# Michael O'Connor (costume designer)

Michael O'Connor (born 27 October 1965) is a British costume designer. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design three times, winning for The Duchess (2008).

## Life and career

O'Connor was born in London, England. He began his training as a dresser at the Old Vic and then spent six years in a costume house before deciding to go freelance.
In the 1990s, O'Connor went into the film industry. His early works as a wardrobe supervisor was on such films as The House of the Spirits (1993) and Emma (1996). Then he was elevated to an assistant costume designer and worked in this role on several notable films, these include Oscar and Lucinda (1997), Topsy-Turvy (1999), and Quills (2000). In addition, he was an associate costume designer on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).
After working as costume designer on several minor British films, he came to prominence with his work on Tom Brown's Schooldays, a TV movie for ITV. He then worked on his most high-profile film up until then, the film version of Giles Foden's bestselling novel, The Last King of Scotland. He then worked on Brick Lane as well as Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
He came to the attention of the film industry in 2009, when he received the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, the BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design as well as the Satellite Award for Best Costume Design for The Duchess.
In 2014, he started working on costumes for Tulip Fever.
In 2021, he was nominated for another BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design for his work on Ammonite.

## Filmography

| Year | Title |
| 2001 | The Mystic Masseur |
| 2005 | Nomad: The Warrior |
| 2006 | The Last King of Scotland |
| 2007 | Brick Lane |
| 2008 | Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day |
| 2008 | The Duchess |
| 2011 | The Eagle |
| 2011 | Jane Eyre |
| 2012 | Dredd |
| 2013 | The Invisible Woman |
| 2015 | Suite Française |
| 2015 | Muhammad: The Messenger of God |
| 2017 | Tulip Fever |
| 2018 | A Private War |
| 2018 | All is True |
| 2020 | Ammonite |
| 2021 | The Electrical Life of Louis Wain |
| 2022 | Emily |

## Awards and nominations
### Major associations

Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2008 | Best Costume Design | The Duchess | Won |
| 2011 | Best Costume Design | Jane Eyre | Nominated |
| 2013 | Best Costume Design | The Invisible Woman | Nominated |
BAFTA Awards
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| British Academy Film Awards |||||
| 2008 | Best Costume Design | The Duchess | Won |
| 2011 | Best Costume Design | Jane Eyre | Nominated |
| 2013 | Best Costume Design | The Invisible Woman | Nominated |
| 2020 | Best Costume Design | Ammonite | Nominated |

### Miscellaneous awards

List of Michael O'Connor other awards and nominations :
| Award | Year | Category | Title | Result |
| Apolo Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Design | Ammonite | Nominated |
| British Independent Film Awards | 2008 | Best Technical Achievement (wardrobe) | The Duchess | Nominated |
| British Independent Film Awards | 2020 | Best Costume Design | Ammonite | Nominated |
| British Independent Film Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Design | The Electrical Life of Louis Wain | Nominated |
| British Independent Film Awards | 2024 | Best Costume Design | Firebrand | Won |
| Capri Hollywood International Film Festival | 2008 | Capri Umberto Tirelli Award | The Duchess | Won |
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | 2008 | Excellence in Period Film | The Duchess | Won |
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | 2011 | Excellence in Period Film | Jane Eyre | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2011 | Best Costume Design | Jane Eyre | Nominated |
| European Film Awards | 2021 | Best Costume Designer | Ammonite | Won |
| Evening Standard British Film Awards | 2011 | Technical Achievement (costume design) | Jane Eyre | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2008 | Best Costume Design | The Duchess | Won |
| Satellite Awards | 2011 | Best Costume Design | Jane Eyre | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2013 | Best Costume Design | The Invisible Woman | Won |