EXCLUSIVE: Alex Marx’s Isabella Blow biopic The Queen Of Fashion, starring Andrea Riseborough in the leading role, has wrapped its UK shoot and unveiled the full cast, including Dane DeHaan, Stacy Martin, Joe Cole and Ncuti Gatwa.
Oppenheimer’s DeHaan stars as Blow’s husband, Detmar Blow, with Gangs Of London’s Cole as designer Alexander Lee McQueen.
Michelle Dockery plays British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, while Emily Beecham stars as Isabella’s best friend Lucy Birley. Stacy Martin plays designer Daphne Guinness, with Bafta-winning Ncuti Gatwa as fashion designer at Tatler magazine, Michael Roberts.
Bafta winner Miranda Richardson and Sebastian De Souza are also starring, joining the previously confirmed cast of Riseborough, Richard E Grant and Fionn O’Shea. Richardson and Grant play Blow’s parents, while O’Shea and De Souza play couture hat designer Philip Treacy and his partner, respectively.
The biopic delves into the extraordinary life of London-born Blow, known as a visionary fashion editor, muse, and unstoppable force who shaped the fashion industry, surrounded by a constellation of era-defining artists, designers and creatives.
Rocket Science is handling international sales, while CAA Media Finance represents North America.
Producers are Matthew Rhodes for The Hideaway Entertainment (US), Elise Freeman and Marx for Mystic Dawn Media (UK), Robert Barnum for The Barnum Picture Company (US) and Risborough for Mother Sucker (UK). Co-producer is Juliette Woodcock.
Executive producers include Jonathan Gray, Ryan Cassells (The Hideaway Entertainment), TPC, Rocket Science, John Gore Studios, and Black Bear UK, as well as Alison Owen, August Getty, Michael Sklut, Jason Tan, Thomas Pierce, and Keni Silva.
Additional cast includes Alex Marx, Tim Pritchett, Gabriel Bisset-Smith, Tuyen Do, Saffron Vadher, Vincent Perez, Francesco De Muro, August Getty, Nebras Jamali, James Alexandrou and Keni Silva.
Guinness loaned couture pieces from the Isabella Blow Collection to the production, Treacy granted full access to his archives and Manolo Blahnik remade bespoke shoes for the film.
“Isabella Blow was lightning in a bottle – a whirlwind of creativity, wit, and audacity,” said UK filmmaker Marx, in what will be his feature directorial debut. “To tell her story with this astonishing cast, to capture her fire and fragility, is both an honour and a privilege. This isn’t just a film about fashion; it’s about the woman who dared to make it art, everyday.”
“Alex Marx is a visionary whose storytelling blends fearless imagination and sharp intellect,” noted Gray and Rhodes for The Hideaway Entertainment. “His work not only entertains, but challenges, lingers, and defines what bold filmmaking can be. Isabella Blow, a fashion superhero who impacted culture around the world, is embodied by the brilliantly talented Andrea Riseborough, and we are so passionate about helping to bring her story to life.”
“We are thrilled to launch our slate with The Queen Of Fashion – a passionate tribute to Isabella Blow’s revolutionary spirit,” added Mystic Dawn Media CEO Freeman. “Having Andrea Riseborough, one of cinema’s most fearless talents, and this extraordinary ensemble cast has been nothing short of magical. We are capturing the alchemy of rebellion, beauty, and brilliance that defined Issie’s world and passing the torch of inspiration from our entire cast and crew to a global audience.”
Additional reporting by Ellie Calnan