As Oscar night draws near, Newport actress Rose Bissex gets a glam new look which would not be out of place on the big night. JANE HELMICH watches the makeover.

STARS like Susan Sarandon, Sharon Stone and Sigourney Weaver prove that style is ageless - more mature actresses often outshine their younger counterparts on the walk up the red carpet.

Our own leading lady, Rose Bissex, actress and director with Newport Playgoers, enjoyed a taste of the high life as she underwent her transformation.

She is about to play Eleanor of Aquitine in the Lion of Winter - a role played on the silver screen by her heroine Katherine Hepburn which earned her an Academy Award.

"I've always had an affinity with her and a lot of people have said my acting style is similar to her's," said Rose who, like the Oscar winner, has striking cheekbones.

We started at the Forum Hair Studio at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort where Rose was in the capable and friendly hands of manager Raqui de Bidaph.

Raqui, who recently returned to Newport after working in London's West End and on cruise shops, first spends time consulting with her clients.

She agreed short hair can still be glamorous - think of beautiful Oscar winner Halle Berry. "Short hair is very visual and you have to have a precision cut. And with the right cut and products grey hair can look wonderful."

After trimming Rose's hair to give it volume and texture, Raqui scrunched in some spot colour to give it a more creamy tone. We then went to the Forum Spa where beauty therapist Sam Edwards took Rose to one of the treatment rooms for a makeover with Clarins products. Soft lights, calm music and a scented candle made for a relaxing atmosphere.

The pampering continued as our nominee sampled what it must be like to be one of the Hollywood ladies who lunch, with a delicious meal in the resort's Olive Tree Restaurant.

Suitably refreshed and relaxed, we then visited Just One Nite, the excellent dress hire business run by June Saunders in Cotswold Way, Newport.

June has an extensive range of fabulous gowns, sizes 6 to 24, for hire and sale and appointments generally last an hour. A stunning red dress and stole soon caught Rose's eye and after trying it on we all agreed it was "the one".

We then went back to the Celtic Manor - the perfect stage to show off Rose in glorious Technicolor - and a star was born.

"This is the real me," she laughed, as she drew many admiring glances. "I do feel like a star and as if I have won something."

Where to go for glamour

*At the Celtic Manor (01633 413000) Forum Hair Salon. L'Anza products used: Protein Plus shampoo, leave-in protector, moulding paste, styling cream, hair polish, Dramatic F/X, shine spray. Approximate cost of cut and colour £84.

Forum Spa. Clarins products used: Gentle eye make-up remover, One-Step Exfoliater, coloured tint moisturiser (shade no 2), Morning Sun bronzer, Zephyr trio eyeshadow, black eyeliner, Pure Length mascara, lipstick and pearl gloss. Cost of makeover £30.

* At Just One Nite (Telephone 01633 270173 for an appointment). Dress hire £89.

With many thanks to Pat Ashman, Raqui de Bidaph, Jamie Hall and Sam Edwards at the Celtic Manor and June Saunders at Just One Nite.