Michael O'Connor

Michael O'Connor (born 27 October 1965) is a British costume designer. His accolades include an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award.

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 The Duchess 2011 The Eagle Jane Eyre 2012 Dredd 2013 The Invisible Woman 2015 Suite Française Muhammad: The Messenger of God 2017 Tulip Fever 2018 A Private War All Is True 2019 Fanny Lye Deliver'd 2020 Ammonite 2021 The Electrical Life of Louis Wain 2022 Emily Out of Darkness 2023 Firebrand Lee

Awards and nominations Major associations Academy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2009 Best Costume Design The Duchess 2012 Jane Eyre 2014 The Invisible Woman

BAFTA Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.British Academy Film Awards 2009 Best Costume Design The Duchess 2012 Jane Eyre 2014 The Invisible Woman 2021 Ammonite

Miscellaneous awards + Award Year Category Title Result Ref. Apolo Awards 2022 Best Costume Design Ammonite British Independent Film Awards 2008 Best Technical Achievement The Duchess 2020 Best Costume Design Ammonite 2021 The Electrical Life of Louis Wain 2024 Firebrand Capri Hollywood International Film Festival 2008 Capri Umberto Tirelli Award The Duchess Costume Designers Guild Awards 2009 Excellence in Period Film 2012 Jane Eyre Critics' Choice Awards 2012 Best Costume Design European Film Awards 2021 Best Costume Designer Ammonite Evening Standard British Film Awards 2012 Technical Achievement Jane Eyre Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards 2008 Best Costume Design The Duchess 2011 Jane Eyre Satellite Awards 2008 Best Costume Design The Duchess 2011 Jane Eyre 2014 The Invisible Woman