When Hollywood's most beautiful actresses walked the red carpet to the 82nd Academy Awards last night, they had the finest make-up artists, hair stylists and designers on hand to make them look a million dollars.

We wondered if we could achieve that shining movie star look, with more modest resources at our disposal.

And we discovered that with some professional know-how and top tips and we can all master the tricks of A-list beauty.

Couture dresses, dramatic hair and fabulous accessories are all part of the magic.

But the final result always rests on flawless make-up that will look amazing in the face of a camera flash.

Make-up artist Julie Ann Pattinson knows exactly what it takes to create a knockout look to compliment a hero dress.

"Few people realise the time and work that goes into professional make up looks, but the result is always worth it," said Julie, from Sunderland.

"When you're going in front of cameras your face needs to be completely flawless and it needs to last – then it's a question of making your features really pop."

For our day in front of the camera she worked for six hours to turn us from girls-next-door to red carpet beauties.

But before our transformation, we went to David Lawson Studios, in Sunderland, for some "before" shots to capture our standard make-up looks.

After leaving school at 15, David took a job in Newcastle developing black and white film, and two years later opened the studio on Chester Road.

Since then he has photographed Princess Diana, HRH Prince Andrew, Ken Dodd, Tony Blair, Koo Stark, Colin Jackson, Ali McCoist, Roy Keane and many more famous faces.

David, who won North East MPE Fashion and Commercial Photographer of the year Award 2009, said: "I think the secret is to make people feel at ease. Often they will warm up as the shoot goes on.

Then we can use all our lighting and digital skills to create a beautiful end result."

With our "before" shots in the bag, it was time to sit in the hot seat.

For Cara Houchen, Julie created a classical sexpot look, with dark dramatic eyes and red lips.

For myself, Julie took created a porcelain china doll base, simple eyes and a demure red lip for a classical look.

Georga Spottiswood was transformed into a Liv Tyler beauty, complete with heavy fringe, nude base and elegant eyeliner.

Following hours of hair and make-up we went back in front of the camera for the second time. And for that hour we all felt we had left our day-to-day selves far behind.

TOP TIPS FOR MAKE-UP
1. Getting your base right is essential. Build it up slowly.

2. Practice makes perfect. Take time to get your 'big night' make up perfect before the event rather than rushing on the day.

3. Stay pristine. Once your make up is finished and its time to put your dress on, place a cotton pillow case over your head first and then slip your dress on. This is a classic behind-the-scenes tip that models use to keep their outfits make up free.

4. Every woman suits red lipstick. Julie says: "There's a shade for everyone, it's just a question of getting the right one." Ask a make-up artist to make a recommendation, use liner and be brave! Red lipstick is the ultimate in Oscar glamour.

5. False eyelashes add drama and polish to extravagant looks.

MOST MEMORABLE RED-CARPET MOMENTS
1 A 29-year-old Liz Hurley broke hearts and started fires in 1994 when she lounged from the arm of Hugh Grant wearing a black Versace dress and several large gold safety pins.

The photographs went worldwide and Miss Hurley stole the show at the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral.

2 Bonkers Icelandic beauty Bjork showed a strange alliance with wildlife in 2001 when she attended the Oscars wearing little more than a giant swan.

The pedalo tribute dress was designed by Marjan Pejoski and kept Bjork in the worst-dressed gaff pages for weeks, if not months.

3 Celine Dion turned heads in 1999 by donning a John Galliano backward suit ensemble from Christian Dior with tilted fedora at the Academy Awards.

Fashionistas gasped at the outfit, and everyone who saw it needed a lie down in a dark room.

4 Gwyneth Paltrow divided critics in 1999 when she wore a barbie pink Ralph Lauren number to collect Best Actress at the Oscars.

But they soon lost all interest in her wardrobe when her acceptance speech tears threatened to drown the assembled audience.

Then a year later she opted for a sheer Alexander Macqueen number that left little to the imagination.

Critics weren't divided with that one – they all hated it to a man.