On a sunny autumn afternoon in Dublin, I sat down with award winning Hollywood makeup artist, Matteo Silvi over Zoom from his home in Italy. Matteo had just finished production on Ridley Scott’s medieval drama ‘The Last Duel’, starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer & Ben Affleck.

As Makeup Department Head, he was quite relieved that the filming was able to be completed after a long hiatus and just before Ireland went into its second lockdown.                  

“We started filming in early 2020 around Europe and were in Ireland for just one week before production was halted due to the pandemic. Thankfully, we were able to start filming again in October to finish the movie.”

Unfortunately, the cast and crew were not able to get the full Irish experience as they quarantined in the 5 Star K-Club Resort in Co. Kildare. “It was my first time in ireland and unfortunately did not get to see much as we were in our bubble between the film set and hotel due to restrictions, but I’d love to come back.”

This is the second film Silvi has done with Matt Damon, “We worked together previously on Stillwater, shot in Marseille. Matt’s great to work with, we had a really fun time.” Stillwater is a crime drama from Academy Award winning writer-director Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), about a father trying to exonerate his daughter from a crime she didn't commit. “I’m really pleased with how that film turned out.”

The Last Duel was the fourth film in which Matteo has worked with Ridley Scott, “It’s a great honour to work with Ridley, having worked previously on Kingdom of Heaven, All the Money in the World and Exodus: Gods & Kings.”

Matteo Silvi is a 4th generation film makeup artist, “My great-grandfather was the first in my family to become a makeup artist. He was an Italian actor and back in those days they had to do their own makeup. He developed quite the skill and started working on other actors thereby creating the makeup artist category in Italy. Two of my cousins are also makeup artists and even my nephew, who worked with me on The Last Duel.”

“My dad’s uncle worked on comedy movies in the 1950’s with the famous comedy actor Toto (Antonio de Curtis). It was natural then that my dad would work in this line of business.” Concludes Matteo.

Matteo’s father, Maurizio Silvi is a BAFTA award winning & Oscar nominated makeup artist. “When I was 17, I travelled to Australia with my dad as he was working on Moulin Rouge.” Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 hit starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.

“I was there studying at English school and in the afternoons, I would come on set and was really inspired by this environment.”

When I returned home to Italy, I called my dad and said, ‘I want to be a makeup artist’, he wasn’t too happy about it in the beginning as he wanted me to study more.” It seemed inevitable that Matteo would follow in his father & great-grandfather footsteps, all leaders in the industry.

Over his 20-year career, Matteo Silvi has worked on some of the most iconic films of our time, from James Bond Spectre, Everest, to The Avengers series, Men in Black, Hercules and many more.

Silvi currently has over 40 movie credits to his name working with leading actors and directors from Hollywood to Italy.

Another favourite project of Silvi was The Great Gatsby, “I really loved this film, the Baz Luhrmann family is amazing, great people to work with. It was so nice to work with my dad on this film and receive a Makeup Guild nomination for our work.” The Great Gatsby, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, is an impressive film set in the roaring 1920’s, New York. A young, idealistic Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) moves to Long Island to make it in the business world but is swept up in the decadence and alcohol fuelled era of the times. He meets Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), a wealthy but reclusive and mysterious figure. Despite all his wealth, there is still one thing Gatsby yearns for, and enlists Nick to help him achieve this ultimate dream.