Interview: The ‘Pam & Tommy’ hair and makeup design team break down those stunning transformations that turned Lily James and Sebastian Stan into Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee [VIDEO]

Hulu’s announcement that Lily James and Sebastian Stan were the duo cast to play iconic Hollywood couple Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee came as somewhat of a surprise. Downton Abbey’s English Rose and the superhero heartthrob don’t immediately seem like the obvious choices to play the all-American Baywatch bombshell and Mötley Crüe rocker. Then paparazzi photos of James and Stan leaked. And pop-culture watchers across the internet did a collective double-take; setting social media ablaze and silencing any doubters.

The new question on everyone’s mind became how the team behind Pam & Tommy executed such impressive, head-turning transformations.

The Hollywood magic comes from the combined decades of experience that makeup department head David Williams, hair department head Barry Lee Moe, and prosthetics designer Jason Collins bring to the eight-part miniseries. Williams and Moe are veterans of Ryan Murphy’s TV universe, with Williams winning Emmys for his makeup work on American Crime Story and Feud [as well as a 2009 win for MADtv]; Moe won two consecutive Emmys for hairstyling on Hollywood and Pose. Collins’ whopping 148 credits as a special effects makeup designer include Blade Runner 2049 and Bright. 

‘Pam & Tommy’ review: Sex lives and videotape and the rightful reparation of Pamela Anderson [Grade: A-]

Despite their impressive resumes and accolades, the team admits to battling nerves as they took on recreating some of the most iconic moments of the ‘90s as Anderson and Lee reached the height of their fame and withstood the fallout from the leak of their now infamous honeymoon sex tape.

Pam & Tommy required Williams, Moe, and Collins to oversee the hours-long, daily applications of wigs, fake tattoos, prosthetic body parts, and a makeup application that fundamentally altered the proportions and features of their actors—Stan, James, and a supporting cast that includes Taylor Schilling, Nick Offerman, and Seth Rogen.

“I always say ‘the devil is in the details.’ Williams says with a laugh. And Barry, Jason, and I are the three little devils.

Watch as Williams [bottom left] Moe [bottom right], and Collins [top left],  join AwardsWatch to discuss those details—the process, tricks of the trade, and favorite moments behind Pam & Tommy.

The first three episodes of Pam & Tommy premiere today, February 2, only on Hulu with new episodes airing weekly.

Photos: Erica Parise, Erin Simkin/Hulu

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Shadan Larki

Shadan Larki became captivated by awards ceremonies at the age of four when she watched Roberto Benigni climb his way to the Oscars stage. She attended The University of Texas with the dream of becoming an entertainment journalist. Her work has since appeared in numerous local and national publications. She also serves as a social media and marketing manager for non-profits and small businesses in Houston, TX— that’s where you can find her ferociously binge-watching movies & TV. And always on the hunt for her next great read.

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