) makeup artist based in Los Angeles. He is best known for his work on 8 Mile, The Fighter, Prisoners, Skyfall, Nightcrawler, Sicario, Nocturnal Animals, Blade Runner 2049, First Man, and Dune. Originally from Montreal.
Donald was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Makeup and Hairstyling for the film Dune. He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2022.
Life and career Donald was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to British parents. He was invited to become a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1999. He served on the board of directors for the Actors' Fund of Canada (2008–2014) and Board member representing the Art Department Branch of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (2007–2011). He is an active member of the education and membership committee member for BAFTA Los Angeles and BAFTA UK. He served twelve years as an executive makeup artists branch member at AMPAS. He is also a member of IATSE, BECTU, and the European Film Academy. He is represented by United Talent Agency in Beverly Hills, California.
Donald was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers by The Governor General for Canada in 2018 for his volunteer work with high school students for BAFTA LA education outreach.
At the 2024 Hollywood Beauty Awards, Donald was honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Make-Up Award, presented by Dune star Dave Bautista. Additionally, he has served on juries for the Denver Film Festival and Middleburg Film Festival, and has been featured in numerous industry publications and podcasts, including The Team Deakins Podcast. He is an active volunteer for the annual Student Academy Awards and the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.
Selected filmography
Margaret's Museum (1995) Love! Valour! Compassion! (1997) Three Kings (1999) The Yards (2000) The Perfect Storm (2000) Rock Star (2001) 8 Mile (2002) The Fighter (2010) Skyfall (2012) Prisoners (2013) Nightcrawler (2014) Sicario (2015) Spectre (2015)
Nocturnal Animals (2016) Stronger (2017) Blade Runner 2049 (2017) First Man (2018) The Little Things (2021) Dune (2021) The Guilty (2021) Moon Knight (2022) The Covenant (2023) Dune: Part Two (2024) Presumed Innocent (2024)
Awards and nominations YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.1992 WonPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Makeup for a Miniseries or a SpecialMark Twain and Me1993 WonCableACE AwardBest Make-UpMark Twain and Me1998 WonGemini AwardsOutstanding achievement in makeupThe Sleep Room2000 NominatedMake-Up Artists and Hair Stylists GuildBest Contemporary MakeupThree Kings2003 NominatedMake-Up Artists and Hair Stylists GuildBest Contemporary Makeup8 Mile2004 NominatedMake-Up Artists and Hair Stylists GuildBest Contemporary MakeupThe Human Stain2006 WonGemini AwardsBest Achievement in Make-UpPrairie Giant2014 WonSaturn AwardsBest Make-UpPrisoners WonMake-Up Artists and Hair Stylists GuildBest Contemporary Makeup2015 NominatedNightcrawler2016 NominatedSicario2017 WonNocturnal Animals NominatedBAFTA Film AwardsBest Make Up/Hair2018 NominatedBlade Runner 2049 NominatedMake-Up Artists and Hair Stylists GuildBest Period and/or Character Makeup2022 NominatedAcademy AwardsBest Makeup and HairstylingDune NominatedBAFTA Film AwardsBest Makeup and Hair NominatedGold DerbyMakeup/Hair NominatedHollywood Critics AssociationBest Hair and Makeup NominatedMake-Up Artists and Hair Stylists GuildBest Period and/or Character Makeup WonSaturn AwardsBest Make-up2024 WonThe Covenant WonSatellite AwardsSpecial achievement awards : Make-Up 2025 NominatedMake-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild AwardsBest Make-UpDaphne Guinness & David LaChapelle: "Time" NominatedSaturn AwardsBest Make-upDune: Part Two
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