Cecil Beaton

Date of Birth: January 14, 1904

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: January 18, 1980

Biography

Cecil Beaton was a renowned British photographer, diarist, and designer, celebrated for his work in fashion and portrait photography. Born in London, Beaton’s early fascination with photography was nurtured through his mother’s Kodak 3A camera. He attended Harrow School and later studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, though he left without a degree. Beaton’s career began in earnest in the 1920s when he gained recognition for his distinctive portraits of society figures and celebrities. Over the decades, Beaton’s work appeared in magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, and he was known for his theatrical and glamorous style. Aside from photography, Beaton was also a successful costume and set designer, earning several Academy Awards for his work on films like “Gigi” (1958) and “My Fair Lady” (1964). Beaton’s diaries, documenting his interactions with the elite and his thoughts on art and society, have been widely published and acclaimed. He was knighted in 1972 for his contributions to the arts.

5 Interesting Facts about Cecil Beaton

1. Cecil Beaton was knighted in 1972 for his significant contributions to photography and the arts.

2. He won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design for “Gigi” (1958) and “My Fair Lady” (1964).

3. Beaton was a war photographer during World War II, capturing powerful images of the London Blitz and other wartime scenes.

4. He had a long-standing professional relationship with Vogue, working with the magazine for over five decades.

5. Beaton’s photography often featured famous figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, Marilyn Monroe, and Greta Garbo.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Cecil Beaton

1. “Be daring, be different, be impractical; be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”

2. “I think the most important thing a woman can have – next to talent, of course – is her hairdresser.”

3. “The truly fashionable are beyond fashion.”

4. “All I want is the best of everything and there’s very little of that left.”

5. “Perhaps the world’s second worst crime is boredom. The first is being a bore.”