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Ken Russell Shirley Russell

 

Shirley Russell

Ken Russell and Shirley Russell Shirley Russell Ken Russell and Shirley Russell

Sadly Shirley Russell died in March 2002 aged 66.  Shirley Kingdon met Ken Russell at art school and worked with him on his early amateur films- she appears in Peepshow.  They married in 1956.  As costume designer she worked with Ken Russell through the classic television period to major films such as Women in Love, The Music Lovers, The Devils, Mahler, Tommy and Lisztomania.  They divorced in 1978.  Shirley Russell also worked with directors such as Warren Beatty and John Schlesinger.  In total she worked on 37 films, her last being Shackleton for Charles Sturridge in 2001.

The Times "...She could date any portrait from its clothing to within a year or two, and was frequently consulted by museums and art dealers on questions of attribution. 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....".

Alex Russell says "Ken was at the funeral and threw some daffodils onto the coffin and read a poem.   Charles Sturridge also read a long and very moving tribute to Shirley.  There were many people at the funeral that I had not seen in over twenty years from the film industry. Bryan Adams sung his own adaptation of a Bob Dylan song accompanying himself on guitar for Shirley at the service. Among the mourners were David Putnam, Iain Whiticker, Michael Palin, Brenda and Roy Baird, Richard Pointing, Janet Dutus, Linda Bertenshaw and Maureen Murray.  Shirley was loved, admired and respected by so many people!"

Shirley Russell: born 11 Mar 1935 and died 9.14 pm 4 Mar 2002

 

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