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Anthea Sylbert ( Giannakouros; October 6, 1939 – June 18, 2024) was an American film producer and costume designer, who was active during the "modern era" of American film. She was nominated twice for Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, first at the
47th Academy Awards The 47th Academy Awards were presented Tuesday, April 8, 1975, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, honoring the best films of 1974. The ceremonies were presided over by Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, Sammy Davis Jr., an ...
for ''
Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...
'' (1974), and then at the 50th Academy Awards for her work on '' Julia'' (1977). In addition, she had more than ten credits as producer or executive producer, including for such works as '' CrissCross'' (1991) and the television film '' Truman'' (1995), the latter of which earned Sylbert an Emmy. At the 7th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards in 2005, Sylbert was an honoree, receiving the Lacoste Career Achievement award for film.


Early life and education

Anthea Giannakouros was born in
Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
, New York, on October 6, 1939, to parents Nick and Georgia Giannakouros and lived in what has been described as a "close-knit Greek family". She had one brother, Thomas. Keenly interested in artistic activities as a child, she is reported to have learned to sew from a grandmother. She studied art at
Barnard College Barnard College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college affiliated with Columbia University in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a grou ...
. Later in life, she moved to the Greek island of Skiathos with her husband, actor Richard Romanus, where they resided until their passing. Sylbert was recognized with the Costume Designers Guild’s Lacoste Career Achievement Award in 2005.


Career

Following her long period of costume design work, Sylbert took on executive production management roles at the vice president level, first at Warner Brothers, then at United Artists, where she was known, in particular, for her skills at conflict resolution when filmmakers were at odds with the studios. After this period, she began a deep partnership with
Goldie Hawn Goldie Jeanne Hawn (born November 21, 1945) is an American actress, producer, dancer, and singer. She achieved stardom and acclaim for playing lighthearted comedic roles in film and television. In a career spanning six decades, she has received ...
, beginning with the film '' Private Benjamin'' (1980). Ultimately, the two of them created the Hawn/Sylvebert Movie Company, which produced a number of films, including '' Protocol'' (1984) and '' Something to Talk About'' (1995).


Work on ''Chinatown''

Sylbert worked with ''
Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...
'' (1974) from its early days after her brother-in-law Richard Sylbert introduced and recommended her to director
Roman Polanski Raymond Roman Thierry Polański (; born 18 August 1933) is a Polish and French filmmaker and actor. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Roman Polanski, numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Britis ...
. Sylbert was affectionately known in that close-working, small group of accomplished filmmakers as Ant for her penchant for "stringently straight" dark skirts and black turtlenecks. Sylbert was known to be "utterly unafraid to speak truth, no matter how ugly, to anyone, no matter how powerful". Her work was described as breaking with the past in its aim at being "not for beauty or for chic” but rather "to amplify character". Sylbert was nominated for the 1975 Academy Award for Best Costume Design for her work on the film.


Work on ''Julia''

Sylbert was nominated for the 1978 Academy Award for Best Costume Design for her work on the film '' Julia'' (1977).


Personal life

In 1965, Sylbert married Paul Sylbert, a production designer, art director and set designer. The couple divorced in 1984. In August 1985, Sylbert married the actor and writer Richard Romanus. In 2000, Sylbert and Romanus moved to the Greek island of Skiathos, and were made honorary citizens in 2021. Sylbert died in Skiathos on June 18, 2024, at the age of 84.


Filmography

The following is Anthea Sylbert's list of credits, primarily as reported by the
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
.


Producing

* 1999, '' If You Believe'' * 1998, ''Giving up the Ghost'' (teleplay) * 1997, ''Hope'' * 1995, ''Truman'' * 1995, ''Something to Talk About'' * 1991, ''Deceived'' * 1991, ''Crisscross'' * 1990, ''My Blue Heaven'' * 1987, ''Overboard'' * 1986, ''Wildcats'' * 1984, ''Protocol''


Costumes and costume design

* 1978, ''F.I.S.T.'' * 1977, ''Julia'' * 1976, ''The Last Tycoon'' * 1976, ''King Kong'' * 1975, ''Shampoo'' * 1974, ''Chinatown'' * 1974, ''The Fortune'' * 1972, ''Bad Company'' * 1971, ''The Cowboys'' * 1971, ''Carnal Knowledge'' * 1969, ''The Illustrated Man'' * 1968, ''Rosemary's Baby''


Other credits

* 2008, ''Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired'', on-screen participant * 1999, ''If You Believe'', writer, with Richard Romanus * 1976, ''Mikey and Nicky'', visual consultant


Awards and recognition

In addition to the 1975 and 1978 Academy Award nominations for best costume design, Sylbert won an Emmy for her production of '' Truman'' (1995). In 1999, Sylbert and Richard Romanus were nominated for Best Original Screenplay by the
Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the name of two American labor unions representing writers in film, television, radio, and online media: * The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is headquartered in New York City and is affiliated wit ...
for the Christmas film '' If You Believe''. Sylbert was an honoree at the 7th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards (in 2005), where she received the Lacoste Career Achievement award for film.


References


Additional reading

* * * *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sylbert, Anthea 1939 births 2024 deaths American costume designers American women film producers Artists from New York City Primetime Emmy Award winners