Bitch, Camera, Action! Cecil Beaton's glittering vicious world at the National Portrait Gallery

"Beaton was born into a wealthy middle-class family, but spent most of his life social climbing up the English class system and seemingly never quite forgiving his parents for not being quite posh enough for him. Forced to earn a wage, he struck out into photography, initially for want of a job, but later charming his way into high society, where he spent decades making old dowagers look young and transforming young stars into celebrities."

"It's these photos that now fill the ground floor of the National Portrait Gallery, offering a mostly monochrome, but very rose-tinted look at the dying years of the Edwardian upper classes and the early days of modern celebrity. As a social climber, he was famously gossipy and often quite nasty, if more often in private and his writing, but often enough in public to gain a reputation for it. The French artist Jean Cocteau memorably nicknamed him Malice in Wonderland."

"Sometimes he took his adoration from the studio to the bedroom, and with a fluid sexuality that at least meant he didn't risk offending anyone with a rejection. Indeed, from the photos on display in the exhibition and extracts from his descriptions of the beauty of his young male subjects, it's almost a surprise to learn that he had intimate relationships with women."

Cecil Beaton rose from a wealthy middle-class upbringing and pursued social climbing within the English class system. He turned to photography to earn a living and ultimately charmed his way into aristocratic and celebrity circles. His portraits made dowagers appear youthful and transformed newcomers into stars, emphasizing glamour and elegant dress. He maintained a reputation for gossip and occasional nastiness, earning the nickname Malice in Wonderland. His career expanded into theatre and film design while his fluid sexuality and relationships with both men and women informed aspects of his work and personal life. His photographs now form a prominent exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

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