Body-shifting Rebecca to Mystique

By Azad June 25, 2000 10:34 PM

Out of the many characters in the upcoming X-men movie, being the blue shape-shifting Mystique involved the most suffering. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos wore 75 to 90 silicone prosthetics, as well as head-to-toe blue makeup, to become the nearly naked mutant.

X-Men makeup supervisor Gordon Smith says "The first time we did it, it took 10 hours. ... But, after the third time, we had it down to six hours, so we cut four hours off it."

Despite the alluring appearance of being nude, Romijn-Stamos was not nude. "She's not wearing anything but the prosthetics, but the prosthetics are designed as clothing," he said. "We built them for modesty's sake and practicality, so she could go to the bathroom."

And for a suit designed as such, one can only imagine the makeup process. Smith said that Romijn-Stamos received the utmost care and sensitivity. "I backed out of that after the first application for modesty reasons and polite reasons. My mother raised me good. It's very intrusive." Or should I remark, intimate?

Smith continued to say, "So I had a team of girls, who were artists from my studio, look after Rebecca pretty much exclusively." Good move. I guess that beats getting a slap in the face during the intimate make-up process, for me at least.

And what are my other thoughts? I think I'm in the wrong business.

Expect to see X-men on the big screen July 14. It's gonna be a blast.