Current:Home > MarketsHow Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Honors Olivia Newton-John's Beauty Legacy-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
How Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Honors Olivia Newton-John's Beauty Legacy
View Date:2024-12-23 19:24:42
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is hopelessly devoted to Olivia Newton-John.
At least, that was the intention behind some of the beauty looks in the new Paramount+ series, which is set in 1954 and explores the story of how the iconic girl clique originated. Makeup department head Marianne Olsen revealed she pulled inspiration from Olivia's unforgettable role as Sandy Olsson in Grease—the goody-two-shoes who falls for bad boy Danny Zuko (John Travolta)—and how she honored the late actress' legacy following her death in August 2022.
"The original Grease was so iconic, there is no other Sandy and Danny," Marianne exclusively told E! News. "But we did cheat a little of her ‘look' on the character, Susan."
The makeup artist pointed out there are similarities between Sandy and Susan (Madison Thompson), with the biggest trait being that the Rise of the Pink Ladies character is "deemed perfect in appearance."
In addition to referencing the original Grease, Marianne also used Grace Kelly, Sandra Dee and Mad Men character Betty Draper (January Jones) as blueprints for Susan.
For the rest of the cast, the makeup artist took beauty cues from Hollywood's it girls of the 1950s.
"I looked at teen movies and TV shows such as Rebel without a Cause with Natalie Wood," Marianne shared. "Gidget, A Place in the Sun with Sandra Dee. The teens in Westside Story. Also taking into consideration the looks of Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe, to name a few."
And while the era lends itself to ultra-glamorous looks, Marianne couldn't go over the top because, as she noted, the show still portrays teenagers in high school. But that doesn't mean she shied away from creating bold styles entirely.
The character of Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), for instance, "decides to use her sexuality for empowerment," Marianne said. "So, we went with the Marilyn Monroe style of red lips and winged liner."
Plus, the makeup artist slightly pushed the boundaries by adding a little modernity to the cast's appearances. "We tried to stay with makeup of the '50s using matte products as much as possible," she shared. "But for the fantasy sequences, we had more fun."
Marianne said director, Alethea Jones, encouraged her to go outside of the box, referencing Euphoria and Harry Styles. "We brought some of the dance numbers to 2022 using glitter, gems, and at times, abstract eye designs," she revealed. "Lots of lashes were used."
While there's no denying the 1978 musical became a cultural phenomenon, Marianne hopes the prequel can offer something similar.
"The most rewarding for me is introducing a new Grease to those that never experienced the original," she shared of working on the series. "The talent of cast and crew is amazing."
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies premieres April 6 on Paramount+.
Sign up for E! Insider! Unlock exclusive content, custom alerts & more!veryGood! (9)
Related
- Lou Donaldson, jazz saxophonist who blended many influences, dead at 98
- Climate Week 2024 underway in New York. Here's what to know.
- Marvel Studios debuts 'Thunderbolts' teaser trailer, featuring Florence Pugh and co-stars
- Michael Strahan Wants to Replace “Grandpa” Title With This Unique Name
- GreenBox Systems will spend $144 million to build an automated warehouse in Georgia
- DWTS Pro Ezra Sosa Shares Why Partner Anna Delvey Cried in the Bathroom After Premiere
- Passenger killed when horse smashes through windshield during California highway crashes
- EPA data make it hard to know the extent of the contamination from last year’s Ohio derailment
- Kirk Herbstreit berates LSU fans throwing trash vs Alabama: 'Enough is enough, clowns'
- 'Monsters' star Nicholas Alexander Chavez responds after Erik Menendez slams Netflix series
Ranking
- Sydney Sweeney Slams Women Empowerment in the Industry as Being Fake
- Jimmy Kimmel shows concern (jokingly?) as Mike Tyson details training regimen
- Almost all small businesses are using a software tool that is enabled by AI
- Ex-officer charged with couple’s death in Houston drug raid awaits jury’s verdict
- Shel Talmy, produced hits by The Who, The Kinks and other 1960s British bands, dead at 87
- US company accuses Mexico of expropriating its property on the Caribbean coast
- 1000-Lb. Sisters’ Tammy Slaton Details “Emotional Challenges” She Faced During Food Addiction
- Shailene Woodley Details Losing Her Hearing While Suffering “Conflation” of Health Issues
Recommendation
-
Georgia public universities and colleges see enrollment rise by 6%
-
Did You Know Bath & Body Works Has a Laundry Line? Make Your Clothes Smell Like Your Fave Scent for $20
-
Almost all small businesses are using a software tool that is enabled by AI
-
Man who staked out Trump at Florida golf course charged with attempting an assassination
-
32-year-old Maryland woman dies after golf cart accident
-
Rosie O'Donnell 'in shock' after arrest of former neighbor Diddy, compares him to Weinstein
-
US company accuses Mexico of expropriating its property on the Caribbean coast
-
US to hand over pest inspections of Mexican avocados to Mexico and California growers aren’t happy