British costume designer Sandy Powell has been awarded a Bafta Fellowship for the “enchanting” wardrobes she has created during her nearly four-decade career in the film industry.
Powell, who has won three Bafta and Academy Awards respectively, said she is “extremely flattered” by the award and “extremely proud” to be the first costume designer to receive Bafta’s highest honor.
The 62-year-old said: “I’m lucky enough to love what I do and I’ve been extremely lucky to work with some of the most talented and inspiring people in the industry, both behind and in front of the camera.
“I look forward to many more years.”
Past recipients of the Fellowship in Film include Dame Helen Mirren, Charlie Chaplin, Martin Scorsese, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Ang Lee.
Jane Millichip, Bafta’s chief executive, said: “Sandy Powell is not only a great designer, she’s also a great storyteller. Her costumes are mesmerizing in their beauty, but they also interpret the story brilliantly and provide the infrastructure for character.
“For more than three decades, Sandy has raised awareness for the craft of costume design in film and brought designers to the spotlight in filmmaking.
“We look forward to honoring Sandy’s work this month at our EE Bafta Film Awards and working with her in the coming year to inspire the next generation of costume designers and storytellers.”
London-born Powell began making clothes at an early age and first rose to prominence for her work on the historical drama Orlando directed by Sally Potter, earning her first Bafta and Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design .
In 1998, Todd Hayne’s Velvet Goldmine Powell won her first Bafta award before scoring her first Oscar for John Madden’s Shakespeare Made In Love the same year.
Powell regularly collaborated with directors such as Haynes and Scorsese, which led to her second Academy Award win for The Aviator.
In 2009, Powell collaborated with Jean-Marc Vallee on The Young Victoria, winning her second Bafta and third Academy Award, before taking her third Bafta award 10 years later for The Favourite.
Other notable credits that have won her Bafta and Academy Award nominations include The Irishman, Cinderella, and Mary Poppins Returns.
She recently worked on Oliver Hermanus’ Living, starring Bill Nighy, and Marc Webb’s Snow White – currently in post-production.
Powell will receive the Fellowship as part of a special commemoration of her work at the ceremony taking place at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Center on February 19.