Catherine O’Hara’s Influential Style – Defined by Decades of Notable Characters

Canadian-American actress Catherine O’Hara passed away last month on Jan. 30. O’Hara’s impact on the film industry was significant due to her major roles in film and television, such as Home Alone, Beetlejuice and Schitt’s Creek. O’Hara’s impact remains significant through her renowned style, curated during decades in the spotlight. 

She started her career in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s and was still acting at the time of her death. O’Hara’s influence spreads across generations, having had many significant roles throughout her life. Her acting influence is paired with her style influence; fans watched O’Hara’s style evolve throughout her career.

Career Beginnings

Starting her career in the ‘80s, O’Hara was on the Canadian TV show SCTV Network 90 in her first role. The show followed the Saturday Night Live format, a late-night improv sketch comedy show. The show initially aired in Canada on CBC and later in the United States on NBC. 

The show was popular among a cult following and went off the air in 1983. Despite the show being less popular than SNL, O’Hara was able to use it as a place to begin her career and her iconic style. 

O’Hara’s style modelled what many people now see as being quintessentially ‘80s, incorporating elements such as shoulder pads, sharp angles and bold colouring. She often incorporated black as a main colour in her outfits, using it as a base for a pop of colour. Contributing to the architectural, sharp angles brought in by the shoulder pads, many of O’Hara’s outfits also featured a prominent V-neck.

This style guided her into some of her career-defining roles in major movies, such as Beetlejuice in 1988 and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in 1989. These roles will be remembered by Gen X, millennials and Gen Z alike. 

Catherine and Moira

One of O’Hara’s most well-known roles didn’t come until 2015, when she starred in the comedy TV series Schitt’s Creek. O’Hara played Moria Rose, co-starring with her fellow former SCTV Network 90 cast member Eugene Levy, who played Johnny Rose. 

The show follows Moira, Johnny and their two kids, David and Alexis, as they learn to navigate life after losing all their money and moving to a small town called Schitt’s Creek. 

Levy created the role of Moira Rose with O’Hara in mind for the part. Much like O’Hara, Moira is known for her iconic style. This included a lot of O’Hara’s dominant black and white colour palette and added some of its own elements, such as large chunky jewelry, big wigs and eccentric hats. The clothes themselves read as being high fashion, couture-style looks.

The costume designer behind Moira was Debra Hanson. In 2020, Hanson won a Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Contemporary Television for a dress designed for Moira Rose.

The costume process was described as a collaboration between Hanson, O’Hara and Levy. It was initially O’Hara’s idea to have Moira’s main style inspiration be The Honourable Daphne Guinness. Guinness is an Anglo-Irish socialite and a direct descendant of the Guinness Brewery. 

The role brought about another big moment for her career, further solidifying her as a household name. Schitt’s Creek ended its six-season run in 2020, though that was the start of its mainstream popularity. The final season ran during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulted in a large influx of new viewers. 

Moira’s makeup often matched her outfit and emphasized an overdrawn, bold lip and dark eye look. The character’s hair was nearly unpredictable, given the number of wigs the character used interchangeably, or as she would call them, “her bébés.”

Using the wigs was another one of O’Hara’s ideas for the character. She wanted Moira to have a different wig depending on her mood to use as a “protective helmet,” O’Hara said in Best Wishes, Warm Regards: A Schitt’s Creek Farewell, which aired just after the show’s finale. 

Much like the costume process, working with the hair and makeup team was a collaborative process. Hairstylist Ana Sorys and makeup artist Lucky Bromhead worked with O’Hara to make the avant-garde Daphne Guinness inspiration combine with the eccentricity of the hair and makeup that has been integral to many of her characters. 

In an interview with Refinery 29, Bromhead talked about how O’Hara and Sorys would often do things “on the fly,” unlike traditional TV planning where the costumes are often selected weeks, if not months, in advance. 

Lasting Influence

O’Hara’s lasting influence is defined by the style of her early career and the influence she had on all of her characters. Much like Moira Rose, O’Hara’s style grew to be more defined and more individual as time went on. Her style will not be forgotten by her fans, and her impact on film and TV will have a significant influence on industry stars for years to come.