Unveiling the Marvels of Hair & Make-Up in The Wheel of Time Season 2: Expert Insights from Davina Lamont

Summary

The Wheel of Time season 2 introduces new characters and factions, such as the Seanchan, who have a terrifying and impressive appearance.

Davina Lamont, the makeup, hair, and prosthetics designer, draws inspiration from the scripts and works closely with the cast members to craft distinct appearances for each character. Maintaining consistency in scarring and hairstyles, particularly during action scenes for characters like Lan and Moiraine, poses challenges. Nonetheless, the team strives to ensure that the designs are both coherent and visually striking.

In the captivating fantasy epic The Wheel of Time on Prime Video, our heroes are embroiled in an ongoing battle against the Dark One. Moiraine loses her powers and Rand goes into hiding, leading to the dispersal of the Two Rivers crew across the world in search of a new source of power. Little do they know, they may discover that their power lies in unexpected places as they confront both unfamiliar and eerily familiar dangers.

Based on the acclaimed novels by Robert Jordan (and completed by Brandon Sanderson), The Wheel of Time series on Prime Video was brought to life by the talented Rafe Judkins. Starring Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoë Robins, Madeleine Madden, Josha Stradowski, and Marcus Rutherford, the series sees Dònal Finn stepping into the role of Mat Cauthon, replacing Barney Harris.

Screen Rant spoke with Davina Lamont, the make-up, hair, and prosthetics designer, about the second season of Wheel of Time. Lamont shared her process of finding inspiration from the scripts, books, and other sources. She also discussed her collaboration with the cast members, her techniques for creating realistic scarring prosthetics, and gave insights into what viewers can anticipate for Perrin's appearance by the end of the season.

Davina Lamont Talks Wheel Of Time Season 2

Screen Rant: This is amazing. Can you tell me about where we are and what we're looking at today?

Davina Lamont: This one, we're looking at the Seanchan. The Seanchan which you would've seen at the end of episode 2.

The new faction coming into town.

Davina Lamont: The arrival of the newcomers and the influential Saeldain who governed the Domani while they appeared on screen. These are the distinct factions within the Seanchan that we had to create. Beginning with Lord Turak and Lady Suroth, whom you may have noticed wearing masks. Just wait until those masks are removed - what lies beneath is truly horrifying.

To what extent did the books provide inspiration or specific information regarding the intricate details?

Davina Lamont gathers information from various sources to inform her portrayal of characters in The Wheel of Time series. She starts by reading the scripts and extracting as much detail as possible. She then consults with Rafe, the showrunner, Justine, the writer, and Sarah Nakamura, an expert on the books, for additional insights. While the scripts provide some information, Sarah helps Davina incorporate more intricate details from the books to cater to the fans. However, when it comes to the Sul'dam, there is no mention of their hairstyle or makeup in the scripts, so Davina had to create a completely new design for them. In the case of Lady Suroth, she required long nails and a distinct appearance that will only be revealed once her mask is removed. Within the Seanchan, Davina had to focus on specific elements of their hairstyles, which will become apparent when the characters' masks are finally taken off.

Davina Lamont: Honestly, I had very limited pre-production time. After coming onboard, I arrived in Prague just a week later. One of my first tasks was designing the Sul'dam character. The research and development phase for creating and producing scarification prosthetics took approximately a month. Every day, we worked on testing colors and ensuring the prosthetics could withstand battle scenes. Our goal was to make the characters as terrifying as possible. Additionally, a significant amount of effort went into the hair work. It was a demanding process overall.

I've noticed that there are some fresh faces and new characters introduced.

Davina Lamont: In this season, Selene is a newly introduced character who serves as Rand's love interest. She plays a significant role in all the upcoming books, so you'll see her prominently in season two. On the other hand, we delve into Moiraine's origin, and she hails from Cairhien, which has a blend of French and Japanese influences. Consequently, we are aiming to create wigs that capture either the French or Japanese aesthetic. Additionally, we had an exciting experience creating a variety of wigs for a high society party scene.

It has been a while since season 1, and our beloved heroes have returned, sporting noticeable style transformations, particularly in their hairdos. Perrin, for instance, has let his hair grow longer, perfectly complemented by a more refined beard. On the other hand, Rand has embraced a buzzcut, indicating a significant shift in his journey. Could you elaborate on the events that led him to this transformative hairstyle?

Davina Lamont explained that a six-month gap had occurred between the first and second seasons. The characters are now embarking on their own individual journeys as they transition into young adulthood. The production team wanted to ensure that the characters age along with the audience throughout the series. For Rand specifically, his appearance involved shaving off his hair as he is hiding in Tablon into the Foregate. Additionally, since he is not a natural redhead, his hair had to be continuously colored. Davina enjoyed the process and believes Rand's new look is impressive and easily achieved.

And Perrin as well. Does he have longer hair and a bigger beard?

Davina Lamont: Absolutely, fans of the book will recognize how Perrin's appearance evolves, and we catch glimpses of that transformation along the way. We're aware of the journey he undertakes by the end of season 2. To emphasize this growth, I made sure to gradually increase the size of his hair in season two and then continue to lengthen his beard in the following seasons.

To what extent do the cast members contribute to their own styling?

Davina Lamont: They have a significant role. I have extensive discussions with them well in advance before we begin shooting in Prague. I start talking to them about four to five weeks beforehand. This is crucial because it takes around four to five weeks to create a single wig. I present them with highly realistic concepts that I wish to execute and once they are approved, I send them over to the cast members. From there, we engage in discussions to further develop the ideas. It is worth noting that most of the time, they are genuinely impressed with my suggestions and are eager to work on them to help them fully embody their characters in season 2.

As they progress into season three, it aids in their development. Moreover, I have taken Perrin's character to the point where he transforms into a wolf-like figure. I have already outlined the concepts for the upcoming stages, allowing him to have a clear understanding of his eventual destination.

Now, let's delve into the design of the Aes Sedai. Considering their vast numbers and diverse range, how do you manage the sheer volume they encompass?

Davina Lamont: Some days, it can be quite challenging. The production is truly magical. With around 250 cast members and a large crowd, it becomes a massive undertaking. At the beginning of each season, it can be overwhelming and a bit intimidating. However, I tackle it by breaking it down and focusing on one character at a time. This is my approach to handling the workload.

When it comes to the Aes Sedai, there is a lot to consider, especially within the world of the White Tower. They have a high fashion avant-garde look while they are in the White Tower. The overall appearance is stylish and meticulously put together, including the impressive costumes. We ensure that each Ajah (e.g. brown, red, green, yellow) has a suitable hairstyle that matches their chosen color.

The costumes play a significant role in shaping the overall appearance and character depiction.

Davina Lamont: Definitely! Costume and I have a great working relationship, and it involves a significant amount of collaboration.

In this season, Moiraine returns to her hometown of Cairhien and spends a substantial amount of time there. Therefore, we wanted to have multiple hairstyles for her before she embarks on her journey throughout the rest of the season.

Could you provide information on the prosthetics work for Lan and Moiraine's scarring? Moiraine has a scar from the previous season, while Lan has battle scars all over his body.

Davina Lamont: Yes, that's correct. Moiraine's scar is created using a material called Pre Bondo, along with silicon. My department handles the application of these prosthetics. Lan particularly enjoys wearing the scars and often takes his shirt off to showcase them. Similarly, Moiraine also wears a scar on her chest from season one, which remains a permanent part of her character.

How do you manage the consistency of someone like Lan, who has multiple scars?

Davina Lamont: It can be challenging, particularly when he was in Italy during the first episode, engaging in sparring where it was hot and sweaty. The scars require a significant amount of maintenance. Occasionally, we need to replace them, but he takes good care of them and also assists us in their upkeep.

Which characters posed the greatest challenge during the realization process?

Davina Lamont: Without a doubt, the Seanchan proved to be the most difficult. It was a complex task, particularly in terms of their costumes. When they are first introduced, they appear in battle mode with intimidating helmets. The task was to effectively convey their identity while retaining their intimidating presence. As the series progresses, there comes a point where they must remove their helmets, and I had to carefully design their appearance to maintain their frightful aura. Overall, it was a rewarding and fascinating experience.

Regarding Lan's scene in Italy where it's hot, I recall our discussion. However, in general, when there are stunt sequences and a multitude of action involved, does that influence the way hairstyling needs to be approached?

Davina Lamont: Yes, definitely. We receive a preview from the stunt department to determine if there will be a lot of movement and swirling. We discuss whether they want the costume and hair to also exhibit that movement. These discussions occur frequently.

There are instances when they have swords that need to be taken out, and they approach me saying, "Hey, Davina, it would be really cool if we could have a hairstyle that is more secure." In those cases, we modify the hairstyle again. However, most of the time, there are slow motion scenes where the skirts or jackets flow gracefully.

Especially in the channel as well.

Davina Lamont: Yeah, exactly. So majority of the time they want all the hair out. So it's good for me.

What element of the character designs in season 2 are you most proud of or looking forward to fans seeing?

Davina Lamont: We have put in a tremendous amount of effort to elevate the show and make it even more impressive in season 2 compared to season 1. Working with my team of 56 individuals, I can confidently say that they are the best team I've ever worked with and I am incredibly proud of them.

About Wheel Of Time Season 2

As Season Two unfolds, the young companions from the Two Rivers encounter both fresh and long-standing perils that relentlessly pursue them across different corners of the world. Bereft of the ability to offer assistance, the woman who discovered and led them is rendered powerless, compelling them to seek alternative reservoirs of resilience. Whether it be in the unwavering support they provide one another, the inner strength they possess within themselves, or the enigmatic forces of both illumination and obscurity – choices must be made to confront the challenges that lie ahead.

Check out our other Wheel of Time season 2 interviews here:

Sharon Gilham (Costume Design)

Jan Petrina

Ondrej Nekvasil (Production Design) & Ondrej Nierostek (Special Effect)

Holger Reibiger, Marigo Kehoe & Mike Weber

Sanaa Hamri & Thomas Napper

The first three episodes of Wheel of Time season 2 are available on Prime Video now, with new episodes airing every Friday.

Source: Screen Rant Plus