It’s the Oscars this Sunday, and whilst many viewers will be paying most of their attention towards things like the sharp suits and dazzling dresses being worn by the stars and also who happens to win what, our eager barber eyes will be fixed to the screen awaiting the sights of any lavishly groomed beards and slick hairstyles on display. The more effort and daring the better, and if the Baftas are anything to go by, then we’re in for a treat.
We were actively involved in the styling duties for the Baftas ourselves, and one of our visitors in the Murdock chair was Paco Delgado, Costume Designer for Tom Hooper’s epic screen adaption of Les Misérables. Our Master Barber Alex did a fine job in trimming the Spaniard’s epic beard and he was kind enough to offer us a few words regarding his Oscar nod afterwards…
Les Mis star Anne Hathaway with Mr Delgado at the Costume Designer’s Guild Awards
What first drew you towards getting in to costume design?
It was a sort of detour, I used to be a set designer in theatre, but the productions I used to work on sometimes required me to design the costumes as well. Since I wasn’t worried by it, it became a natural process and little by little I got more and more engaged with it.
What’s been your biggest career challenge yet?
I think every movie I have worked on has been a big challenge in my career, but Les Mis has been a very big challenge for a lot of obvious reasons. The dimension of the film for a start, because it has been such a tremendous success in the west end for more than 20 years and also for the amazing cast.
Eddie Redmayne starts in Les Mis in one of Paco Delgado’s designs
Has the response to Les Misérables met/surpassed your expectations?
I think we have all been very surprised by the whole thing, but I think the expectations were set very high anyway.
How does achieving such acclaimed recognition feel?
I’m extremely happy. It is a recognition by the cinema people that I take with immense pride.
Russell Crowe in Paco Delgado Les Mis costume
How did you find working under Tom Hooper having spent your career working for mostly Spanish directors?
I found it very easy I think. Tom wanted me to design the film and he was very supportive during the whole movie.
How does the approach to costume design for period films compare to modern-day movies?
I always want to create characters and I think it is very important to pay attention to that in period. I find contemporary very complicated and not very rewarding , but I love to work in both of them.
Who has been your favorite character to design for?
In Les Mis, les Thenardiers have been a lot of fun.
Les Thenardiers
Are there any movies that you wish you could have worked on?
Definitely I would have designed all Buñuel movies.
Paco Delgado winning his Best Costume Design award at this year’s Goya awards in Spain for Blancanieves
As a magnificently bearded man yourself, who are the best-bearded characters/actors that you’ve worked with?
Hugh Jackman looked very handsome with a beard, and Antonio Banderas as well.
Finally, what’s next in line for Mr. Paco Delgado: Oscar-nominated designer?
At this moment I have a couple of projects but I don’t want to talk about them, since I’m very superstitious and I don’t think it will be very good luck if I talk about them whilst they are not completely secure.
