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Edith Head Biography

Birth Name:
Edith Claire Posener
Birth Place:
San Bernardino, California, United States
Profession
costume designer

Fast Facts

  • Admitted to borrowing a fellow art student's sketches when interviewing for her first costume sketch-artist job at Paramount
  • Nicknamed the "Dress Doctor" for her ability to prescribe solutions to costume design problems
  • Deliberately kept her own appearance neutral (including signature short hairdo and circular glasses) to maintain a focus on her actors
  • Collected eight Academy Awards, the most by any woman, and was nominated every year from 1948 to 1966
  • Designed a woman's uniform for the U
  • S
  • Coast Guard in the late '70s, when their numbers increased
  • Honored in a 2003 commemorative stamp for behind-the-camera movie personnel; also remembered in the 1999 song "She Thinks She's Edith Head," performed by They Might Be Giants

Awards

  • 1977Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 1976BAFTA Film Awards-Best Costume Design: nominated
  • 1975Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 1973Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: winner
  • 1970Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 1969Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 1966Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1965Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1965Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1964Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1964Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1963Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1963Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1962Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1962Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1961Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1960Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1960Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): winner
  • 1959Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1959Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1958Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 1957Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design: nominated
  • 1956Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1956Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1955Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1955Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1954Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): winner
  • 1953Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): winner
  • 1952Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): nominated
  • 1952Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated
  • 1951Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): winner
  • 1950Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): winner
  • 1950Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): winner
  • 1949Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White): winner
  • 1948Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color): nominated

Relationships