Nicole "Nicki" Ledermann (born January 8, 1968) is a German make-up artist for TV and film, known for her character makeup and period creations.
Ledermann was nominated for an
Academy Award for
Best Makeup in 2020 for her portrayal of ''
Joker'' (2019). This was Ledermann's first Academy Award nomination, as well as the
first time in Academy Award history of a German artist receiving the nomination in the Best Makeup category.
Early life
Born in
Kempten, Germany and raised in Munich, Nicki majored in Latin and Fine Arts at Munich's Pestalozzi Gymnasium High School of the Performing Arts. After studying at the
Conservatory of Music in Munich, she relocated to New York City in 1988 to become a makeup artist.
Career
Ledermann began her career working in New York's independent movie scene in the early 1990s, working on the likes of ''
Palookaville
Palookaville may refer to:
* ''Palookaville'' (film), a 1995 comedy film
* ''Palookaville'' (album), a 2004 electronic album by Fatboy Slim
* ''Palookaville'' (comics), an alternative comic book
See also
* Palooka (disambiguation)
{{disa ...
'' and ''
Happiness'' before moving onto television and major motion pictures. In the 2000s, she worked on ''
Sex and the City'', as well as well-loved movies including ''
P.S. I Love You'' and ''
Enchanted''. Ledermann has since designed makeup for some notable directors in the industry, including
Steven Soderbergh
Steven Andrew Soderbergh (; born January 14, 1963) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor. A pioneer of modern independent cinema, Soderbergh is an acclaimed and prolific filmmaker.
Soderbergh's direc ...
,
Martin Scorsese and
The Coen Brothers. Ledermann is a six-time
Emmy nominee for her work on shows such as: ''Sex and the City'', Soderbergh's drama ''
The Knick
''The Knick'' is an American medical period drama television series on Cinemax created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler and directed by Steven Soderbergh. The series follows Dr. John W. Thackery (Clive Owen) and the staff at a fictionalized vers ...
'' and Martin Scorsese's
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
series ''
Vinyl''. Ledermann won an Emmy Award for her makeup design for Martin Scorsese's pilot of ''
Boardwalk Empire
''Boardwalk Empire'' is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter and broadcast on the premium cable channel HBO. The series is set chiefly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and ...
'', whilst her work on ''
The Devil Wears Prada'' earned Ledermann a
BAFTA nomination. Some of Nicki’s most recent makeup design work includes the film musical ''
The Greatest Showman'' and Martin Scorsese's ''
The Irishman''.
Todd Phillips' ''
Joker'' earned Nicki an
Academy Award Nomination
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
as well as a BAFTA Nomination. In 2019, Ledermann was invited to become an active member of both the
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Personal life
Ledermann lives in
Brooklyn, New York City. She has three children with award-winning director
Alan Taylor: Ginger, Willa and Jamieson.
Filmography
* "
Joker: Folie à Deux" (2024) (''Department Head/Designer'') - In Production
* "
Sharper
A sharper is an older term, common since the seventeenth-century, for thieves who use trickery to part an owner with his or her money or other possessions. Sharpers vary from what are now known as con-men by virtue of the simplicity of their co ...
" (2023) (''Department Head/Designer'')
* "
The Gilded Age" (2022) (''Department Head'')
* "
Marry Me" (2022) (''Department Head'')
* "
Many Saints of Newark" (2021) (''Department Head/Designer'')
* "
Joker" (2019) (''Department Head/Designer'')
* "
The Kitchen" (2019) (''Department Head'')
* "
The Irishman" (2019) (''Department Head'')
* "
The Greatest Showman" (2017) (''Department Head/Designer'')
* "
The Only Living Boy in New York
"The Only Living Boy in New York" is a song written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel. It is the eighth track from the duo's fifth and final studio album, '' Bridge over Troubled Water''. The song was also issued as the B-side t ...
" (2017) ''(Department Head)''
* "
Snatched" (2017) ''(Department Head)''
* "
The Comedian" (2016) ''(Department Head)''
* "
Vinyl" (2016) (Season 1) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
The Knick
''The Knick'' is an American medical period drama television series on Cinemax created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler and directed by Steven Soderbergh. The series follows Dr. John W. Thackery (Clive Owen) and the staff at a fictionalized vers ...
" (2014-2015) (Season 1 & 2)''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
The Other Woman" (2014) ''(Department Head)''
* "
Now You See Me" (2013) ''(Department Head, Reshoots, Add. Photography)''
* "
Fading Gigolo (2013)" ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Side Effects" (2013) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Inside Llewyn Davis
''Inside Llewyn Davis'' () is a 2013 period black comedy musical drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. Set in 1961, the film follows one week in the life of Llewyn Davis, played by Oscar Isaac in his breakthr ...
" (2013) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Disconnect" (2012) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "Spring/Fall" (2011) ''(Personal makeup for Sigourney Weaver)''
* "
New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...
" (2011) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* 2011 Academy Awards ''(Personal makeup for Anne Hathaway)''
* "
The Moth Diaries" (2011) ''(Makeup Design Consultant)''
* "
Too Big To Fail" (2011) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
The Big Year
''The Big Year'' is a 2011 American comedy film starring Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin. ''The Big Year'' was directed by David Frankel and written by Howard Franklin. It was based on the 2004 nonfiction book ''The Big Year: A Tale of ...
, (2011)" ''(NY Department Head)''
* "
Sex and the City 2" (2010) ''(Personal Makeup for Kristen Davis)''
* "
After.Life, (2009)" ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Valentine's Day" (2010) ''(Personal Makeup for Anne Hathaway)''
* "
Boardwalk Empire
''Boardwalk Empire'' is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter and broadcast on the premium cable channel HBO. The series is set chiefly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and ...
" (2010) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
** episode 1.01 "Pilot"
* "
Bored to Death
''Bored to Death'' is an American comedy series that ran on HBO from September 20, 2009, to November 28, 2011. The show was created by author Jonathan Ames, and stars Jason Schwartzman as a fictional Jonathan Ames—a writer based in Brooklyn, Ne ...
" ''(Department Head/Designer)''
** episode 2.01 "Escape from the Dungeon!" (2010)
** episode 1.04 "The Case of the Stolen Skateboard" (2009)
** episode 1.03 "The Case of the Missing Screenplay" (2009)
** episode 1.02 "The Alanon Case" (2009)
* "Exit 19" (2009) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Get Smart, (2008) ''(Personal Makeup for Anne Hathaway)''
* "
P.S. I Love You" (2007) ''(Department Head)''
* "
Enchanted" (2007) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
The Devil Wears Prada" ''(2006) (Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Failure To Launch" (2006) ''(Personal Makeup for Sarah Jessica Parker)''
* "
The Groomsmen" (2006)''(Personal makeup for Brittany Murphy)''
* "
The Notorious Bettie Page" (2005) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Law and Order: Trial by Jury" (2005-2006) ''(Department Head)''
** episode 1.13 "Eros in the Upper Eighties" (2006)
** episode 1.11 "Day" (2005)
** episode 1.10 "Blue Wall" (2005)
** episode 1.08 "Skeleton" (2005)
** episode 1.07 "Bang & Blame" (2005)
** episode 1.05 "Baby Boom" (2005)
** episode 1.04 "Truth or Consequences" (2005)
** episode 1.02 "41 Shots" (2005)
** episode 1.01 "The Abominable Showman" (2005)
* "
Sex and the City" (2000-2004) (Seasons 1,2,3,4) ''(Department Head/Designer/Personal Makeup for Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristen Davis)''
* "
Running Scared" (2006) ''(NY Department Head)''
* "
City By The Sea
''City by the Sea'' is a 2002 American crime drama film starring Robert De Niro, James Franco, Eliza Dushku, Frances McDormand and William Forsythe. It deals with the family problems of a wayward youth and is set against a man trying to break fre ...
, (2002)" ''(Department Head)''
* "
Fifteen Minutes, (2001)" ''(NYC Personal Makeup to Edward Burns)''
* "
Glitter (2001)" ''(NY Department Head)''
* "
Before Night Falls
''Before Night Falls'' ( es, Antes que anochezca: autobiografía) is the 1992 autobiography of Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas, describing his early life in Cuba, his time in prison, and his escape to the United States in the Mariel Boatlift of 1 ...
" (2000) ''(NY Department Head)''
* "
Sidewalks of New York" (2001) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
The In Crowd" (2000) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Turn It Up" (2000) ''(NY Department Head)''
* "
Down to You" (2000) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Passion of Mind" (2000) ''(NY Department Head)''
* "
Madigan Men" (2000) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
** episode 1.02 "Irish Men Can't Jump" (2000)
** episode 1.01 "Pilot" (2000)
* "
Talk to Me" (2000) ''(Personal Makeup for Beverly DeAngelo)''
** Season 1,
* "
Jesus' Son" (1999) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Election" (1999) ''(NY/DC Department Head)''
* "
Boys Don't Cry" (1999) ''(Makeup/hair consultant for Hilary Swank)''
* "
Simply Irresistible" (1999) ''(Key makeup)''
* "
LateLine" (1999) ''(Personal makeup for Al Franken)''
** episode 2.04 "Kids 'N' Guns" (1999)
* "
Coming Soon" (1999) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Row Your Boat (1998)" ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Happiness" (1998) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Six Ways to Sunday
''Six Ways to Sunday'' is a 1997 American crime drama film with elements of comedy directed by Adam Bernstein. It is based on Charles Perry's novel '' Portrait of a Young Man Drowning''.
Plot
Eighteen-year-old Harry (Norman Reedus), is an innoc ...
" (1997) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
A Fish in the Bathtub
''A Fish in the Bathtub'' is a 1999 comedy film directed by Joan Micklin Silver. It stars real life couple Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara play Sam and Molly, a married husband and wife whose marriage has been stretched ...
" (1999) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "Louis & Frank" (1998) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "New York Crossing" (1996) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Sudden Manhattan"' (1996) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Walking and Talking
''Walking and Talking'' is a 1996 independent film written and directed by Nicole Holofcener and starring Catherine Keener, Anne Heche, Todd Field, Liev Schreiber and Kevin Corrigan.
The film is #47 on ''Entertainment Weekly''s "Top 50 Cult Films ...
" (1996) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Caught
Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in cricket. A batsman is out caught if the batsman hits the ball, from a legitimate delivery, with the bat, and the ball is caught by the bowler or a fielder before it hits the ground.
If the ball h ...
" (1996) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Grind" (1997) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "Under The Bridge" (1996) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
* "
Palookaville
Palookaville may refer to:
* ''Palookaville'' (film), a 1995 comedy film
* ''Palookaville'' (album), a 2004 electronic album by Fatboy Slim
* ''Palookaville'' (comics), an alternative comic book
See also
* Palooka (disambiguation)
{{disa ...
" (1995) ''(Department Head/Designer)''
Awards
Academy Awards for Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling
BAFTA Awards
The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTA Film Awards is an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to film. The cere ...
for
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
EMMY Awards
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
for Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling
Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards for Best Period and/or Character Makeup
Critics' Choice Awards for Best Makeup
Hollywood Beauty Awards
External links
Nicki Ledermannon
IMDb
www.nickiledermann.com
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ledermann, Nicki
1968 births
Living people
German make-up artists