Costume designer ignores ‘bag lady’ jibe as she collects Oscar in M&S pleather jacket
Costume designer Jenny Beavan has opened up about collecting her Academy Award in a £35 jacket from M&S – after a joke made at her expense by Stephen Fry.
Mr Fry deleted his social media accounts earlier this month, after he got flack for comparing Mad Max costume designer Jenny Beavan to a “bag lady” as she picked up a BAFTA.
The pair maintain they are close friends, but after complaints from Twitter users that his comments were “sexist”, Fry slammed “nasty” criticism and quit the platform.
Beavan picked up an Oscar last night for her work on the film – and again surprised many in the audience by collecting her award wearing a pleather-jacket-and-scarf combo.
A clip appears to show a number of glamorous Hollywood figures neglecting to applaud Beavan as she picked up the award.
She told reporters last night: “I am very happy to talk about it.
“I don’t do frocks and absolutely don’t do heels, I have a bad back. I look ridiculous in a beautiful gown.
“This was a homage to Mad Max and I obviously didn’t get it quite right at the BAFTAs, the scarf was meant to be an oil rag.”
She added: “This [jacket] is Marks & Spencer with Swarovski at the back. I had a bit of a shoe malfunction and the glitter fell off. I just like feeling comfortable and as far as I’m concerned I’m really dressed up.”
Her fashion sense hasn’t dulled the ‘Oscars effect’, though – the jacket, which is on sale for £35, has subsequently sold out online in nearly every size.
Fry recently stepped down as host of long-running panel show QI, with out comic Sandi Toksvig will step into his shoes as the host of the popular series.
Fry said previously of quitting QI: “I’m leaving QI really because I think 13 years is enough,
“It’s been incredibly good fun and I wouldn’t want to feel stale or for it to go sour on me in that sort of way, or for me to feel like I’m treading water or repeating myself.
“I do think it’s a good enough idea for it to have another host, and Sandi Toksvig couldn’t be a better choice. I’m very happy for the show to go on without me.”
Of his plans for the future, Fry said: “I would hate to stop acting. I love film acting and acting in TV dramas – and writing.
“I hope to continue to write, and enjoy the pleasures of age.”
