Costume Designer Lifts Lid on Male Actors' Wardrobe Mishaps

In a recent interview, renowned British costume designer Jenny Beavan has lifted the lid on some surprising behavior from male actors during costume fittings. Beavan, who has won Oscars for her work on films like Mad Max: Fury Road and A Room with a View, says that many male actors fail to wear underwear to these intimate fittings, leaving her exasperated.

"It's astonishing the number of male actors who don't wear underwear," Beavan explained. "I've had to go out and buy them pants - not Calvin Klein or anything like that; I usually get them from [British retailer] Marks - otherwise they try to hide themselves behind a chair looking marginally awkward."

Beavan, who is known for her no-nonsense approach, also revealed that she has faced off with Disney over an unauthorized fashion line inspired by her Oscar-winning costume design for the film Cruella. "They arranged a Zoom meeting to discuss it," she said. "I listened to these deathless speeches, all these young people giving me their pitch, and then they stupidly asked me if I wanted to say anything. I think they were surprised that someone who worked in costumes was daring to take them on."

In addition to these wardrobe mishaps, Beavan also shared insights into working with challenging actors like the late Maggie Smith. "The trick was to never show a chink, and hold on like grim death when you were being spoken to," Beavan recalled. "And then, give it five minutes, and there'd be a little knock on the wardrobe trailer and someone would say, 'Oh Jenny, could you pop in and see Maggie?' Maggie would say: 'Oh hello, have you got a cigarette? Now come and have a cup of proper coffee.' And you'd think to yourself: 'What did I just go through?'"