Costume designer Jenny Beavan is GDST Alumna of the Year

Multi award-winning costume designer, Jenny Beavan, an alumna of Putney High School, has won the 2016 GDST Alumna of the Year Award.

Ms Beavan was a student at Putney High School in the late 1960s and went on to study at London’s Central School of Art and Design.

Earlier this year, Ms Beavan won both the Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Costume Design for Mad Max: Fury Road. Other notable films she has worked on include A Room with a View (1985) for which she won her first Academy Award, shared with John Bright; Gosford Park (2001); Sherlock Holmes (2009) and The King’s Speech (2010).

On receiving the GDST Alumna of the Year award, Ms Beavan said:

“I think there are a lot of misconceptions about costume design – that it is all about fashion, wafting around with glittery fabric and the drinking champagne with the ‘stars’. Costume design is really much less glamorous! Costume design is all about story telling with clothes, supporting the actor with the costume so they feel confident in the part they are playing. It involves the collaboration of all the participants, the actor, the designer, the makers but also the director – to make sure you fulfil his vision. A piece of team work really as is all theatre and film making.”

Jenny Beavan was presented with her award at the GDST’s Annual Reception in London on Wednesday 15 June. As well as a trophy, she also received a cheque for £500 which she chose to donate to the World’s End Neighbourhood Advice Centre.

Set up in 1982, the centre provides a free, confidential, impartial and accurate advice and information service to residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.