'The Sympathizer': Makeup team explains process behind RDJ's four looks

'The Sympathizer': Makeup team explains process behind RDJ's four looks
30 Apr 2024

In HBO's latest miniseries, The Sympathizer, actor Robert Downey Jr. has outdone himself by playing not just one, but four diametrically distinct characters.

This adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's renowned novel is helmed by director Park Chan-Wook, who presents America through the unique perspective of one actor embodying multiple roles.

Now, the makeup team behind the show has revealed how they achieved the distinct looks for the Oscar awardee.

Vincent Van Dyke initiated the transformation process
Transformation process

To realize Park's vision, a talented team led by FX prosthetic designer Vincent Van Dyke was assembled.

He initiated the transformation process by crafting hair, eyebrows, and mustaches on four plaster heads.

The approval process involved discussions with Park, Downey, and executive producers Susan Downey and Amanda Burrell.

"I was sculpting hair, eyebrows, and mustaches trying to get an overall feel and vibe for what these characters would look like," he told Variety.

Claude is intended to be 'incredibly innocuous'
Character creation

One of the characters Downey portrays is Claude, a CIA contact.

Van Dyke shared that Claude's character underwent the most changes during the discussion process, stating, "The idea was he needed to feel tough and that he had seen some shit."

Susan added, "Robert specifically wanted him to be incredibly innocuous. Just somebody you pass on the street and wouldn't think twice about."

Downey was prepared to shave his head for one character
Character development

Downey also portrays Professor Hammer and was prepared to shave his head and reportedly told the team, "F* k it, I'm going to make it easier for everybody so we can change my hairline however we want."

Eventually, Van Dyke created a full prosthetic piece to depict a large abdominal scar, suggesting a spleen removal surgery.

Makeup artists Chris Burgoyne and Mike Mekash spent 90 minutes applying the prosthetics, which included extending his earlobes and adding eye bag pieces.

Black contact lenses were a key feature of another character
Character design

Another character Downey brings to life is a congressman.

Susan noted the actor's black contact lenses were a key feature of this character, stating, "There is no light in those eyes."

The congressman's hair was styled by Katherine Kousakis to mirror that of a typical 1970s politician, while Van Dyke reshaped Downey's lower lip with a prosthetic piece for a unique profile.

Per Van Dyke, "You don't know if you trust this guy, and yet, he's incredibly charming and appealing."

Downey's last character is The Auteur
Character portrayal

Downey's last character is The Auteur, a European individual filled with charm who encounters the Captain in Los Angeles and is introduced in episode three.

Kousakis designed a wig with chocolate-colored curls for this character, while Van Dyke added a mole as suggested by Downey.

He said, "His hair is tussled and he's got this vibrato to him. You've got this sense that he's an oil painter by night, and shooting films by day."

Watch the show on JioCinema.