Vera Steimberg: Hollywood Makeup Artist and Former Wife of Daniel Moder
Vera Steimberg is a highly accomplished Argentine-American Hollywood makeup artist and beauty expert. She is frequently referenced in pop culture history as the former spouse of Daniel Moder, an American cinematographer and camera operator. Steimberg is widely respected for her extensive contributions to major Hollywood blockbusters, including Dolemite Is My Name, Coming 2 America, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Key Takeaways
- Vera Steimberg is credited with transforming Eddie Murphy into the titular character in The Nutty Professor.
- She has served as Zoë Saldaña's personal makeup artist for over two decades, since the start of Saldaña's career.
- She and Daniel Moder divorced in 2002 after five years of marriage.
- Moder later married actress Julia Roberts just a few months after the divorce.
Profile Summary
- Full Name: Vera Steimberg
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: 8 February 1973
- Age: 53 years old (as of 2026)
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
- Place of Birth: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Current Residence: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Nationality: Argentinian-American
- Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Christianity
- Sexuality: Straight
- Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
- Weight: 110 lbs (50 kg)
- Hair Colour: Blonde
- Eye Colour: Brown
- Relationship Status: Divorced
- Children: 1
- Profession: Makeup Artist
Early Life and Background
Vera Steimberg was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and grew up in the middle-class neighborhood of Villa Devoto. Her father, a doctor with no background in the arts, was persuaded by Vera to allow her to attend night classes in photography at the age of 16. Her initial exposure to the entertainment world came through her paternal aunt, an actress. Steimberg spent considerable time immersed in her aunt's theatrical lifestyle, frequently going backstage during performances and attending local actors' union meetings hosted in her childhood home.
Vera does not actively use the last name Moder in her professional or daily life, but it still appears in media and database records for professional legacy and legal historical tracking.
Age and Personal Details
As of 2026, Vera Steimberg is 53 years old. She was born on 8 February 1973, under the zodiac sign Aquarius.
Career Highlights
Vera Steimberg developed a passion for beauty and visual art projects at an early age, driven by the political and creative environment surrounding her family. She built her early understanding of cosmetic applications by working as a door-to-door sales consultant for Mary Kay cosmetics in Argentina. From that job, she realized her passion for teaching people how to apply makeup. To hone her craft, Vera took specialized courses in special effects makeup and joined the prominent Oscar Mullet makeup studio in Buenos Aires.
In the late 1990s, at age 25, Vera moved from Villa Devoto to Los Angeles to try her luck in Hollywood with no industry connections. She built her career from the ground up by volunteering on student films and independent projects until earning a spot in the makeup union.
Her professional career began in 1999 as an associate hairstylist and assistant makeup artist on the thriller Total Stranger. Her major breakthrough came the following year when mentor David Anderson invited her to join the makeup team of The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, eventually leading her to become Eddie Murphy's personal makeup artist.
Steimberg has been in the industry for nearly three decades and has worked on numerous films, TV series, and music videos, including:
- The Pickup (2025)
- Lioness (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- MPower (2023)
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
- Amsterdam (2022)
- The Harder They Fall (2021)
- Coming 2 America (2021)
- Mank (2020)
- Shark Week (2020)
- The High Note (2020)
- Feeding America Comedy Festival (2020)
- The 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2020)
- The Kominsky Method (2018–2019)
- Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Throughout her career, Vera Steimberg has achieved recognition for her work in Dolemite Is My Name, Coming 2 America, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Planet of the Apes. She has partnered with prominent Hollywood celebrities such as Eddie Murphy, Sarah Baker, Lou Doillon, Zoe Saldaña, and Gabrielle Union.
Managed by Forward Artists, Steimberg remains a dominant creative force in the entertainment and cosmetics space. She is highly celebrated for her specialization and technical precision in complementing the complex undertones of women of color. Her work is a benchmark for tonal inclusivity in film and television. In recognition of her artistic impact, Vera Steimberg was inducted as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, helping diversify and govern the Makeup and Hairstyling branch.
Current Projects
Steimberg handles personal makeup artistry for Zoë Saldaña on the Paramount+ spy thriller series Lioness, maintaining continuity for Saldaña's television appearance. She is also the personal makeup artist for Riverrun, an upcoming Los Angeles-based feature film directed by Philippe Parreno and starring Zoë Saldaña, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Vicky Krieps. Additionally, Vera served as the dedicated makeup artist for Eddie Murphy in his latest heist comedy, The Pickup (2025), directed by Tim Story.
Net Worth
Vera Steimberg's exact net worth is not publicly disclosed by major financial tracking outlets.
Marriage to Daniel Moder
Vera Steimberg and Daniel Moder married in 1997 and initially maintained a low-profile marriage in the entertainment industry. Daniel later filed for divorce in 2002 after meeting actress Julia Roberts on the set of the movie The Mexican in 2000, where he worked as an assistant cameraman. At the time, he was still married to Steimberg, and Roberts was in a high-profile relationship with actor Benjamin Bratt.
Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt officially announced their breakup in June 2001. During this period, Roberts and Moder maintained that they were just long-time friends while Moder worked through his marital issues. The situation became a media sensation when paparazzi photographed Roberts wearing a handmade T-shirt that read "A Low Vera," a public pun aimed at Steimberg. When asked about the shirt in a 2003 interview with Oprah, Roberts vaguely stated, "It was private... I stand by my T-shirt."
After months of legal delays and media pressure, Steimberg signed the paperwork, finalizing her divorce from Danny on 16 May 2002. Roberts later denied causing the split, clarifying that Danny had sorted out his marriage completely separate from her. Less than two months after the divorce, Danny married Roberts on 4 July 2002 at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico. The couple has been happily married for over two decades and shares three children: twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, and son Henry.
Vera Steimberg and Julia Roberts have never worked together, and their professional circles have remained completely separate.
Current Relationship Status
As of 2026, Vera Steimberg is not publicly known to be married. Following her divorce from Daniel Moder, reports indicate she had a long-term relationship with an Argentine partner with whom she shares a teenage son, and she has been romantically linked to an Argentine football player. However, she has not legally remarried.
Child
Public records indicate that Vera Steimberg gave birth to a son named Lucas Moder in June 2004. She does not publicly share the identity of her child's father and has intentionally kept the child out of the spotlight. Unlike many celebrity children, Vera Steimberg's child does not have a public persona, does not attend Hollywood industry events, and is kept entirely off his mother's public social media platforms.
Residence
Vera Steimberg's primary residence and studio operations have been based in Los Angeles, California, ever since she relocated to the United States in her mid-20s.
Religion
Vera Steimberg has chosen to keep her personal beliefs confidential. While her Ashkenazi Jewish surname indicates Jewish ancestry, she has never associated with any specific religious group or discussed her spiritual life publicly.
Height and Physical Attributes
Vera Steimberg is 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) tall and weighs approximately 110 pounds (50 kg).
Fast Facts
- Vera Steimberg did not have any children with Daniel Moder.
- She is the ex-daughter-in-law of the late Mike Moder (1936–2022), an acclaimed American producer and assistant director.
- She has designed prominent beauty looks for Zoe Saldaña at the Oscars, SAG Awards, and the Met Gala.
- She collaborates with prestige brands like Chanel Beauty, Haus Labs, and La Mer to showcase advanced techniques.
- Her all-time favorite product is Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage.
- She relies on Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage for red-carpet prep because it acts as a moisturizer, corrector, and concealer.
- Steimberg frequently shares professional insider knowledge through media profiles and her Vera Steimberg Instagram Reels.
Vera Steimberg has actively shaped modern cinema cosmetics by leading major projects that handle the unique pressures of both legacy sequels and period-accurate historical films. She also uses her high-profile platform to demystify complex red-carpet techniques for everyday consumers.
