Thomas Foldberg

Biography

Thomas Foldberg is a premier Danish special makeup effects and prosthetic designer known for his mastery of the grotesque and the surreal. A self-taught artist who began his career in 1997, he has become the go-to prosthetics expert for Scandinavian auteur cinema, frequently collaborating with directors like Lars von Trier and Anders Thomas Jensen to create visceral, often disturbing character transformations. In January 2026, Foldberg received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for the Norwegian horror-satire "The Ugly Stepsister" (2025). Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, the film reimagines the Cinderella myth with a focus on body horror and surgical modification. Working alongside makeup designer Anne Cathrine Sauerberg, Foldberg was praised for creating the film's "gorgeously grotesque" prosthetics, which included subtle facial restructuring for the lead character Elvira and visceral gore effects that satirized modern beauty standards. Foldberg's career is defined by his work on boundary-pushing films. He was a key makeup artist on the Oscar-nominated film "Border" (2018), helping to create the iconic neanderthal-like trolls. His resume also includes the warped characters of "Men & Chicken" (2015) and the shocking visuals of Lars von Trier's "Antichrist" (2009) and "Nymphomaniac" (2013). Outside of film, Foldberg is a professional blues musician. He plays guitar and harmonica for the Copenhagen-based group The Fried Okra Band.