Peaky Blinders costume designer Stephanie Collie who helped create the show’s recognisable look has tragically passed away after a short battle with cancer.
Stephanie died last month at the age of 61 having been diagnosed with terminal cancer six months earlier.
She passed away peacefully on October 26 just one year after her husband director of photography Hubert Taczanowski.
Quick to also pay tribute was the show’s star Cillian Murphy, who shared in a statement: ‘Stephanie was a ferocious talent. She invented the Peaky Blinders look and silhouette that has become iconic across the world. We will all miss her. RIP’.
The show’s Instagram account paid tribute to her ‘incredible work’, sending their thoughts to her family.
An Instagram post read: ‘We were so saddened to learn of the passing of costume designer Stephanie Collie. Stephanie’s incredible work in our first series was key to creating the iconic look of the Peaky Blinders, and has gone on to inspire so many people around the world. Our love and thoughts are with her family.’
Peaky Blinders costume designer Stephanie Collie, who helped create the show’s recognisable look, has tragically passed away after a short battle with cancer
The iconic show paid tribute to her ‘incredible work’, sending their thoughts to her family
The creative worked on the award-winning show’s costumes on the first series of the BBC show and her ideas went on to influence the entire production (pictured: Cillian Murphy in character as Tommy Shelby)
Also paying tribute was Samuel L. Jackson, who shared: ‘Stephanie was fuel for my characters. A wonderfully joyous & collaborative part of my process. I’ll miss her, is an understatement.’
Ryan Reynolds said: ‘Deeply saddened to hear of Stephanie Collie’s passing. She was an accomplished and talented designer — but the world has also lost two precious natural resources: her wry wit and acerbic observational humour. My condolences to her family, colleagues and all who knew her. Rest well, Stephanie.’
The creative worked on the award-winning show’s costumes on the first series of the BBC show and her ideas went on to influence the entire production.
Stephanie was born in Cheshire to Scottish parents Peter and Elizabeth Collie and after moving to Cheltenham and studying at Cheltenham Arts College, she went on to complete a fashion degree at the London College of Fashion.
The dress-maker started her illustrious career in the sewing room of the BBC with fellow costume designer Susan Coates before working with Kenneth Branagh as part of the Renaissance Theatre Company.
The designer then moved from the stage to the screen, working on Guy Ritchie‘s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
The era-defining designer influenced men’s fashion through her innovative costume designs which was clearly seen when she began work on the BBC’s gritty British crime drama Peaky Blinders.
Using the real Peaky Blinders gang as her inspiration, she based Cillian Murphy’s costumes on criminal mug shots of the period.
The designer started working from theatre companies before moving to the screen, working on Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (pictured Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher and Jason Flemyng in the film)
The era-defining designer influenced men’s fashion through her innovative costume designs which was clearly seen when she began work on the BBC’s gritty British crime drama Peaky Blinders
Using white club collar shirts, tweed waistcoats, flat caps and baker boy hats ushered in a popular, cultural fashion revolution in current British menswear.
And her work won her a Royal Television Society Award for Best Costume Designer.
Stephanie has three surviving siblings, Fiona, Alison, and Nicola, and was also stepmother to Julia, Hubert Taczanowski’s daughter by his first marriage.
The tragic news of Stephanie’s passing comes as filming for the Peaky Blinders movie continues.
Earlier this month Barry Keoghan was seen for the first time on the set.
The actor, 32, was shooting scenes alongside co-stars Sophie Rundle And Tim Roth, though little is known about his character yet.
The Saltburn star looked every inch the Peaky Blinder in a flat cap, grey suit and overcoat that costume designer Stephanie so distinctly pioneered.
The Birmingham-based movie will follow the infamous Shelby family into the Second World War following six successful series on the BBC.
The tragic news of Stephanie’s passing comes as filming for the Peaky Blinders movie continues. Earlier this month Barry Keoghan was seen for the first time on the set
Main lead Cillian has been seen in recent weeks filming the project in Birmingham.
The Oscar winner played the gangster in the multi-award-winning BBC series from 2013 to 2022 and is now back for a big screen outing, alongside new cast members Barry, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim.
Little is known about the plot but Steven Knight also returns as writer alongside the Tom Harper who directed episodes of the show’s first series at the helm.
