Biography

Shirley Russell was born on March 11, 1935 in London, England, UK. She was a costume designer and actress, known for Reds (1981), Hope and Glory (1987) and Yanks (1979). She was married to Ken Russell. She died on March 4, 2002 in England, UK.

Costume designer of many of Ken Russell films.

She ran her own firm of film costumiers for most of her career, specialising in 1930s and 1940s clothing. According to The Times, "she could date any portrait from its clothing to within a year or two" and "she pioneered the use of real, historic clothes in her films, and would tour the country searching auctioned wardrobes, jumble sales and thrift shops to build up an incomparable collection of 20th century costume....".

First wife of Ken Russell.

Mother of Alex Russell, James Russell, Toby Russell, Xavier Russell and Victoria Russell.

Awarded a Stella for Best Costume design for Yanks.

Ken Russell left her after more than twenty years of marriage in order to marry his much younger mistress Vivian Jolly, who had born him two children out of wedlock. In his memoirs and several interviews, Russell was noticeably unpleasant about her, but, after his second marriage had also ended acrimoniously, sometimes said that he regretted their divorce. She made no such claims, however.