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Jennifer Lamphee is a makeup artist who has worked on countless TV shows and is currently running the hair and makeup team on the new series of Channel Ten's Wonderland, due on our screens in August. She lives in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs with her three children Indi 12, Milla 11, and Little Gia 5. Husband Chief and a labradoodle Buddy.
C4K: What made you become a makeup artist and how did you get into TV?
JL: I became a makeup artist after doing my hairdressing apprenticeship. I decided that makeup sounded interesting and I had a client who was into it. So I popped myself through a course. The rest is history. I kept assisting great women in the film Industry and basically grew my skills on the job, doing wigs, prosthetics and special effects.
C4K: Do your kids ever get to go on set?
JL: Yes the children come out to all the film sets and TV shows I design for. They love it, especially meeting the actors. I think still for them meeting Hugh Jackman was a highlight when I designed Wolverine. He took them to the set and showed them around. He was so lovely.
C4K: Any amusing behind the scenes stories?!
JL: Yes every day we all have a laugh, But one of the funniest things I can remember was in a period show set in 1820, an actor gave me her bonnet to put on her head, but it was actually her cotton handbag. I put it on!
C4K: Working on TV shows you have to work long hours… how do you manage your schedule with the kids?
JL: When I do a big film like "I - Frankenstein" or "The Water Diviner" it has extremely long hours, so I now try and balance these big budget films with a TV show within the same year.
The TV shows are really kid friendly, because all in my team are mothers, so I just cycle them around so we all have weekly time with the kids. Also "Wonderland" is perfect for me, because the show is shot in the Eastern Suburbs, which means the kids can pop in on their way home from school. It only takes me 5 minutes to get to and from work. I also have an au pair who takes the girls to and from school. She also helps and supports us with helping with the day-to-day children activities.
C4K: How did you find your au pair?
JL: I usually go through an agency, but my current au pair is an Australian girl from the country, so she wanted a change to the city. There are many sites that you also can advertise for an au pair.
C4K: What are the advantages and disadvantages (if any) of having an au pair?
JL: The advantages of having an au pair is that I am often at work at 5am and my husband owns a gym called Holistic Fitness, which is located in the back lot of Fox Studios. He is also out the door at 5 in the morning! The great thing is Hannah, our lovely au pair, doesn't have to wake up till 7am to get the girls ready. Plus it's perfect because she can have a break in the middle of the day, otherwise someone would have to get up extremely early to drive over.
There aren't really any disadvantages. If anything, it just takes a while to get used to someone else living in your house. That's pretty much it.
C4K: How did you feel with your last baby going off to school this year?
JL: Bittersweet, part of me was thrilled that they were all at school, but then there was the realisation my baby was getting bigger. I also had one start high school this year, which was a big deal, and made me feel very old!!
C4K: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a mum?
JL: I would say my strengths are being really patient. I think becoming a Mum made me that. Also, listening to my girls if there is a problem. My weakness is that I find it hard to spend individual time with all 3.
C4K: Top three things you couldn't do without as a working mum?
JL: My au pair, my alarm clock and my rewarding glass of red wine at the end of my day and the cuddles I get when home.
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