Stephenie McMillan

Stephenie McMillan
Biographical information
Birth name	Stephenie Lesley Gardner
Born	20 July 1942 Ilford, Essex, England, Great Britain
Died	19 August 2013 (aged 71) Norfolk, England, UK
Nationality	British
Gender	Female
Height	5' 10"
Occupation	Production designer

"The key to set decoration is noticing the little things."

— Stephenie McMillan

Stephenie McMillian (20 July 1942 - 19 August 2013) was the set decorator for the all the Harry Potter films.

Early life

Stephenie was born in Ilford, Essex, to a toy wholesaler, Leslie Gardner, and his wife, Joan. On leaving Woodford high school for girls, she worked as a secretary in the London office of the architects Stillman & Eastwick-Field. It was there, she often said, that she learned to appreciate space and design.

Career

Stephenie started her career as freelance stylist and spent much time working with photographer Michael Boys on photo shoots for interior design magazines. With the skills she learned there -- how to arrange furniture for photo spreads in magazines -- McMillan segued into decorating for television commercials and then film sets.

Throughout her film career, Stephenie worked with fellow production designer Stuart Craig on 16 of the 28 films she worked on.

Harry Potter series

For a decade, beginning with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001), McMillan dedicated herself to creating on-screen interpretations of author J.K. Rowling's imagination -- Dolores Umbridge's ornate and way-too-pink office, the tangled tower of chairs in the Room of Requirement and Harry's cramped cupboard under the stairs.

Death

Stephenie died at the age of 71 due to complications from ovarian cancer at her home in Norfolk, England on 19 August 2013.

External links

• Stephenie McMillan at the Internet Movie Database