My Other Life: Lina Nyberg, Special Effects Makeup Artist

When she’s not enjoying the peace and quiet of the salon, you’ll find Stockholm-based nail tech and salon owner Lina Nyberg running between film and theater sets as a special effects makeup artist and mask maker. “I always loved theater and films. I used to make costumes for the theater,” says Nyberg. So it wasn’t a great leap when, in 2010, she embarked upon a full year course studying wig-making, mask-making, and stage and character makeup. “I loved it!” she says. “When I was asked to do the makeup, hair, and masks for a musical version of Candide at a renowned Stockholm theater less than six months after graduating I almost fell over with joy. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life — right up there with getting a gold and silver medal at the Nailympics.”

To learn more, she sought out internships in Sweden, but got no response. “The one reply I received was from George Frangadakis, shop supervisor at VGP Effects in Hollywood,” she says. “He recommended I come to Hollywood where all the best special effects artists and teachers are.

“It was scary leaving my home and full-time job behind, but going to Hollywood to study for six months was truly worth it. I wouldn’t have been able to learn all that I did in 10 years staying in Sweden. I learned advanced airbrush techniques, realistic sculpting, blood tubing, making silicone and foam latex appliances, and dentures.”

Now back in Europe — jumping back and forth between the U.K. and Sweden — Nyberg has had numerous opportunities to hone her skills. “I’ve done bald caps, made fake tattoos for a film about biker gangs, done cuts and bruises for commercials, and even created an entire World War I zombie army for a music video,” she says. “I love the variety and giving it my all. For several months, I get to live, eat, and dream my project, then it’s off to new inspiration.”