Anita 'made up' with her new venture

Anita left her home in Portrush 13 years ago to become a film and television make-up artist in a career which has taken her from Dublin to New Zealand (and many countries in between) working on international sets with stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron and Clive Owen.

Now back home, 37 year-old Anita frequently works behind the scenes at the BBC studios in Belfast making up top local presenters such as Donna Traynor, Sarah Travers and Noel Thompson as well as local politicians and other TV guests.

Now, with the help of Invest NI, Anita has decided to start a new make-up business catering for all the women of Northern Ireland!

However, while Anita knows plenty about make-up and hair, her business skills were untested and she freely admits that with no business background she was at a big disadvantage. “There are many people like me with great business ideas but unless you are a real entrepreneur it can be hard to make your dream a reality,” said Anita.

Fortunately, help was at hand through Invest NI’s Go for it programme. “I was assigned a business advisor in January who developed a tailored package of training, workshops and specialised mentors, which in my case focused on market research, business planning and selling,” said Anita.

“I also attended a networking seminar and got advice on tax returns, book keeping, expenses and such like. As I often work evening news shifts at the BBC, the fact that the modules were flexible and included night slots was invaluable.

“My mentors from the Go for it programme provided encouragement, support and practical information I just wouldn’t have thought of, even though I was already self employed.”

Now Anita is looking forward to a successful new career, promoting her current skills to a different market. “I want to make my permanent home in Northern Ireland as this is where my partner and family live, but industry-wise it has a relatively small catchment area and you often have to be available to do jobs at short notice,” she explained. “This new business will allow me to dictate my own work schedule.

“I also want to utilise my skills in other ways that I find particularly rewarding. For instance I believe that the right make-up and perhaps a good wig might help give a much needed lift to a woman going through chemotherapy for cancer. It’s about providing a boost and a bit of confidence at a time when she must be feeling particularly low.”

It’s something Anita feels every woman can benefit from. “It’s not about creating film star or pop star looks, although of course that’s something I can do,” said Anita.

“It’s about showing all women how they can make the most of themselves, accepting the way they look while at the same time helping to conceal any skin issues and highlighting their good features. It’s about using appropriate products, choosing formulations for their skin type and colours most suitable for their age, perhaps updating a tired look they haven’t changed in years. Anyone can benefit from the experience, whatever their age or budget.”

Indeed Anita began her career in make-up at an early age when her mother spotted her potential and asked Anita to apply her makeup when going out in the evening.

“My parents Anne and Eamon Brolly owned the Eglinton Hotel in Portrush and my mum was often invited to functions. “I used to apply her make-up for her and loved getting the opportunity to hone my skills from an early age.”

“With my new business I’ll be based in Belfast, where I now live,” said Anita, “but I hope to offer my services both individually and to groups, organisations and corporate companies around the province, so hopefully I’ll be back working in my home town again soon.

“The Go for it programme has taught me the need for careful business planning and targeting of specific markets. For example I aim to provide master classes to staff at corporate companies where cultivating the right professional image is vital and, at the other end of the spectrum, more intimate workshops for women getting together in the evening over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.”

As for spilling any star secrets along the way, Anita will only say diplomatically that everyone she has worked with has been lovely.

“All I will say is that my make-up skills have on occasion been severely tested when a night out after a hard day’s filming has resulted in some actors looking particularly haggard the next morning, with grazes on their faces and even black eyes, which I’ve had to cover up!

But even on a bad day the stars still look good, in Anita’s experience. “These big international stars don’t make it by chance,” she said. “They have something about them, including, from my professional viewpoint, the raw material to work on in the first place. Even without make-up you can see the fine bone structure and the innately stunning good looks.”