Director and screenwriter, born in Ryde, Isle of Wight, S England, UK. The son of Italian parents, he studied at the University of Hull and began a career as playwright and theatre director. His credits as film director/writer include Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991), Mr Wonderful (1993), The English Patient (1996, Oscars for Best Film and Best Director), The Talented Mr Ripley (1999), Cold Mountain (2003), and Breaking and Entering (2006). In 2005 he made his debut as an opera director with a production of Madam Butterfly in London's West End.
Anthony Minghella (born January 6, 1954) is an Academy Award-winning British film director, playwright and screenwriter.
During the 1980s he worked in television, script editing the children's drama series Grange Hill for the BBC and later writing The Storyteller series for Jim Henson.
His move into film occurred in 1990, when Truly, Madly, Deeply — a one-off drama he had written and directed for the BBC's Screen One anthology strand — became a major success when released to cinemas. This was Minghella's first work as a director, and he only chose to direct it himself as he thought that it would be little-watched and give him an opportunity to learn the craft before embarking on bigger projects. In order to make the film he had turned down an offer to direct an episode of Inspector Morse, which he thought would be a much higher-profile assignment. He won an Academy Award for his work as director of The English Patient.
He is currently the chairman of the British Film Institute.
Selected filmography
Living with Dinosaurs (1989) (TV) (writer) Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990) Mr. Wonderful (1993) The English Patient (1996) The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Play (2000) Cold Mountain (2003) Breaking and Entering (2006)Awards
2003 National Board of Review Award - Best Adapted Screenplay for Cold Mountain (2003) 1999 National Board of Review Award - Best Director for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) 1997 Academy Award - Best director for The English Patient (1996) 1997 BAFTA Film Award - Best film for The English Patient (1996) (shared with Saul Zaentz) 1997 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards - Best Director and Best Screenplay for The English Patient (1996) 1997 Directors Guild of America Award - Outstanding Achievement in Motion Pictures for The English Patient (1996) 1997 Golden Globe Award - Best Director for The English Patient (1996) 1992 BAFTA Film Award - Best original screenplay for Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)|
Preceded by: Mel Gibson for Braveheart |
Academy Award for Best Director 1996 for The English Patient |
Succeeded by: James Cameron for Titanic |
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