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Sandy Powell Biography

Birth Name:Sandy Powell

Birth Place:London, England, United Kingdom

Profession Costume designer, Actress, Producer, Costume department

Fast Facts

  • Was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2011
  • While growing up, she drew inspiration from the vibrant colors and textiles of the large West Indian communities in Brixton, her South London neighborhood
  • Quote: "The bad guy is always the most fun to dress․ And the good, kind person is always the most challenging․"
  • Quote: "[on the stepsisters in "Cinderella"] "As I was doing their ball gowns I was thinking, 'Oh my God, these are awful․' It's the worst taste I've ever done․ I think they're actually the 1980s version of the 19th century․""
  • Quote: "The eureka moment, when you know a costume is just right, is the best part of the job․ It usually comes during a fitting when you put everything together and suddenly there's your character․"
  • A costume designer whose costumes combine her knowledge of historical dress with the inventiveness of an outsider artist
  • Has worked with director Martin Scorsese on numerous films, including "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator" and "The Departed․"
  • Has dressed Cate Blanchett in multiple films, including "Carol" and 2015's "Cinderella․"
  • Convinced Leonardo DiCaprio to wear a corset for his role in "The Aviator․"

Awards

  • 1992Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Technical/Artistic Achievement: winner
  • 1993ACCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1994Oscar-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1994ACCA-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 1994BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1994Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Technical/Artistic Achievement: winner
  • 1995Saturn Award-Best Costumes: winner
  • 1995BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1998Oscar-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1998ACCA-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 1998ACCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1998BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1998OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1999Oscar-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1999Oscar-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 1999BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 1999BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1999OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 1999OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2000BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2000Genie-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2002ACCA-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2002ACCA-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003Oscar-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: winner
  • 2003INOCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003INOCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003OFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003OFCS Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2003PFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003PFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2005Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: winner
  • 2005BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2005British Independent Film Award-Best Technical Achievement: nominated
  • 2005CDG Award-Excellence in Period/Fantasy Film: nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: winner
  • 2005INOCA-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2005Sierra Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2005OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2006Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2006BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2006OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2006Golden Capital-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2009PFCS Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2010Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: winner
  • 2010BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2010CinEuphoria-Best Costume Design - International Competition: winner
  • 2010CDG Award-Excellence in Period Film: winner
  • 2010Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: winner
  • 2010INOCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2010OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2011Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2011ACCA-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2011CDG Award-Excellence in Fantasy Film: nominated
  • 2011PFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2012Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2012Saturn Award-Best Costumes: nominated
  • 2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2012CDG Award-Excellence in Period Film: nominated
  • 2012Critics Choice Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: nominated
  • 2012INOCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2015Felix-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2015ACCA-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2015ACCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2015Capri Award-Best Costume: winner
  • 2015Hollywood Film Award-Costume Designer of the Year: winner
  • 2015Halfway Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2015IOMA-Best Costume Design (Migliori costumi): nominated
  • 2015PFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Felix-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Saturn Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016CinEuphoria-Best Costume Design - International Competition: winner
  • 2016CDG Award-Excellence in Fantasy Film: nominated
  • 2016CDG Award-Excellence in Period Film: nominated
  • 2016Critics Choice Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Critics Choice Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Empire Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Empire Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016INOCA-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2016INOCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016ALFS Award-Technical Achievement of the Year: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2016Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2016Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2017British Independent Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2018British Independent Film Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Best Costume Design - International Competition: nominated
  • 2018HFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2018Hollywood Film Award-Costume Designer of the Year: winner
  • 2018Halfway Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2018Sierra Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2018PFCS Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2018SDFCS Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2018SFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2018SFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2018VHS Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2019Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019Saturn Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019ACCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019ACCA-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2019CIFCC Award-Best Costume Design and Makeup: nominated
  • 2019CIFCC Award-Best Costume Design and Makeup: nominated
  • 2019CinEuphoria-Best Costume Design - International Competition: nominated
  • 2019CDG Award-Excellence in Period Film: nominated
  • 2019CDG Award-Excellence in Period Film: winner
  • 2019Critics Choice Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019Critics Choice Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019DFCA Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019European Film Award-European Costume Designer: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design: winner
  • 2019HFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019HFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019INOCA-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2019LEJA Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019LEJA Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019Odyssey Award-Best Production and Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2019Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: winner
  • 2020Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 2020BAFTA Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2020Critics Choice Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Costume Design of the Decade: nominated
  • 2020HFCS Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2022British Independent Film Award-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 2023Satellite Award-Best Costume Design: nominated