Billy B. discusses what it's like to create red carpet looks for one of Hollywood's most respected stars.		January 1, 2004 American Salon
	It's no secret that "The Publicist" is one of the most important people on a celebrity's team. He or she can control the fallout from high-profile situations that celebs may find themselves in, and can switch to war mode, controlling the spin that the press often puts on a situation. This person also hires a celeb's glam squad. For hairstylists, makeup artists, manicurists, and wardrobe stylists, the publicist is THE most important link between them and their celebrity clients. I'm lucky to work with some of the best publicists in the business, like Cindy Berger of PMK/HBH, whose clients include Rosie O'Donnell, Mariah Carey, Sharon Stone, and The Dixie Chicks. I have had the pleasure to work with Cindy and many of her clients. Not long ago, I realized she represented one of my favorite actors of all time, Laura Linney. I became aware of Laura when she brilliantly portrayed Mary Ann Singleton in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, a soap-opera style mini-series set in San Francisco in the 1970s. (If you haven't seen it, SEE IT!) I told Cindy I was a fan and that I would love to work with Laura. It wasn't long before Cindy booked me to do Laura's makeup for a Glamour magazine shoot. I was so excited and nervous! It's unusual for me to be anxious, but I had been a fan of Laura's work for so long. We did the job and were delighted with the outcome. Soon I was booked to do more with her, including the premieres of both of her recently released films, Mystic River and Love Actually. Laura is a queen of indie films and is also known for her work on Broadway, so I wanted a look that would be unexpected-super sultry. For the Mystic River premiere, she wore an amazing Vera Wang dress, and Oscar Blandi did the hair in a sexy, modern "undo." I chose a black and iridescent pewter smoky eye and dewy, fresh skin with a natural sheen blush, and a nude mouth. Everything came together beautifully! Luckily for all of us, people are still talking about it. Laura is one of the most respected actors in Hollywood, choosing to play compelling roles. And, with an Oscar nomination under her belt for her work in You Can Count On Me, she's sure to be fascinating us in movies for many years to come. With all that said, she is the most genuine, un-Hollywood type I've ever met. That made it all the more fun to transform her into a starlet for the red carpet.		Laura Linney at the premiere of Mystic River, left, and Love Actually, right.