Irish costume designer Lorna Ó Ríordáin (aka Lorna Marie Mugan) has designed several key frock flicks, from season two of Peaky Blinders to the upcoming The Death of Robin Hood. She also recently designed season one of the fantasy Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026). She’s been nominated several times for key awards, including a BAFTA for Ripper Street and Emmy for Treasure Island.
Let’s take a look through her resume of historical films and TV shows!
Falling for a Dancer (1998)
A TV movie set in 1930s Ireland. A young woman falls in love with a dancer (Colin Farrell), ends up pregnant, and has to make hard choices.
The American (1998)
An adaptation of a Henry James novel about an American on his first European tour.
My Boy Jack (2007)
A TV bio-movie about Rudyard Kipling’s son (Daniel Radcliffe) during World War I.
The Old Curiosity Shop (2007)
An adaptation of the Dickens novel.
Small Island (2009)
A TV miniseries about four complicated lives post-World War II.
Christopher and His Kind (2011)
A TV miniseries about novelist Christopher Isherwood, who moved to Germany during the 1930s and fell in love while experiencing the rise of Nazism.
Treasure Island (2012)
A TV movie adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson adventure story.
Ripper Street, seasons 1 & 2 (2012-13)
Police detectives solve crimes in London, just post the Jack-the-Ripper murders.
Quirke, season 1 (2014)
A TV adaptation of a series of Irish crime novels set in the 1950s.
Peaky Blinders, season 2 (2014)
A crime drama set in post-World War I Birmingham.
“It’s all about the fabric. Tweeds and pinstripes, high-waisted trousers and wearing a waistcoat with a suit (contrasting fabrics work well if you can’t find a vintage three-piece). The Peaky cap is a section shape rather than flat. And add a colourful pocket handkerchief for added panache” (Fionnuala Bourke Report, Nov. 17, 2014, “Why We’re Crazy about the Peaky Style” Birmingham Mail).
Jericho (2016)
Set in England in the 1870s, a young widow (Jessica Raine) moves to a shantytown where a railroad is being built.
Mrs. Wilson (2018)
Based on a true story, about the real-life grandmother of actress Ruth Wilson, whose husband dies only for her to discover he’s been leading multiple lives.
Sonja: The White Swan (2018)
A biopic about Sonja Henie, a famous 1930s figure skater who went to Hollywood to become a movie star.
Vita & Virginia (2019)
The love affair between authors Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf.
Chapelwaite (2021)
I’m sorry, there’s an Adrien Brody production that we haven’t reviewed?? What is wrong with us! This TV miniseries is an adaptation of a Stephen King story, set in 1850s Maine. Oh, maybe that’s why!
The Death of Robin Hood (coming 2026)
“Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last,” per IMDB.
Which is your favorite of Lorna Ó Ríordáin’s frock flick designs?
That should be “Hello, Airman!” Even if the RAF blue didn’t tip it, there are wings on his sleeve.
The costumey dresses in “Ripper Street” are supposed to code as sexy sex worker. The menswear, however, is excellent.
Thanks! I have Military Blindness :)
Well that’s a reasonable excuse, but an imp of mischief compels me to point out that this still leaves you with the difference between Navy blue and Sky blue to help separate the RN from the the RAF … unless you also have colour blindness, admittedly.
These looks of the works of designers are so interesting!!
Aren’t they?? I’m always fascinated!
Mr Adrien Brody really, really, really does need to be cast as Count Dracula at some point – just look at him all Victorian with the face of a predatory flamingo!
On a more serious note, he really does have The Look (All he needs is a suitably Evil Moustache – more Dracula’s should be Moustache Draculas – and possibly a Dark Ages Mullet “curling in it’s own profusion”).
…
Also, is a character showing up in a production mostly to get a Nice Irish Girl pregnant ‘early Colin Farrel’ to a hilarious degree?
Lol A Young Dr. Zara Carmichael on A Period Drama with Collin Farrell? How that went past me? Gotta watch that!