Yvonne Blake


Yvonne Ann Blake was a British and Spanish costume designer. She was best known for creating the costumes for Richard Donner's superhero film Superman as well as Richard Lester's sequel Superman II. Her accolades include an Academy Award and four Goya Awards, in addition to nominations for four BAFTA Awards and two Emmy Awards.

Early life and education

Blake was born in Manchester, England, on 17 April 1940. At 16, she won one-year scholarship to study art, design, and sculpture at the Manchester's Regional College of Art and then acquired an internship at London's costume house Bermans.

Career

Blake began her career as an assistant costume designer at Hammer Film Productions, working on the thriller drama film Never Take Sweets from a Stranger and the horror film The Shadow of the Cat. She received her first major screen credits for designing costumes in Daniel Mann's 1966 drama film Judith, starring Sophia Loren.
Blake went to Spain for the first time in 1968. She was preparing wardrobes for Richard Quine's 1969 Western comedy film A Talent for Loving, and while on the sets, she was introduced to then-assistant director, Spaniard Gil Carretero, whom she later married.
In 1970, Hollywood film producer Sam Spiegel approached her to collaborate with director Franklin J. Schaffner on creating the costumes for his epic period drama Nicholas and Alexandra, about the last of Romanov's dynasty. Blake, then-29-year-old, signed on the project, which she recalled as the biggest challenge of her career. During extensive preparations for that large-scale production, she was in charge of several departments and caught in the middle of a creative team conflict. Blake
felt extremely exhausted at the end of the filming and even considered quitting the profession altogether.
Despite various obstacles, her efforts, along with those of fellow collaborator Antonio Castillo, ultimately paid off, winning them the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Accepting an Oscar, she said "If it wasn’t for the Russian Revolution, I wouldn’t be here."
Even though she enjoyed continued success in period dramas, her greatest achievement was designing costumes for Richard Donner's landmark superhero film Superman.

Spanish Film Academy presidency

In October 2016, Blake was elected president of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. From that position, she fought to broaden the academy's horizons and encourage cooperation with international associations. Blake arranged a meeting between the American Academy of [Motion Picture Arts and Sciences] and its Spanish counterpart on the one-year anniversary of her election. She was also among the driving forces behind the Federation of Ibero-American Film Academies.
Blake suffered a stroke in January 2018 and had been on medical leave from the presidency, with Mariano Barroso served as interim president in her absence. He was later elected in his own right in June of that year.

Illness and death

Blake died of complications from a stroke in Madrid on 17 July 2018, at age 78.

Awards and nominations

;Major associations
Academy Awards
YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
1972Best Costume DesignNicholas and AlexandraWon
1976Best Costume DesignThe Four MusketeersNomitated

BAFTA Awards
Emmy Awards
;Miscellaneous awards
AwardYearCategoryTitleResultRef.
Goya Awards1989Best Costume DesignRowing with the WindWon
Goya Awards1992Best Costume DesignDon Juan in HellNomitated
Goya Awards1993Best Costume DesignThe Anonymous QueenNomitated
Goya Awards1995Best Costume DesignCradle SongWon
Goya Awards2004Best Costume DesignCarmenWon
Goya Awards2005Best Costume DesignThe [Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004 film)|The Bridge of San Luis Rey]Won
Goya Awards2007Best Costume DesignGoya's GhostsNomitated
Satellite Awards2007Best Costume DesignGoya's GhostsNomitated
Saturn Awards1979Best Costume DesignSupermanNomitated

Other honours