Irish Emmy winner dresses for success

AN Irish woman who dresses the Hollywood stars has won an Emmy for her outstanding creations.

Leading costume designer Consolata Boyle clinched the top award for her work on a remake of The Lion in Winter, shown on prime time television in America.

She was unable to attend the awards’ ceremony in Los Angeles because she is working on a new film in Britain.

Speaking from London, she said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. The wonderful thing about winning an award like this is the recognition of your peers. That, for me, was the most moving and important thing.”

The Lion in Winter, shot on location in Budapest in 2003, starred Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart.

Shown on the Showtime channel in the US in May, it received six nominations for the Emmy awards, recognised as the Oscars of American television.

Her creations and artistic vision have graced most of the finest films made in Ireland, including December Bride, Mary Reilly, Angela’s Ashes, Widow’s Peak, Into The West, The Van and The Snapper.

She also designed the costumes on The Winslow Boy, Nora, The Actors, When Brendan Met Trudy and Moll Flanders.

Ms Boyle said she enjoyed working with stars such as Glenn Close, Julia Roberts and Mia Farrow, as well as Gabriel Byrne.

A graduate of archaeology and history, she did a post-graduate diploma in textiles at West Surrey College of Art and Design.

The road to success as one of Hollywood’s classiest costume designers began after she trained in set and costume design at The Abbey theatre in Dublin.