Simon Curtis (filmmaker)

Simon Curtis
Born (1960-03-11) 11 March 1960[1]
London, England
Occupation Film director, producer
Spouse(s) Elizabeth McGovern (m. 1992)
Children 2

Simon Curtis (born 11 March 1960) is a British film director and producer. He is best known for directing My Week with Marilyn.

Career

Curtis began his career working at the Royal Court Theatre.[2] His first job was assistant director to Caryl Churchill's Top Girls.[3] He later became assistant director to both Danny Boyle and Max Stafford-Clark.[4] Notable theatre productions Curtis has worked on include the world premiere of Road, A Lie of the Mind, Roots, Dinner with Friends and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.[4] In 2010, Curtis directed Serenading Louie at the Donmar Warehouse.[5]

Curtis directed the BBC's adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford in 2007.[3] In June 2009, Curtis directed two new episodes of Cranford for the Christmas period. Titled Return to Cranford, the episodes were aired from 20 December 2009.[6]

In August 2008, Curtis directed the one-off television drama A Short Stay in Switzerland for the BBC.[7] The drama, featuring Julie Walters, was based on the true story of Dr. Anne Turner, who decided to take her own life at a Dignitas clinic in 2006.[8] A Short Stay in Switzerland was nominated for Best Single Drama at the Royal Television Society Awards and the British Academy Television Awards.[9][10]

In 2004, Curtis approached producer David Parfitt about making a film based on The Prince, The Showgirl and Me and My Week with Marilyn; two diary accounts written by Colin Clark about his time with Marilyn Monroe.[11] Adrian Hodges wrote and adapted the screenplay for the film called My Week with Marilyn. Curtis and Parfitt went to BBC Films and the UK Film Council and they put up the money for development.[11] Curtis then approached Harvey Weinstein who financed the film.[12] My Week with Marilyn was filmed in late 2010 and released in November 2011.[13][14]

Personal life

Curtis was born in London, England. He married American actress Elizabeth McGovern in 1992.[15] The couple has two daughters and lives in Chiswick, London.[16]

Filmography

As director

References

  1. ↑ "Simon Curtis". Film Society of Lincoln Center. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Inside Story: In the right direction – the cream of Britain's television directing talent". The Independent (Independent Print Limited). 16 June 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  3. 1 2 Curtis, Simon (18 December 2009). "My Job Directing Cranford". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Simon Curtis". The Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Paddock, Terri (30 October 2009). "Donmar Marks Curious Debut & Sondheim 80th". What's on Stage. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "The critically acclaimed and multi-award winning Cranford returns to BBC One this Christmas with stellar cast". BBC Press Office. BBC. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  7. ↑ Holmwood, Leigh (18 July 2008). "Julie Walters to appear in euthanasia drama on BBC1". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "A Short Stay in Switzerland – introduction". BBC Press Office. BBC. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "RTS award winners and nominees". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). 17 March 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Bafta TV Awards 2010: The winners". BBC News (BBC). 6 June 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  11. 1 2 Gritten, David (5 November 2011). "My Week with Marilyn: the true story". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  12. ↑ Hogan, Michael (23 November 2011). "'My Week With Marilyn': Harvey Weinstein on Michelle Williams, Marilyn Monroe & The Oscars". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  13. ↑ "'My Week With Marilyn' – Feature Film". British Cinematographer. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "My Week With Marilyn". Entertainment Film Distributors. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Why I had to escape Hollywood's clutches". Daily Mail (Associated Press). 29 October 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  16. ↑ GIilbert, Gerard (18 December 2010). "'Hollywood never suited me': Elizabeth McGovern on fleeing LA and Downton Abbey's Lady Cora". The Independent (Independent Print Limited). Retrieved 10 December 2011.

External links

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