StyleWatch Style News Now

Style News Now

The Secrets Behind Lindsay Lohan’s Elizabeth Taylor Transformation

06/05/2012 at 04:30 PM ET

Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor
Courtesy Lifetime

When Lindsay Lohan first walked onto the set of Lifetime’s Liz & Dick dressed as screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, “there was an audible gasp,” the movie’s costume designer, Salvador Pérez, tells PEOPLE. “You’d swear it was Elizabeth.”

Dressed in Taylor’s favorite styles — jewel-toned cocktail dresses, fur coats and those famous gems (well, good fakes) — the actress looked remarkably like her screen idol. “She just walked into the clothes and became Elizabeth Taylor,” says Pérez.

Producer Larry Thompson had some of Taylor’s most famous bling, including the 33-carat Krupp diamond, recreated for the film. “Part of the magic is the wardrobe,” he says. “And Lindsay said she wants to bring magic to the movie.” Many of the vintage dresses fit her like a glove, too; Lohan’s waist measures a tiny 23 inches, while Taylor’s was a mere 22 inches.

Lohan will wear 66 different looks in the 80-minute biopic, which begins in 1961, ends with Richard Burton’s death in 1984 and focuses on their tumultuous relationship (an affair while she was still married, two weddings and two divorces). To prep, Lohan hired a voice coach and even dyed her auburn hair a deep brunette to better match Taylor’s dark tresses.

Lohan’s hair and makeup will span all of Taylor’s looks, from the long lashes and red lips of the 1950s (attained using M.A.C’s “Hot Tahiti” lipstick) and the Cleopatra-inspired eyeliner and nude mouth of the ’60s to her teased ’80s bouffant, always with her trademark eyeliner to accentuate her famous violet eyes. (Lohan is wearing opalescent lavender contacts for the role.)

“She brings in makeup for me,” makeup artist Eryn Krueger Mekash, who’s using mostly Chanel, Dior and M.A.C products, tells PEOPLE. Adds the movie’s hair stylist, Beatrice De Alba, “She looks so much like her. There was a moment when she saw her picture on the monitor and said ‘I’m her.’ It was thrilling.”

–Liz McNeil, with reporting by K.C. Baker

SEE MORE STARS TRANSFORMED IN ‘LIGHTS! CAMERA! FASHION!’

Your Reaction

Follow Us

On Newsstands Now

On Newsstands Now

Jennifer Aniston: Wedding on Hold
  • Jennifer Aniston: Wedding on Hold
  • Exclusive: Kristin Cavallari's Wedding Album!
  • Paris Jackson in Crisis

Pick up your copy on newsstands

Click here for instant access to the Digital Magazine

Advertisement

Add A Comment

Got something to add to this post? Fill out the fields below to make a comment, ask a question or share a tip. We'd love to hear from you.

Note: If this is your first time commenting on Style News Now, your comment will need to be approved by our moderator before it will appear. Thanks for your patience, and check back again soon.

Showing 133 comments

Natalie on

The should have cast Camilla Belle!!!! She looks much more like her and would have done a better job too i think!

me on

She looks like Kris Kardashian

Sharon on

I think Lindsay is completely wrong for the role of Liz Taylor and agree with an earlier comment that she looks more like Joan Crawford. Love to see her prove me wrong and see a great movie come to life.

Ellen Cormier on

what a spoiled rotten mutt, she will totally botch this gig..her and talent don’t mix.

The Secrets Behind Lindsay Lohan’s Elizabeth Taylor Transformation | Lindsay Lohan at Lindsay Lohan Source | The 24/7 Premier Largest Lindsay Lohan Resource Online. on

[...] People.com Leave a comment | 0 Comment? This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 at [...]

Nglube on

Elizabeth Taylor was a lady, I don’t understand why someone would hire this girl to potray her, she just does not have the posture, style, voice …etc… of a lady and never will. I have nothing against Lindsay, i am speaking from a proffesional point of view. I would never hire her for this movie.

Di on

Lindsay,

I hope this opportunity to portray Elizabeth Taylor will put the cars back on the track for you and that your life’s journey will hold nothing but straight paths ahead.

Good luck. Here’s your opportunity to shine as you have never shone before.

AdB on

Elisabeth Taylor was never a shoplifter!

Goldie on

Lindsey looks beautiful, but she doesn’t look like Liz. At least not in this picture anyway. The movie sounds interesting. I can’t wait to see it!

kel on

She looks decent but no way does she even come close to Elizabeth,

Next | 1 … | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | … 14 | Next | Show All
 

From Our Partners