How the Costume Designer for The Last of Us Achieved Her Major Breakthrough

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      Ann Foley never planned to become a costume designer. "It sort of happened by chance," she shares. "I was studying fashion merchandising. Growing up in Georgia, I attended Georgia Southern University." While in college, Foley accompanied her then-boyfriend to a movie set where he was working as a PA. "I went to set with him when he was a PA on a film shooting in Savannah. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this is incredible,’" Foley recounts. Eventually, she relocated to L.A. with $500, leading to her successful career.

      Since that move, Foley has contributed to projects like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Altered Carbon. Recently, she has served as the costume designer for season 2 of The Last of Us. In the latest episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, Foley discusses how she began her career in the entertainment industry, her work on The Last of Us, and more. For highlights from their conversation, read below.

      How did you initially get into costume design and start your career?

      "It sort of happened by chance. I was majoring in fashion merchandising and grew up in Georgia, attending Georgia Southern University. My boyfriend at the time took me to a movie set where he was a PA on a film in Savannah. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this is incredible.’ Then I met the costume designer, Julie Weiss, who is a legend in our field. I had no idea that costume design was a potential career option. That's when I told my mom, 'You know what? I think I won't work at The Limited—though it’s great—I’m going to L.A. to pursue a career as a costume designer.' I moved to L.A. with $500 and one phone number belonging to Aggie Rogers, a family friend. She connected me with Hope Hannifin, who was her assistant on a previous film, and this was Hope's first movie as well. So, we both jumped into our first film together."

      Since then, you've spent a significant part of your career working on enjoyable superhero projects, such as Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and She-Hulk for Disney+. What draws you to these types of worlds from a costume design standpoint?

      "It's all about world-building, which I truly enjoy. Even during my assistant days working alongside costume designers like Ellen Mirojnick, Michael Kaplan, Betsy Heimann, and Marlene Stewart, they all had a passion for world-building projects. I learned so much from each of them. As I began to design costumes, I found myself gravitating towards the sci-fi genre, which I genuinely love. My experience with world-building became even more pronounced with Altered Carbon, which was a fantastic design opportunity.

      One aspect I’ve always appreciated about television is that it keeps you on your toes, especially with a show like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which has 22 episodes a season. Every eight days brings a new episode, and you're preparing one episode while shooting another. It turns into a hectic routine that teaches you how to adapt quickly, trust yourself, and believe in your work."

      Can you share how you became involved with The Last of Us?

      "I was a big fan of the show long before I received the call for an interview. Like you, I wasn’t into video games, but I had heard of the show. Upon returning from a project in Australia, I was struggling with severe jet lag and stayed up all night binging the entire season in one go. I was left in awe of its beauty, particularly the relationship between Joel and Ellie. When I got the call, I was eager to jump on board.

      What intrigued me about working on the second season was that it was set five years later, allowing me to explore a brand-new world. Ellie is now 19 instead of a 14-year-old kid, and there are subtle changes to Joel as well, such as how he presents himself more like his brother by tucking in his shirt since he is now a community pillar. This season allows us to delve into Jackson and experience that community, which greatly appealed to me."

      This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.