TAFE NSW Cootamundra makeup and beauty graduate Emily Walsh has won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) – 2024 for the wildly successful television show, Shogun. During the Emmys on 8 September, Emily won the prestigious award for the series’ eighth episode, titled The Abyss of Life.

In 2007, Emily completed a combined hair, beauty and makeup course at TAFE NSW Cootamundra during her final years of high school. Since then, the range of TAFE NSW hair and beauty courses has expanded greatly and some are quite specialised, for example the Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-Up Services) that teaches students how to design and apply special effects makeup.

17 years ago, Emily couldn’t have predicted she’d win an Emmy after completing her TAFE NSW studies. She is thrilled to be acknowledged for her artistry on Shogun, which she worked on during the pandemic.

“It feels incredible and very surreal to have been nominated, let alone win an Emmy award. The whole team was so excited. I started working on Shogun in September 2021 through until the end of April 2022. The COVID protocols made it extra challenging, though it was worth it to win this award,” Emily said.

Shogun is an American historical drama television series set against the throes of civil war in early 17th century Japan. The show is based on James Clavell’s classic 1975 novel and won a colossal 14 awards at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys.

Emily comes from a creative family; her mother Karen Walsh is a mixed media drawer and painter, and her brother Jack is a cameraman on an Australian TV series. While she has always had an interest in film and previously wanted to be an actor, Emily enjoys being creative behind the scenes, crediting her introduction to makeup artistry at TAFE NSW as laying the foundation for a great career.

“I had a wonderful time at TAFE NSW and would absolutely recommend studying there to anyone of any age. My beauty and makeup teacher encouraged me to further my makeup education in Sydney, which I’m also grateful for,” Emily said.

Emily’s mother Karen Walsh is extremely proud of her daughter’s accomplishments. Karen was a teacher at various TAFE NSW campuses from 2007-2022, which included a stint teaching the Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts at TAFE NSW Wagga Wagga from 2013-2022.

Karen Walsh said, “The experience of working on Shogun has been the highlight of Emily’s career. The many years of hard work – starting with studying at TAFE NSW Cootamundra and subsequent studies in prosthetic makeup, led Emily to an amazing career in film and TV and working abroad. I always encouraged my children to find a career that they’re passionate about. Her dedication to the craft has resulted in this award recognition and is allowing Emily to live her dream and passion.”

Emily is currently working on a new television show about a police force set in BC, Canada.

Media contact: Karen Farrell, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, karen.farrell17@tafensw.edu.au,  0425 275 611.