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14 hidden details you might have missed in 'Promising Young Woman'

Kim RenfroApr 23, 2021, 17:53 IST

The character Cassie in "Promising Young Woman" and '60s French celebrity Brigitte Bardot.Focus Features and Getty Images

Insider spoke with the hair and makeup directors for the Oscar-nominated film "Promising Young Woman."
From "Virgin Mary" to Kardashians, see what inspired the film's various looks.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for the ending of "Promising Young Woman."

"Promising Young Woman," the thriller written and directed by Emerald Fennell, puts an allegorical spin on a the 21st century revenge trope.

Throughout the Oscar-nominated movie, Cassandra or Cassie (played by Carey Mulligan) adopts different personas to confront would-be sexual assailants who believe she's too drunk to stop them.

Insider spoke with Angie Wells and Daniel Curet, the hair and makeup artists responsible for crafting Cassandra's shifting aesthetics, to detail how Cassie shifts between her "real" self and the alter-egos she adopts in order to call out men and women on their wrongdoings.

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The different hairstyles Cassie wore during her "hits" were inspired by other women she had seen getting sexually harassed.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

Cassie's normal look included a ton of hair extensions and a very soft spray tan.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

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Cassie's "regular" hairstyle drew inspiration from Brigitte Bardot and was meant to act as an "armor."

The character Cassie in "Promising Young Woman" and '60s French celebrity Brigitte Bardot. Focus Features and Getty Images

Her next makeup look was evocative of the Joker character, almost like "tears of a clown," Wells said.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

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That look also had a specific "hipster" inspiration.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

Cassie's next dramatic club look was described in the script as "a cut-price Kardashian."

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

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When Cassie goes to meet a former lawyer, her look was referred to as the "Virgin Mary" on set.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

After a brief "happy" period in her relationship with Ryan, Cassie's world implodes again when she learns he was present for Nina's assault. When she confronts him, she's back in a similar "Virgin Mary" look.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

After a brief "happy" period in her relationship with Ryan, Cassie's world implodes again when she learns he was present for Nina's assault. When she confronts him, she's back in a similar "Virgin Mary" look.

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For the wig Cassie wears to Al's bachelor party, Curet combined two different hair pieces and cut it to a length requested by Mulligan herself.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

Cassie's makeup in that scene evoked an "evil blow-up doll" with huge eyes and overly lined lips.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

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Wells chose a magenta-pink lipstick instead of red because she wanted Cassie to feel less predictable.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

Wells says Cassie's final look even reminded her a bit of the horror-film character Chucky.

Carey Mulligan as Cassie in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

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