Ep175 - Anna Robbins, Costume Designer ‘Downton Abbey’

Creative Principles

Anna Robbins made an unlikely shift from Scottish law to costume design, which began as an attempt to satisfy a creative urge and then move back to something “more sensible.” With credits such as ‘Perfect Sense,’ ‘Your Highness,’ and ‘The Eagle,’ Robbins is best known for her work on the series and film, ‘Downton Abbey.’ Like the series, the costume designer works to incorporate authentic wardrobe from the 1920s into the film, but finer details can be seen in cinema that aren’t necessarily noticeable on television. In the 2019 film, audiences are invited to watch “The continuing story of the Crawley family, wealthy owners of a large estate in the English countryside in the early 20th century.” In this interview, Robbins discusses her views on storytelling through costume design, how to adapt literature to the big screen through love, how to collaborate with costume designers on set, and the emotional mood while wrapping the series and film versions of ‘Downton Abbey.’ If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5