Tony McNamara (writer)
Tony McNamara (born 1967) is an Australian writer for film and television, most notable for co-writing The Favourite and creating The Great, the former of which earned him a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the 91st Academy Awards.[1]
Tony McNamara | |
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Born | 1967 (age 53–54) Kilmore, Victoria, Australia |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 1993–present |
Known for | The Favourite The Great |
Spouse(s) | Belinda Bromilow |
Early life
McNamara was born in Kilmore and was educated at Assumption College Kilmore. Following careers in catering and finance, McNamara settled on a career as a writer following a visit to Rome.[2] His education consisted of studying writing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and screenwriting at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.[3]
Career
After writing various television episodes and stage plays,[4] McNamara made his film debut in 2003 directing The Rage in Placid Lake, adapted from his stage play The Café Latte Kid.[5]
Following this, McNamara wrote for various television programmes in Australia, most notably The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, Tangle and Puberty Blues.[3] In 2015, McNamara directed his second feature film, comedy-drama Ashby starring Mickey Rourke, Sarah Silverman and Emma Roberts.[6]
A year later, McNamara returned to television as creator of medical drama Doctor Doctor.[7]
In 2018, McNamara received critical acclaim for his work in co-writing the historical period comedy-drama film The Favourite.[8]
McNamara created The Great, a series revolving around the life of Catherine the Great, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult which premiered on Hulu on May 15, 2020.[9] It is based upon his play revolving around Catherine the Great, which premiered at the Sydney Theater Company in 2008.[10] McNamara also wrote a film adaptation of the play, "It had been a play and a film, and I was always struggling [with] the fact it was such a massive story for a film. I wanted to tell it as a story that goes for years and years."[11][12]
Personal life
McNamara is married to Australian actress Belinda Bromilow.[13]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | Australian Film Institute | Best Screenplay in a Short Film | The Beat Manifesto | Won |
2003 | Australian Comedy Awards | Outstanding Comic Screenplay | The Rage in Placid Lake | Nominated |
Australian Film Institute | Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
AWGIE Awards | Major AWGIE Award | Won | ||
Best Screenplay Adaptation | Won | |||
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Melbourne International Film Festival | Most Popular Feature Film | Won | ||
2007 | AWGIE Awards | Best Writing for a Television Series | Love My Way | Won |
Australian Film Institute | Best Screenplay in Television | Nominated | ||
2013 | AACTA Awards | Best Screenplay in Television | Puberty Blues | Nominated |
2014 | AWGIE Awards | Best Writing for a Television Series | Nominated | |
2015 | AWGIE Awards | Best Screenplay Original | Ashby | Nominated |
2018 | Academy Award | Best Original Screenplay | The Favourite | Nominated |
Atlanta Film Critics Circle | Best Screenplay | Won | ||
BAFTA Award | Best Original Screenplay | Won | ||
British Independent Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Won | ||
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Won | ||
Golden Globe Award | Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Indiana Film Journalists Association | Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society | Best Original Screenplay | Runner-Up | ||
Detroit Film Critics Society | Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Gotham Independent Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Nominated |
References
- Wilkinson, Alissa (21 November 2018). "The Favourite director Yorgos Lanthimos on why his films aren't as mean as people say". Vox. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- "Tony McNamara: author of Offspring". 27 September 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- "Tony McNamara - AustralianPlays.org". Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- "Playwright takes stock". 9 July 2002. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- "The Rage in Placid Lake". 28 August 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- "Comedy-drama film "Ashby" by Tony McNamara". 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- Bizzaca, Caris (7 September 2016). "CLAUDIA KARVAN ON DOCTOR DOCTOR AND PRODUCING". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- "Playing favourites - Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn and Tony McNamara on The Favourite". 30 September 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- Hipes, Patrick (17 January 2020). "Hulu Sets Premiere Dates For 'The Great', 'Ramy' And 'Solar Opposites' – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- McHenry, Jackson (15 May 2020). "How The Great Very, Very Loosely Adapts Russian History". New York Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- Utichi, Joe (13 February 2019). "How Tony McNamara's Hulu-Bound 'The Great' Landed Him 'The Favourite' And An Oscar Nomination". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- Ryan, Patrick (15 May 2020). "Hulu's 'The Great': Elle Fanning on playing Catherine the Great, severed heads and 'fully clothed sex'". USA Today. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- "Australian actress Oscars red carpet moment has a special meaning". Nine.com.au. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.