Colleen Atwood

Colleen Atwood is a celebrated American costume designer, born in Ellensburg, Washington in 1948. She studied at Cornish College of the Arts after an early life filled with creative hustle, working retail and supporting her family. Atwood launched her career in the early 1980s and later became a frequent collaborator with directors like Tim Burton, Jonathan Demme, and Rob Marshall, crafting iconic looks for films such as Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, Alice in Wonderland, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—earning her four Academy Awards and numerous nominations Throughout her career, Atwood has been praised for her world‑building through costume. She brings characters to life by making costumes that reflect their story and personality, not just the actor. “Costumes are the first impression that you have of the character before they open their mouth—it really does establish who they are.” She explains, “I design for the movie and the character as well as the person wearing the costume… Once the costume… is on the actor, you have a sense of their connection with it.” +6+6+6