If you have never read anything by Nora Ephron then surely you must have at least watched some of the films she wrote as a screenwriter? Nora Ephron, the very talented journalist, essayist, screenwriter, and blogger, will always be remembered for the legacy of the brilliant material she has left us. Nora Ephron died June 26th. She was 71 years old.
Nora Ephron was born May 19, 1941 in New York City Beverly Hills , California
Nora’s early years found her working briefly as an intern in the White House during the Kennedy years. Following this she became a reporter for the New York Post. While working at the Post she started writing essays for New York
It was while Ephron was married to Carl Bernstein (best known as one of the Watergate journalists) that she helped him rewrite the script for the movie “All the president’s men.” While this script was not ultimately chosen, it opened a door to Ephron’s first screenwriting job. This was the film “Silkwood”, a nuclear power drama. She also wrote a screenplay adaptation for her novel Heartburn. Her greatest writing success came for the movie “When Harry met Sally”, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. This success was quickly followed by the films “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve got mail.”
Following these films and others, Ephron turned to playwriting and essay writing. Her book of essays I feel bad about my neck and other and reflections on being a woman became an instant New York Times bestseller. Her essays can be described as humorous, honest and reflective with an emphasis on women, family, relationships and later on growing old. Next, Ephron tackled a favorite topic, “food”, and adapted Julie Powell’s autobiographical book Julie and Julia into a comedy drama film starring her friend, Meryl Streep, as Julia Child. This light film was box office success.
Ephron’s last book of humorous essays was entitled I remember nothing: and other reflectionsa was a best seller. Although Ephron never talked publicly about her illness she left a few hints in the book. Ephron also regularly wrote a blog for the Huffington Post.
Ephron was married three times. Her first marriage to writer Dan Greenburg ended in divorce. She then married journalist Carl Bernstein. That marriage also ended in divorce, but the marriage produced two sons, Jacob and Max. Ephron was married a third time for more than 20 years to screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi when she died.
Nora Ephron died from complications from pneumonia. She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2006.
If you enjoy Ephron’s witty style of writing you may also enjoy works from these other women writers.
*Picture courtesy of EasiCat
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