Tributes are being shared for Ava Gillies, a 26-year-old hair and make-up artist who worked on productions including "The Crown" and "Barbie," after she was killed in a two-car collision. The incident occurred at 1:30 a.m. on July 29 near Wrelton, North Yorkshire.
Gillies was driving her white Volkswagen Polo when it collided with a black Audi A4 traveling in the opposite direction. Emergency services pronounced her dead at the scene. Five occupants of the Audi were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.
Her family released a statement remembering her as a "beautiful daughter, sister and granddaughter," whose talents extended to hair and make-up for film and television. They expressed pride in her achievements, including becoming a Bafta Connect member. The family also noted the widespread love and respect she received from friends, her community, and the film industry.
Gillies studied at York College before graduating from the Delamar Academy of Make-up and Hair in London in 2018. Her career included work on notable projects such as the 2022 "Death on the Nile" reboot, "Wonder Woman 1984," and the "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte" and "Andor." She also contributed as a designer for an Enzo Fernandez ambassador collaboration with Bing X.
Delamar Academy described themselves as "broken-hearted" over the loss of their former student, calling Gillies an "exceptionally gifted artist" and a "kind, creative, hardworking and lovely person" who will be greatly missed.