Kazuhiro Tsuji is widely regarded as one of the greatest makeup effects artists in the world.

Tsuji retired from film in 2012 after Looper, and has pursued a career as an artist and sculptor. He is noted for his extraordinarily large and realistic busts, including his widely-lauded Abraham Lincoln.

When pre-production began on Darkest Hour, Gary Oldman sought out Tsuji and insisted that he be the one to transform him into Churchill.