Bette Midler and Angela Bassett Honored at The 2023 Costume Designers Guild Awards
Attendees included Austin Butler, Cate Blanchett, Christina Ricci and Baz Luhrmann.
“I had no idea it was such a union gig,” Bette Midler told the crowd to loud applause at the Costume Designers Guild Awards on Monday night. “My God, it's all about pay equity, who knew? I thought it was about clothes.”
It's certainly about clothes at CDGA — now in its 25th year — but the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892, is a union after all, and labor rights has long been a topic of conversation at its shindigs. The group, a mix of professional costume designers, assistant costume designers and illustrators working in film, television, commercials and other media, mingled and networked while celebrating industry leaders inside the Fairmont Century Plaza ballroom in Los Angeles. New this year: the ceremony now has a name for its statuette, called The Adrian.
Going late, past 11 p.m., guests included presenters Austin Butler, Hunter Schafer, Elizabeth Debicki, Christina Ricci, as well as Cate Blanchett and “Elvis” director Baz
Luhrmann. Costume designers Deborah L. Scott and Rachael M. Stanley were awarded the Career Achievement Award and Distinguished Service Award, respectively.
Midler was one of two talent honorees of the evening; “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Oscar nominee Angela Bassett received the Spotlight Award, while Midler took home the Distinguished Collaborator Award.
“This is the perfect award for Bette,” said presenter Billy Crystal, who brought the biggest laughs of the night. “I can't think of anybody who understands costumes and design like Bette. I mean, I can think of
RuPaul, Liberace, and maybe what Marjorie Taylor Greene wore to the State of the
Union Address. The white outfit. The only thing missing was the hood.”
Gasps and guffaws filled the room. Taking on a more serious tone, he went on praising Midler: “From a career that has spanned five decades and transcends all boundaries, Bette has given us some of the most powerful and moving and hilarious performances of any artist in history.”
The actress has four Golden Globes, three Grammys, three Primetime Emmys, two Tony Awards and a Kennedy Center honor, he added. “Not bad.”
“Though not the big one, sadly,” she joked of the Oscar when she took the mic.
“When I first started working, I was in rags,” said Midler. “And I still have a fondness for them in my private life. Yes, I do show up looking like an unmade bed, and I love it. But on stage and on screen, thanks to you, I have reached levels of gorgeousness, flamboyance and insanity that I could never have achieved without your extraordinary imaginations, your artistry, your dedication and your stellar crews…You hold the keys to the characters.”
Bassett shared similar sentiments, discussing the importance of wardrobe to get into character. She was introduced by longtime collaborator Ruth E. Carter, who joked that there were two digits she knows by memory: “My mom's phone number and Angela Bassett's measurements.”
“Costume designers are the ultimate partners in filmmaking,” said Bassett.
Her clothing as Queen Ramonda “was a significant part of what allowed me to find my own way through the character.”