Simon Curtis(born 11 March 1960) is an English director and producer. He has worked on theater, television and film.
Simon Curtis | |
|---|---|
 Curtis in 2015 | |
| Born | 11 March 1960[1] London,England |
| Occupation(s) | Director, producer |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Career
editCurtis began his career working at theRoyal Court Theatre.[2]His first job was assistant director forCaryl Churchill'sTop Girls.[3]He later became assistant director to bothDanny BoyleandMax Stafford-Clark.[4]Theatre productions Curtis has worked on include the world premiere ofRoad,A Lie of the Mind,Roots,Dinner with FriendsandThe Rise and Fall of Little Voice.[4]In 2010, Curtis directedSerenading Louieat theDonmar Warehouse.[5]
In 1996, Curtis directed episodes of the television comedy seriesTracey Takes On...forHBO.He also directed the three-part television dramaTwenty Thousand Streets Under the SkyforBBC Fourin 2005. The serial is an adaptation ofPatrick Hamilton's20,000 Streets Under the Skynovels.[6]
He directed the BBC's adaptation ofElizabeth Gaskell'sCranfordin 2007.[3]In June 2009, Curtis directed two new episodes ofCranfordfor the Christmas period. TitledReturn to Cranford,the episodes were aired from 20 December 2009.[7]
In August 2008, Curtis directed the one-off television dramaA Short Stay in Switzerlandfor the BBC.[8]The drama, featuringJulie Walters,was based on the true story of Dr. Anne Turner, who decided to take her own life at aDignitasclinic in 2006.[9]A Short Stay in Switzerlandwas nominated for Best Single Drama at theRoyal Television Society Awardsand theBritish Academy Television Awards.[10][11]
In 2004, Curtis approached producerDavid Parfittabout making a film based onThe Prince, The Showgirl and MeandMy Week with Marilyn;two diary accounts written byColin Clarkabout his time withMarilyn Monroe.[12]Adrian Hodgeswrote and adapted the screenplay for the film calledMy Week with Marilyn.Curtis and Parfitt went toBBC Filmsand theUK Film Counciland they put up the money for development.[12]Curtis then approachedHarvey Weinsteinwho financed the film.[13]My Week with Marilynwas filmed in late 2010 and released in November 2011.[14][15]
In 2015, Curtis directed and executive produced the biographical filmWoman in Gold,starringHelen MirrenasMaria Altmann,a Holocaust survivor attempting to recover a portrait of her aunt painted byGustav Klimtwhich was stolen from her family by the Nazis and had eventually become property of the government of Austria, and closely connected to Austrian identity. Curtis' wifeElizabeth McGovernhas a small role as a court judge in the film.
Curtis directed the 2019feature film adaptationofGarth Stein'sThe Art of Racing in the Rain,starringMilo VentimigliaandAmanda Seyfried.[16]
In April 2021, it was announced Curtis would directDownton Abbey: A New Era,the sequel to thefirst filmandtelevision series of the same name.[17]
Personal life
editCurtis was born in London, England. He married American actressElizabeth McGovernin 1992. The couple have two daughters and live inChiswick, London.[18]
Filmography
editTV series
- Tracey Takes On...(1996)
TV movies
- My Summer with Des(1998)
- Man and Boy(2002)
- A Short Stay in Switzerland(2009)
Miniseries
- David Copperfield(1999)
- Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky(2005)
- Cranford(2007)
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Executive Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | My Week with Marilyn | Yes | Yes |
| 2015 | Woman in Gold | Yes | Yes |
| 2017 | Goodbye Christopher Robin | Yes | No |
| 2018 | The Chaperone | No | Yes |
| 2019 | The Art of Racing in the Rain | Yes | No |
| 2022 | Downton Abbey: A New Era | Yes | No |
| 2025 | UntitledDownton Abbey: A New Erasequel | Yes | No |
References
edit- ^"Simon Curtis".Film Society of Lincoln Center.Archived fromthe originalon 9 June 2012.Retrieved10 December2011.
- ^"Inside Story: In the right direction – the cream of Britain's television directing talent".The Independent.Independent Print Limited. 16 June 2008.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^abCurtis, Simon (18 December 2009)."My Job Directing Cranford".The Arts Desk.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^ab"Simon Curtis".The Huffington Post.AOL.Archived fromthe originalon 21 January 2012.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^Paddock, Terri (30 October 2009)."Donmar Marks Curious Debut & Sondheim 80th".What's on Stage. Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2011.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^"Patrick Hamilton's classic trilogy Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky adapted for BBC Four".BBC Press Office. 19 November 2004.Retrieved16 November2018.
- ^"The critically acclaimed and multi-award winning Cranford returns to BBC One this Christmas with stellar cast".BBC Press Office.BBC.28 May 2009.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^Holmwood, Leigh (18 July 2008)."Julie Walters to appear in euthanasia drama on BBC1".The Guardian.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^"A Short Stay in Switzerland – introduction".BBC Press Office.BBC.15 January 2009.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^"RTS award winners and nominees".The Guardian.17 March 2010.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^"Bafta TV Awards 2010: The winners".BBC News.BBC.6 June 2010.Retrieved9 January2012.
- ^abGritten, David (5 November 2011)."My Week with Marilyn: the true story".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved10 December2011.
- ^Hogan, Michael (23 November 2011)."'My Week With Marilyn': Harvey Weinstein on Michelle Williams, Marilyn Monroe & The Oscars ".The Huffington Post.Retrieved10 December2011.
- ^"'My Week With Marilyn' – Feature Film ".British Cinematographer.Retrieved10 November2011.
- ^"My Week With Marilyn".Entertainment Film Distributors.Retrieved10 November2011.
- ^Hemmert, Kylie (9 May 2018)."Production Has Started on The Art of Racing in the Rain".Comingsoon.net.Retrieved16 November2018.
- ^Respers France, Lisa (19 April 2021)."'Downton Abbey' film sequel coming for Christmas ".CNN.Retrieved2 May2021.
- ^Gilbert, Gerard (18 December 2010)."'Hollywood never suited me': Elizabeth McGovern on fleeing LA and Downton Abbey's Lady Cora ".The Independent.Independent Print Limited.Retrieved10 December2011.