Soon, makeup would take on a magical quality in Chantal’s eyes. Linking theatre, film and painting, makeup seemed like the world that would bond the three. Being able to transform and tweak someone’s look and features by creating special effects through makeup on this moving canvas, became Chantal’s single motivating challenge.

By 16, she had started her studies in makeup at the International Federation of Aestheticians (INFA) school in Naxxar, Malta, where she obtained her ‘Passport for international Aestheticians’ and during her examinations was honoured with excellent presentation of work; an award executed by international examiners. Shortly after this, Chantal landed her first challenging opportunity in film. She was to be one of the set make-up artists on the production of ‘Helen of Troy’ (BBC). She was found to be a hard-working, devoted individual, with a strong ability to execute her talent, and as makeup goes, worked well both autonomously and within a team.

The film industry, being well known for its unpredictability and challenges didn’t intimidate Chantal. On the contrary, she managed to take it all in her stride as she knew the experience would be priceless, from her very first day on set. Following this great opportunity, Chantal became a regular fixture on a number of series and movies filmed in Malta: blockbusters which included ‘Troy’ (WB), ‘Munich’ (Steven Spielberg) 13 Hours (Michael Bay/ Paramount), Assassin’s Creed (20^th Century Fox), The Promise (Christian Bale Film), Jurassic World Dominion (Universal), Foundation (Apple), Napoleon (Apple/Ridley Scott). On the set of Agora, Chantal was carefully instructed on how to use the ‘Lay-on-Hair’ method, under the supervision of the Italian makeup artist Matteo Silvi, and proved to be a natural. Besides that, she was also able to come up with her own concoction of putty makeup, which ranged from a number of shades, which the production used as ‘dirtying down’ makeup throughout filming for the crowds, and stunts.

She was equally devoted to a number of medium-budget projects such as ‘Lord Byron,’ ‘Roman Mysteries’ (BBC), ‘Blackbeard: the Real pirate of the Caribbean’ (Dangerous Films Ltd), ‘Man of East’ (Russian T.V. series), ‘Commisario Rex’ (Italian T.V. series), Fort Ross ( Russian film), The Whale (BBC), Queen of the South (USA Netwrok), The Dovekeepers (CBS),  Mix up in the Mediterranean (Hallmark), Prizefighter (Camelot Films). In Los Angeles, she also worked on a small feature movie called ‘PrettyRose Bud’ (Oscar Torre).

When not taking on film work, Chantal keeps herself busy with two things; freelance makeup, and travelling the world working on superyachts. Her freelance makeup jobs have included music videos: for local and foreign artists, dance shows, ballet performances,theater( including the Common Wealth show presented to the Queen of England in November 2005) She’s workes on local and Foreign Commercials, fashion and featured events, all genres of photo shoots as well as weddings. She’s spanned makeup work from Malta to Italy, Miami to L.A.

Thanks to her yachting jobs, Chantal is able to slip in makeup work around different parts of the world were she was able to work with and learn from global learned makeup artists, photographers, and camera people. It is this that has kept her abreast with new insights and knowledge of the latest trends and products in the world at large and this that makes her an invaluable commodity within her field.

Knowing her journey has just started and with a resolute passion in excelling throughout the film world, Chantal set her eyes on furthering her studies in Special Effects Makeup. There was only ever going to be one option – Hollywood. It was in Cinema Makeup School (LA) that she attended the Master Class: covering everything from Beauty makeup to Theater makeup, Prosthetics to Special Effects and Bald Caps to Old Age; DFX, and Creature Maquette courses. Needless to say, she graduated with excellent grades, and impeccable attendance.

Having tackled the world of film,stage and fashion makeup for the majority of her life, Chantal is considered to be a season professional notwithstanding her young age. She worked on the first Maltese feature film shown internationally : ‘Simshar’. Here Chantal had to design and create waterproof and resiliant prosthetics for the four main actors who’s boat explodes and then are lost at sea on a tiny raft for a few days. The prosthetics needed to be extremely resilient since actors were faced to do long hours of filming in seawater also containing Chlorine. 

On ‘The Whale’, Chantal executed extensive prosthetic and character make-up on a number of UK actors. Again challenged by the fact the the prosthetics needed to be as waterproof and resiliant as possible given the amount of sea and rain scenes scheduled. Creating makeup for characters lost at sea is always a challenging project, as all the makeup work needs to look extreemly real, and there is no space for little cheats. 

Of late Chantal was the Makeup designer and personal makeup artist to Natascha McElhone (Californication, Designated Survivor) on the Independent film Carmen. Which has been awarded the best feature film at the Canadian Film Festival! As well as “Best of Show“ at the Female Eye Canadian film festival.

Besides her Makeup skills, Chantal works well within a team as well as HOD, Supervisor and Co-ordinator. Her latest achievement was to be crowd supervisor for the recent “Napoleon ” directed by Ridley Scott, for the Malta leg part of filming. She is extremely organised in her work, and gives constant support to her team. She is very hands on and leads by example.

Besides prosthetic work, Chantal enjoys fashion projects too: she designed and applied make-up for a short fashion video ‘Fugue’ , which was featured on the official selection page of La Jolla Fashion Film Festival and  nominated for ‘best director’ & ‘best cinematography’ at the International Fashion Film Awards. Her latest achievement was to be crowd supervisor for the recent “Napoleon“ directed by Ridley Scott.

Chantal is an absolute lover of all art forms and she feels ecstatic when creating, changing, tweaking and making things look a different way to what they really are through her unique point of view. She believes we are all armed with the power of collective imagination, and thus feels exhilarated with the talent we all seemingly share to flood our work with talent and creativity. With a point of view like that, the sky really is the limit.