Susanna White(born 1955 or 1956 ) is a British television and film director.
Susanna White | |
|---|---|
 Susanna White at the 2018Tribeca Film Festival | |
| Born | 1955 or 1956 (age 68–69) England |
| Occupation(s) | TV and film director |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Children | 2 |
She spent 12 years making documentaries forBBC2,but is best known for directing the BBC mini-seriesJane Eyre,HBOminiseriesGeneration Kill,andDisney+Star WarsseriesAndor.She has won multiple awards, including oneBAFTA Television Award,and received numerous nominations, including nominations for twoPrimetime Emmy Awardsand twoBAFTA Awards.
Early life and education
editSusanna White was born in England in 1960 or 1961. She first became interested in films at eight years old and asked her parents to buy her aSuper 8 filmcamera. One source reports that she said that the inspiration came from when she visited the set of the BBC children's TV showCrackerjack,[1]but she wrote in 2010 that it was after her father took her to seeDoctor DolittlewithRex Harrisonthat she asked for the camera.[2]
She read English atOxford University,and then won a Fulbright scholarship to study film atUCLA.[1]
Career
editAfter graduation, White spent 12 years making documentaries forBBC2.In 1999, she failed to win a place on a BBC training scheme and was turned down for a BBC drama director trainee course. In 2001, she was supported by BBC2 controllerJane Root,who eased her into drama with a £200,000 budget drama for BBC2,Love Again,aboutPhilip Larkin.[3]She said in 2010 that it was seeingJane Campion's 1993 filmThe Pianoat a cinema onKing's Roadthat inspired her to become a maker offeature filmsrather than documentaries.[2]
White won aBAFTA awardfor best drama serial for her work on the 2005 version ofBleak House.She directed the BBC mini-seriesJane Eyre,for which she was nominated for anEmmy award.She also directed four episodes of theHBOminiseriesGeneration Kill,and all five episodes of the 2012 seriesParade's End.[1]
In film, White directedNanny McPhee and the Big Bangand most recentlyOur Kind of Traitor.[4]
White directed three episodes of theDisney+Star WarsseriesAndor,which were released in 2022.[5]
She is directing the film version of Australian playwrightSuzie Miller's award-winning playPrima Facie,in pre-production as of September 2024[update].[6][7]The film starsCynthia Erivoas Tessa, the only role in the stage version.[8]
Personal life
editWhite and her husband, an Oxford academic and part-time dairy farmer, live on a dairy farm in Sussex with their twin daughters.[1][9]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Mini Series | Parade's End | Nominated | [10] |
| 2010 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Children's Feature Film | Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang | Nominated | [10] |
| 2009 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Generation Kill | Nominated | [11] |
| 2007 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Jane Eyre | Nominated | [11] |
| 2006 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Drama Serial | Bleak House | Won | [12] |
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Woman Walks Ahead | [13][14][15] |
| 2016 | Our Kind of Traitor | [16][17] |
| 2010 | Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang | [18] |
| 1997 | Bicycle Thieves | Short |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Buccaneers | |
| 2022 | Andor | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Trust | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Billions | Episode: "Where the F*** is Donnie?" |
| 2015 | Masters of Sex | Episode: "Party of Four" |
| 2012 | Parade's End | 5 episodes[19][20] |
| 2011 | Boardwalk Empire | Episode: "A Dangerous Maid" |
| 2008 | Generation Kill | 4 episodes[21] |
| 2007 | The Diary of a Nobody | TV film[22] |
| 2006 | Jane Eyre | 4 episodes[23][24] |
| 2005 | Bleak House | 7 episodes |
| 2005 | Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle | TV film |
| 2004 | Lie with Me | TV series |
| 2003 | Love Again | TV film |
| 2002 | Teachers | 5 episodes |
| 2002 | Attachments | 4 episodes |
| 2001 | Holby City | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Modern Times | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | 40 Minutes | Episode: "The Gypsies Are Coming" |
| 1985 | Bleak House | Episode 7 |
References
edit- ^abcd"Susanna White: From Jane Eyre to Generation Kill".Independent.3 February 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 25 May 2022.
- ^ab"Susanna White, film director".The Guardian.21 March 2010.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Brown, Maggie (8 September 2012)."Parade's End director says sexism is still rife in drama world".The Guardian.
- ^"Damian Lewis and Jeremy Northam Join Cast of Spy ThrillerOur Kind of Traitor".Variety.25 March 2014.Retrieved25 February2015.
- ^"'Andor': 'Chernobyl' & 'His Dark Materials' Actor Robert Emms Joins 'Rogue One' Spin-Off Series Filming In UK ".Deadline Hollywood.4 June 2021.Retrieved4 June2021.
- ^Miller, Suzie (23 April 2024)."In conversation with Australia's success story Suzie Miller".Honi Soit(Interview). Interviewed by Chidiac, Valerie.Retrieved23 September2024.
- ^Donnelly, Matt (15 May 2023)."Cynthia Erivo to Star in 'Prima Facie,' Movie Adaptation of Smash Jodie Comer Play (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved21 September2024.
- ^Lee, Benjamin (15 May 2023)."Cynthia Erivo to star in movie adaptation of hit playPrima Facie".The Guardian.Retrieved15 May2023.
- ^"How I make it work: Susanna White".The Sunday Times.Archived fromthe originalon 8 May 2016.
- ^ab"BAFTA Awards Search | BAFTA Awards".BAFTA.Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2023.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^ab"Nominations Search | Awards Search".Television Academy.Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2023.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^"2006 Television Drama Serial | BAFTA Awards".awards.bafta.org.Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2023.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Ford, Rebecca (3 November 2016)."AFM First Look: Jessica Chastain Remains by Sitting Bull's Side in 'Woman Walks Ahead' (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Bradshaw, Peter (11 September 2017)."Woman Walks Ahead review – Jessica Chastain historical drama is a sturdily liberal portrait".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Catsoulis, Jeannette (28 June 2018)."Review: A 'Woman Walks Ahead,' and Sitting Bull Stands Up".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Felperin, Leslie (4 May 2016)."'Our Kind of Traitor': Film Review ".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Dargis, Manohla (30 June 2016)."Review: A Professor Drawn to the Mob in 'Our Kind of Traitor'".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Cox, David (29 March 2010)."Nanny McPhee speaks softly but carries a big stick".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Brown, Maggie (8 September 2012)."Parade's End director says sexism is still rife in drama world".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^"Parade's End".www.bbc.co.uk.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Robinson, John (1 October 2009)."Calling the shots on Generation Kill".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^"BBC Four - Diary of a Nobody, Episode 4".BBC.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^Miller, Lucasta (23 September 2006)."Prim and improper".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^"BBC - Drama - Jane Eyre - About The Show".www.bbc.co.uk.Retrieved8 April2023.