# John Bright (costume designer)

John Myles Milton Bright OBE (born 7 March 1940) is a British costume designer. He is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Jenny Beavan on creating the costumes for Merchant Ivory Productions. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design six times, winning for A Room with a View (1985).
In 2022, Bright set up The Bright Foundation, an arts education charity to provide access to the arts for children living in and around Hastings, East Sussex. The organization operates out of two venues, including the Barn Theatre and Museum and the Benbow Arts Space. The former venue features a barn-converted children's theatre and workshop studio, alongside a museum and exhibition space showcasing Bright's collection of period toys, puppets, and theatre sets, while the latter venue is located in the heart of St Leonards-on-Sea and is a creative learning hub dedicated to the art of filmmaking, where young people can discover their passion, develop skills and begin their journey into the film industry. The Foundation offers free access to both venues to schools and community groups.

## Partial filmography

| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
| 1984 | The Bostonians | James Ivory | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1985 | A Room with a View | James Ivory | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1987 | Maurice | James Ivory | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1988 | The Deceivers | Nicholas Meyer | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1990 | Mountains of the Moon | Bob Rafelson | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1991 | White Fang | Randal Kleiser | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1992 | Howards End | James Ivory | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1993 | The Remains of the Day | James Ivory | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1995 | Jefferson in Paris | James Ivory | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1995 | Sense and Sensibility | Ang Lee | with Jenny Beavan |
| 1996 | Twelfth Night | Trevor Nunn | aka Twelfth Night: Or What You Will |
| 1999 | The Last September | Deborah Warner | |
| 1999 | Onegin | Martha Fiennes | with Chloé Obolensky |
| 2000 | The Golden Bowl | James Ivory | |
| 2002 | The Magnificent Ambersons | Alfonso Arau | Television film |
| 2005 | The White Countess | James Ivory | |
| 2019 | Carmilla | Emily Harris | |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Work | Result |
| Academy Awards | 1984 | Best Costume Design | The Bostonians | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 1986 | Best Costume Design | A Room with a View | Won |
| Academy Awards | 1987 | Best Costume Design | Maurice | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 1992 | Best Costume Design | Howards End | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 1993 | Best Costume Design | The Remains of the Day | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 1995 | Best Costume Design | Sense and Sensibility | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Awards | 1984 | Best Costume Design | The Bostonians | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Awards | 1986 | Best Costume Design | A Room with a View | Won |
| British Academy Film Awards | 1992 | Best Costume Design | Howards End | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Awards | 1995 | Best Costume Design | Sense and Sensibility | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2005 | Best Costume Design | The White Countess | Nominated |

## Other honours

* Bright was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 Birthday Honours for services to costume design and to heritage.