Nola du Preez

(b. Pietermaritzburg, 28/07/1938). Make-up artist. Nola du Preez was born on a farm called Willowfountain some 10 kilometres south of Pietermaritzburg. During the 1960s and early 1970s she was a prominent make-up artist and the only one who could boast more film credits than her was William Bell, who taught her the basics of the craft. In addition she occasionally doubled up as continuity person. Initially she worked for Jamie Uys Film Productions, but subsequently was employed as a freelancer by such companies as Emil Nofal Films, Kavalier Films, Killarney Film Studios and Constantia Films. The directors she worked with included Jamie Uys, Emil Nofal, Elmo de Witt, Dirk de Villiers and Ivan Hall - all more than once.

In 1973 she married Stephan Slater, who had worked as an electrician on Ross Devenish's Boesman and Lena, for which she did the make-up. That same year she joined the SABC as their resident make-up artist and when SABC TV went live on 5 January 1976 she was the supervisor of the newly established make-up department. She took voluntary retirement in 1995. She and her husband were divorced in 1978. They had one daughter. (FO)