Sometimes I wonder if it’s the modern, absurd extension of the stage makeup concept, taken to the extreme.
My ex-wife was a professional dancer, and her stage makeup made her look absolutely insane in person. But under stage lighting, it looked amazing.
Sometimes I wonder if cosmetic surgery was initially incorporated as something that would bring more popularity or work to an actor, because it would make them look more striking under the absurd, unreal lighting conditions of tv and film.
And that this has gotten completely carried away. Especially now, since nearly all cinema is greenscreen with scenery digitally added later. Which brings a tremendous amount of lighting incongruity, so we end up needing block-like, exaggerated, un-contoured faces, slathered in 42 layers of stage makeup, to look “proper” under these conditions.
I don’t know if this is totally out to lunch or not.