In this fascinating episode, Elisabeth speaks with Jo Katsaras, a world-renowned Costume Designer whose visionary work has graced some of Hollywood’s beloved films and series.

Born in Cyprus, Jo moved to South Africa at the age of five — a cultural fusion that would later define her unique artistic style. Growing up in vibrant 1970s Johannesburg, Jo’s creative journey began early. She spent her childhood summers in Cyprus, cutting fabric scraps from her aunt’s sewing projects to make dresses for her dolls. By the time she was a teenager, she was already cutting patterns around her friends, driven by an instinctive flair for design.

After studying at the National School of Arts in Johannesburg, Jo briefly considered architecture but decided instead to explore the world, a decision that ultimately shaped her creative destiny. At her father’s insistence, she pursued a qualification in fashion, completing a three-year diploma in just one year thanks to her extraordinary talent.

Jo’s career began in the fashion industry as a Senior Designer, but her passion for storytelling through clothing soon drew her to the world of film. Her debut as a Costume Designer came with the South African box office hit There’s a Zulu on My Stoep (Yankee Zulu internationally), and from there, her rise was nothing short of meteoric.

She went on to design for acclaimed international productions including:

🎬 Mary & Martha (with Hilary Swank)

🎬 Half of a Yellow Sun (with Chiwetel Ejiofor & Thandie Newton)

🎬 Country of My Skull (with Samuel L. Jackson & Juliette Binoche)

🎬 Racing Stripes

🎬 Mr. Bones

🎬 Tarzan and the Lost City

🎬 The Young Black Stallion for Disney IMAX

But it was her collaboration with Oscar®-winning director Anthony Minghella on the HBO/BBC pilot of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency that brought her Emmy® recognition and international acclaim. Jo’s costumes for the show — vivid, expressive, and rich in cultural symbolism — earned her an Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Costumes at the 61st Emmy Awards and an invitation to exhibit her work at the FIDM Museum in Los Angeles.

Since then, Jo has continued to bring her creative genius to global productions, including HBO’s The Leftovers and AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead.

Her accolades include a Costume Designers Guild of America nomination, and in 2010 she was named Madame Figaro “Woman of the Year” in her native Cyprus.

Jo’s story is one of passion, persistence, and imagination — a tale of how creativity, courage, and cross-cultural experience can shape a remarkable life.

As Jo says,

“To work on films is to enter a world of fantasy. I love the idea that one can distil an entire character into their costume — and the results are preserved forever on celluloid.”

Tune in to hear how this Cypriot-born creative powerhouse turned fabric, colour, and vision into cinematic magic.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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