Costume designer creates outfits for Gladiator II

A Jersey costume designer who worked on the Gladiator II movie described the experience as "incredible".

Evie Bertram, 25, was a junior costume maker and created outfits worn by characters Lucilla, Caracalla and Geta as well as a group of senators.

She worked on the project from March to August 2023, based in London and Malta, where parts of the movie were filmed.

Ms Bertram said she was "absolutely thrilled" the film had been been nominated for the Best Costume Design at the 97th Academy Awards.

Ms Bertram said that while she did not work directly with the lead actors, including Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, she had the opportunity to visit the movie set.

Ms Bertram said: "We did see them in action when they were filming.

"That was incredible, as well, to be on the set where they filmed the first Gladiator, 20 years prior, watching the second one in action.

"That was a truly wonderful feeling."

Ms Bertram said she was "absolutely thrilled" at having contributed to costumes which have been Oscar nominated.

The original Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe, received 12 nominations at the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001.

The movie won five Oscars, including Best Costume Design.

Ms Bertram's favourite costumes from Gladiator II were the tunics worn by emperors Caracalla and Geta.

She said: "There was so much time and team-work that went into creating them.

"Not just one person worked on one costume.

"One person might have sewn it together whilst another person was sewing on the braid and the appliqué."

"Working on those [costumes] and then seeing them on the big screen was an incredible feeling," she added.

All outfits worn by major characters were handcrafted.

Ms Bertram worked in a team of eight but said there were many different departments.

Designated groups worked on specific parts of each outfit including leather, jewellery, and fabric dying teams.

Ms Bertram said: "Being part of such an incredible, monumental film, there's a sense of pride that goes along with it and you feel joyous."

She has previously worked in the costume departments of movies such as The Marvels and Meg 2, and the series My Lady Jane.

Ms Bertram was brought onto Gladiator II as a junior costume maker by the fabric cutter she worked with in My Lady Jane.

The other blockbusters nominated for Best Costume Design at the 2025 Oscars include Nosferatu, Wicked, A Complete Unknown and Conclave.

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