Tania Ribalow is an Emmy-nominated Hollywood makeup artist with over 35 years of experience. She is known for her work on Joker, The Irishman, and The Greatest Showman, and won the 2020 Makeup Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Makeup. She is married to actor Joseph Sikora.
Tania Ribalow doesn’t appear on red carpets. She doesn’t have an Instagram account. She hasn’t given a single interview that’s part of the public record. And yet her hands helped build one of the most recognizable faces in recent cinema history — the Joker.
An Emmy-nominated makeup artist with over three decades of credited work, Tania has quietly become one of the most reliable names in Hollywood’s below-the-line talent pool. Her work spans prestige television, billion-dollar film franchises, and everything in between. She is also the wife of actor Joseph Sikora, best known for playing Tommy Egan in the Power franchise.
This is the most complete profile available on Tania Ribalow — what she’s done, what she’s won, and what little is publicly known about her life off set.
Quick Bio
| Full Name | Tania Ribalow |
| Date of Birth | February 7, 1973 (reported) |
| Age (2026) | 53 years |
| Birthplace | Linden, New Jersey, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Makeup Artist |
| Known For | Joker, The Irishman, The Greatest Showman |
| Spouse | Joseph Sikora (m. 2014) |
| Awards | 1 Guild Award Win, 2 Emmy Nominations |
| Net Worth (Est.) | $1–3 Million |
| Current Residence | Brooklyn, New York |
Early Life
Tania Ribalow was reportedly born on February 7, 1973, in Linden, New Jersey. Her father, Wasily Ribalow, is said to have immigrated from Orel, Russia, bringing with him a cultural background that shaped the family’s identity.
She eventually settled in Brooklyn, New York, where she has remained. Brooklyn’s dense creative community likely drew her toward visual artistry during her teenage years — though Tania has never spoken publicly about this period herself.
Details about her mother, siblings, and childhood remain private. She has maintained this level of privacy consistently throughout her career.
Career
Starting Out (1991–Early 2000s)
Tania’s professional career began in 1991 on The Montell Williams Show, a daytime television program that gave her early experience in the fast-moving environment of live and taped TV production.
Her first credited film work came in 1999 on the independent film Tricks, where she served as both hair assistant and makeup artist. Through the early 2000s, she built her resume steadily across television and film projects, developing the technical range that would later define her work on much larger productions.
The distinction between roles matters here: starting as a makeup artist on set, then moving to key makeup artist (responsible for principal cast), and eventually to makeup department head (overseeing the entire makeup team) — Tania has held all three, and the progression reflects real career advancement in a competitive field.
Breaking Into the Top Tier (2010–2019)
The 2010s were when Tania moved from a reliable working professional to a recognized industry talent.
Her work on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014) was a turning point. The period drama demanded historically accurate makeup across a large ensemble cast — exactly the kind of sustained, detailed work that builds a reputation. It was also on this set that she met Joseph Sikora.
In 2015, she joined the team on The Knick, Steven Soderbergh’s surgical drama set in early 20th-century New York. The work earned her a 2016 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (for the episode “Whiplash”). A second Emmy nomination followed in 2016 for the pilot episode of Vinyl.
Two nominations in the same Emmy cycle for two different shows is not a routine achievement. It signals that Tania was consistently producing work that peers in the industry found worth recognizing.
The decade closed with three major productions: The Greatest Showman (2017), The Irishman, and Joker. Her work on Joker — as key makeup artist alongside Nicki Ledermann and Sunday Englis — earned the trio the 2020 Makeup Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Makeup.
The Joker transformation required building a consistent, character-specific look for Joaquin Phoenix across an entire production — one that had to read as both theatrically exaggerated and psychologically real on screen. Joker went on to gross over $1 billion worldwide and won two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Phoenix.
Recent Work (2020–2026)
- Tommy (2020, CBS) — Makeup department head
- The Many Saints of Newark (2021) — Key makeup artist
- Sharper (2023) — Key makeup artist
- Nonnas (2025) — Makeup artist (working with Susan Sarandon)
With over 47 credited projects across more than three decades, she remains consistently employed on high-profile productions — which, in Hollywood’s below-the-line world, is itself a form of recognition.
Awards and Nominations
Won:
- 2020 Makeup Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Award — Best Period and/or Character Makeup, Joker (shared with Nicki Ledermann and Sunday Englis)
Nominated:
- 2016 Emmy — Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series, The Knick (“Whiplash”)
- 2016 Emmy — Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series, Vinyl (“Pilot”)
- 2018 Guild Award nominee — The Greatest Showman
Personal Life
Marriage to Joseph Sikora
Tania met actor Joseph Sikora on the set of Boardwalk Empire, where he had a recurring role. They married in 2014.
Their relationship stayed out of the public eye until August 23, 2018, when Sikora reportedly referenced their marriage publicly — a notable moment given how carefully both had kept it private for four years.
Sikora is best known for playing Tommy Egan across the Power franchise, including the spin-off Power Book IV: Force. He has mentioned in interviews that Tania encouraged him to prioritize his mental health, including seeking therapy — a rare personal detail that points to the depth of their relationship without either of them making it public fodder.
No Social Media, No Spotlight
Tania has no Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or any other public social media presence as of 2026. This is unusual for a Hollywood professional at her level and appears to be a deliberate choice rather than an oversight.
There is no public information about whether the couple has children. They live in Brooklyn, New York.
Net Worth
Tania Ribalow’s net worth is estimated at $1–3 million, based on standard industry rates for makeup artists at her level. This figure is not confirmed by any financial disclosure.
For context: experienced key makeup artists and department heads on major film and television productions typically earn $2,000–$5,000 per day, depending on the production budget and union rates. Over a 35-year career with consistent high-profile credits, a $1–3 million accumulation is a reasonable estimate — not a remarkable one, but a credible baseline.
Figures circulating elsewhere online range from $250,000 to $15 million. Neither end of that range is supported by verifiable data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Joseph Sikora’s wife?
Joseph Sikora’s wife is Tania Ribalow, an Emmy-nominated makeup artist. She is known for her work on Joker, The Irishman, and The Greatest Showman. They married in 2014 after meeting on the set of Boardwalk Empire.
Does Tania Ribalow have Instagram?
No. As of 2026, Tania Ribalow has no social media presence on any platform. She has maintained this throughout her career.
What is Tania Ribalow’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated at $1–3 million, based on industry salary ranges for a makeup artist with her level of experience and credits. This figure is unverified.
Did Tania Ribalow win an Emmy for Joker?
No. Her Emmy nominations were for The Knick and Vinyl, both in 2016. Her award win for Joker came from the Makeup Artists and Hair Stylist Guild, not the Emmy Awards.
How old is Tania Ribalow?
Born February 7, 1973 (reported), Tania Ribalow is 53 years old as of 2026.
This article is based on publicly available information. Some biographical details — including date of birth and family background — are reported but not independently verified.
