Dustin Hoffman’s Shirts

Lights, name tags, action

Mr.Davis ran the men’s cutting room in Angels, the legendary costumiers in London's theatreland. Always dapper, with a waistcoat that had special pockets for his tailor's chalk and woven tape measure, he would receive many stars of the stage and screen in his first floor fitting room.

This was 1978, and I was to be found on the floor above, creating ladies' outfits as part of my three-year apprenticeship. One day, word got out that Dustin Hoffman was due to be fitted for ‘Agatha’, a drama thriller about the mystery writer, also starring Vanessa Redgrave. A huge fan of the American actor, I asked my supervisor if Mr.Davis might need some extra assistance.

I was told no. And yet, an hour later, Mr. Davis announced over the tannoy that my presence was indeed required. My colleagues clapped as I headed down the staircase, the colour of its faded carpet a perfect match for my teenage blushes.

They say you should never meet your heroes, but Mr Hoffman was charm personified. He listened politely while I told him how I had to take his shirts home in order to meet the deadline. I also explained that, due to the regular blackouts in the city, I had to hand-finish his name-tags not in my bedroom, but rather on the top deck of the 159 bus - an impromptu studio that I found to be well-lit, if a little cramped, and a long way from Hollywood.