Vera has been a makeup artist for Zoe Saldana since 2011’s Colombiana, and in 2014 she helped bring the character of Gamora to life as portrayed by Saldana in Guardians of the Galaxy. Since then, she’s been on hand to perform her makeup artistry on all of Gamora’s appearances in the Marvel series, most recently in the epic Avengers film that seemed to bring the character to closure… or did it?

This biopic is truly unlike any other with Eddie Murphy embodying the raucous “Godfather of Rap” Rudy Ray Moore, whose sheer willpower catapulted him from taboo-breaking comedy performer to a surprise box office success. Vera’s attention to detail sells Murphy as a struggling Angeleno who ended up making an indelible mark on pop culture history.

Eddie Murphy earned an Oscar nomination for his energetic performance as the tragic James “Thunder” Early in this sparkling adaptation of the hit stage show. Vera’s skillful work on Murphy helped complete the illusion of a trailblazing R&B legend rising to prominence in the 1960s.

Vera’s first major Hollywood production was a challenging one as it also marked her first collaboration with Eddie Murphy, who took on multiple roles in the film, including most of the Klump family. Proving how much a performance can be enhanced by incisive makeup effects, the film remains a showcase for Murphy’s versatility and proved to be a strong calling card for Vera in the industry.

Tim Burton’s ambitious remake of the sci-fi classic remains one of his most divisive films, but everyone was impressed by the cutting-edge makeup designs by such respected names as Rick Baker and John Blake that brought the sci-fi simians to the screen. Vera’s work as an ape makeup artist played a key role in wowing the audience with the lifelike process of turning familiar actors into spectacular residents of another world.