Jenny Beavan
Jenny Beavan OBE RDI (born 1950) is an English costume designer. In a career spanning over four decades, she is recognized for her prolific work across stage and screen. She has received numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, two Emmy Awards, and an Olivier Award. Beavan was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to drama production.
Jenny Beavan | |
---|---|
Born | 1950 (age 73–74) London, England |
Occupation | Costume designer |
Years active | 1978 — present |
Spouse |
Ian Albery (before 1985) |
Children | 1 |
Beavan gained international recognition for her collaboration with John Bright on creating the costumes for Merchant Ivory Productions. She has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design twelve times, winning three awards for A Room with a View (1985), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), and Cruella (2021). She has also received ten nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design, winning four awards for A Room With a View, Gosford Park (2001), Mad Max: Fury Road, and Cruella.
On television, Beavan has been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special five times, winning two awards for Emma (1996) and Return to Cranford (2010). She has also received three nominations for the British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Costume Design.
On stage, Beavan created costumes for numerous productions, including those of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the West End, and Broadway. She garnered the Tony Award for Best Costume Design nomination for the 2002 Broadway revival of Noël Coward's Private Lives. She has also received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Costume Design for the 2001 London revival of Private Lives.
Early life
Beavan was born in London, England. Her father was a cellist, and her mother a viola player.[1] She credits them for instilling a strong work ethic.[2] She also has a sister.
Career

Jenny Beavan is known for her work on Merchant Ivory films.[3] In the 1970s, she worked on set design for London theatrical productions.[1] She joined the field of film costume design after obtaining an unpaid position to design garments for a small Merchant Ivory film, Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures.[1][2][4] This began her long relationship with Merchant Ivory productions.
She has frequently worked with costume designer John Bright, who runs the costume-rental house Cosprop, and credits him with educating her as she was starting out her career. She said she was helped by "just listening to him and learning from him, learning the history and the politics of clothing".[3] Since then, the two have collaborated on more than ten films together and have shared six Oscar nominations.[3]
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In 2016, Beavan won her 3rd BAFTA and 2nd Academy Award in George Miller's post-apocalyptic action film Mad Max: Fury Road.[5][6]
Beavan was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to drama production.[7][8]
In June 2018, Beavan was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Arts University Bournemouth alongside dancer Darcey Bussell, graphic designer Margaret Calvert OBE and director and screenwriter Edgar Wright.[9]
In 2022, Beavan nabbed her 4th BAFTA, as well as her 3rd Academy Award for Craig Gillespie's Disney live-action spin-off of Cruella.[10][11][12]
Personal life
She has one daughter, Caitlin,[1] a theatre producer born in 1985. They worked together on the West End theatre production of Third Finger Left Hand at Trafalgar Studios in 2013.
Film credits
Awards and nominations
Major associations
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Best Costume Design | The Bostonians | Nominated | [13] |
1986 | A Room with a View | Won | [14] | |
1987 | Maurice | Nominated | [15] | |
1992 | Howards End | Nominated | [16] | |
1993 | The Remains of the Day | Nominated | [17] | |
1995 | Sense and Sensibility | Nominated | [18] | |
1999 | Anna and the King | Nominated | [19] | |
2001 | Gosford Park | Nominated | [20] | |
2010 | The King's Speech | Nominated | [21] | |
2015 | Mad Max: Fury Road | Won | [22] | |
2021 | Cruella | Won | [23] | |
2022 | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Nominated | [24] |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
British Academy Film Awards | ||||
1984 | Best Costume Design | The Bostonians | Nominated | [25] |
1986 | A Room with a View | Won | [26] | |
1992 | Howards End | Nominated | [27] | |
1995 | Sense and Sensibility | Nominated | [28] | |
1999 | Tea with Mussolini | Nominated | [29] | |
2001 | Gosford Park | Won | [30] | |
2010 | The King's Speech | Nominated | [31] | |
2015 | Mad Max: Fury Road | Won | [32] | |
2021 | Cruella | Won | [33] | |
2022 | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Nominated | [34] | |
BAFTA Television Craft Awards | ||||
2003 | Best Costume Design | The Gathering Storm | Nominated | [35] |
2008 | Cranford | Nominated | [36] | |
2010 | Return to Cranford | Nominated | [37] |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Primetime Emmy Awards | ||||
1986 | Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special | Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy | Nominated | [38] |
1997 | Emma | Won | ||
2002 | The Gathering Storm | Nominated | ||
2008 | Cranford | Nominated | ||
2010 | Return to Cranford | Won |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Best Costume Design | Private Lives | Won | [39] |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Best Costume Design | Private Lives | Nominated | [40] |
Miscellaneous awards
Award | Year | Category | Title | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
AACTA Awards[lower-alpha 1] | 2015 | Best Costume Design | Mad Max: Fury Road | Nominated |
Africa Movie Academy Awards | 2006 | Best Costume Design | Amazing Grace | Nominated |
Astra Film Creative Arts Awards[lower-alpha 2] | 2021 | Best Costume Design | Cruella | Won |
2022 | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Nominated | ||
British Independent Film Awards | 2022 | Best Costume Design | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Won |
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Design | Cruella | Nominated |
Ciak d'oro | 1999 | Best Costume Design | Tea with Mussolini | Nominated |
Costume Designers Guild Awards | 2008 | Excellence in Miniseries or Television Film | Cranford | Nominated |
2009 | Excellence in Period Film | Sherlock Holmes | Nominated | |
2010 | The King's Speech | Won | ||
2015 | Excellence in Fantasy Film | Mad Max: Fury Road | Won | |
2018 | The Nutcracker and the Four Realms | Nominated | ||
2020 | Dolittle | Nominated | ||
2021 | Excellence in Period Film | Cruella | Won | |
2022 | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Nominated | ||
Critics' Choice Movie Awards[lower-alpha 3] | 2010 | Best Costume Design | The King's Speech | Nominated |
2015 | Mad Max: Fury Road | Won | ||
2021 | Cruella | Won | ||
David di Donatello Awards | 1996 | Best Costumes | Jane Eyre | Won |
Drama Desk Awards | 2002 | Outstanding Costume Design | Private Lives | Nominated |
Empire Awards | 2015 | Best Costume Design | Mad Max: Fury Road | Won |
Evening Standard British Film Awards | 2010 | Technical Achievement | The King's Speech | Nominated (Costume Design) |
London Film Critics' Circle Awards | 2021 | Technical Achievement of the Year | Cruella | Nominated (Costumes) |
Online Film Critics Society Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Design | Cruella | Nominated |
Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards | 2004 | Best Costume Design – Drama | Byron | Won |
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Design | Cruella | Won |
2022 | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Runner-up | ||
Satellite Awards | 1998 | Best Costume Design | Ever After | Nominated |
1999 | Anna and the King | Nominated | ||
2006 | The Black Dahlia | Nominated | ||
2007 | Amazing Grace | Nominated | ||
2010 | The King's Speech | Nominated | ||
Saturn Awards | 1998 | Best Costume Design | Ever After | Won |
2009 | Sherlock Holmes | Nominated | ||
2011 | Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows | Nominated | ||
2022 | Cruella | Nominated | ||
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Design | Cruella | Nominated |
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Design | Cruella | Won |
2022 | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Nominated |
Other honors
- Beavan was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to drama production.[41]
Notes
- formerly known as "Australian Film Institute Awards"
- formerly known as "Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards" and "Hollywood Critics Association Awards"
- formerly known as "Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards"
References
- Dam, Julie K.L (6 March 2000). "Fit for a King". People. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- Stewart, Victoria (21 June 2010). "Jenny Beavan explains how to succeed as a costume designer". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- Macdonald, Moira (19 February 2011). "'King's Speech' costume designer Jenny Beavan brings history to life". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "Jenny Beavan". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "Bafta Film Awards 2016: Winners". BBC News. 14 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- "Oscar Winners 2016: Complete List". Variety. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N10.
- New Year Honours 2017: Olympic heroes and entertainers recognised. BBC News, 30 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- Reader, Jane (8 July 2018). "Strictly judge Dame Darcey honoured by Arts University Bournemouth". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards 2022: See the full list of winners". CNN Entertainment. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- Pener, Degen (27 March 2022). "Oscars: Best Costume Design Winner Jenny Beavan Says She "Nearly Said No" to Designing 'Cruella'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- Nordyke, Kimberly (27 March 2022). "Oscars: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- "57th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "59th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "60th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "65th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "66th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "68th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "72nd Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "74th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "83rd Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "88th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "94th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "95th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "38th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "40th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "46th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "49th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "53rd British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "55th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "64th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "69th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "75th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "76th British Academy Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "4th British Academy Television Craft Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "9th British Academy Television Craft Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "11th British Academy Television Craft Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "Jenny Bevan - Emmy Awards, Nominations, and Wins". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "Olivier Winners 2002". Society of London Theatre (SOLT). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "THE TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS / 2002". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N10.
External links
- Jenny Beavan at IMDb