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The Hours
Background:
British-born dramatist/filmmaker David Hare proved his screenwriting skills with
the adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s novel in The Hours (2002), which earned
him nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and with BAFTA. Two decades
earlier, Hare picked up three Berlin International Film Festival Awards for the
drama Wetherby (1985).
On stage, Hare’s talent is unquestionable with three Tony Award nominations.
Among his prominent works are “Plenty” (1978), “Racing Demon” (1990), “Skylight”
(1995) and “My Zinc Bed” (2000).
Hare, who became a member of the jury at the 1997 Berlin International Film
Festival, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He has authored two
books: “Acting Up” (a diary on his experience of acting in the 1998 self-penned
one-man-show “Via Dolorosa”) and “Obedience, Struggle and Revolt” (2005). The
ex-husband of Margaret Matheson (1970-1980, has 3 children) is now married to
fashion designer Nicole Farhi.
The Knight
Childhood and Family:
David Hare was born on June 5, 1947, in Sussex, England, to Agnes Rippon. He was
educated at Lancing College and at the Jesus College of Cambridge University. In
1998, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
David was once married to Margaret Matheson (1970-1980, has 3 children) and
partnered with actress Blair Brown. He is now the husband of Algerian fashion
designer Nicole Farhi, whom he married in 1992.
Skylight
Career:
David Hare made his stage-directing debut with the traveling experimental
company Portable Theatre, which he co-founded in 1968. He also became the
literary manager and then the resident dramatist of Royal Court Theatre during
1969.
Hare made his entrance to the screen world by writing and directing several
episodes of the anthology series “Play for Today” (4 episodes, 1973, 1975, 1978,
1980), as well as the TV film Licking Hitler (1974). The next year, his play
“Knuckle” (1974) was adapted into a TV movie by writer David Scott Milton.
Later, in 1989, Hare recreated the same play for another TV film.
Following Fanshen (1975), Hare received his first Tony’s Best Play nomination
for his drama “Plenty” (1978), which was ensued by “A Map of the World” (1982).
Soon after forming the production company Greenpoint Films, the writer received
his first solo screenplay credit for Stephen Fears’ TV drama Saigon - Year of
the Cat (1983).
Within two years, Hare made the drama about a suicide in a northern English town
titled Wetherby (1985), starring Vanessa Redgrave. The movie eventually swept up
three awards from the 1985 Berlin International Film Festival. Several years
later, Hare shot the drama thriller Paris by Night (1988), as well as directed
partner Blair Brown and Bridget Fonda in the drama Strapless (1989).
The filmmaker earned his second Tony nomination for the play “Racing Demon”
(1990), which was the first part of his trilogy, along with “Murmuring Judges”
(1991) and “The Absence of War” (1993). He also worked with Gary Oldman and
Joely Richardson in the post WWII-set Heading Home (1991, TV) before making his
first novel adaptation with Damage (1992), from the novel by Josephine Hart.
While recreating his 1988 play in The Secret Rapture (1993), Hare also helmed an
episode of “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” (1993).
Hare, who previously took home an Evening Standard award for his play “Pravda”
(1985), was wildly praised for his three-character chamber play “Skylight”
(1995). Before long, he was handed a Laurence Olivier Theatre’s BBC award and a
third Tony nomination. Hare again earned praise, this time for the Judi Dench-starring
“Amy’s View” (1997, received a Laurence Olivier Theatre award nomination), the
loose adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler’s “La Ronde” titled “The Blue Room” (1998,
was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre’s BBC award) and the one-man show
“Via Dolorosa” (1998), in which he also appeared as himself. The latter play was
revived on the big screen in 2000.
Also in 2000, Hare received another Laurence Olivier Theatre’s BBC award
nomination for his play “My Zinc Bed,” performed at the Royal Court Theatre. He
then teamed with Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith for the first time on
stage in the self-penned drama “The Breath of Life” (2002).
On screen, Hare strengthened his reputation as a notable screenwriter with an
adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s Pulitzer-winning novel in The Hours (2002).
Starring Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep, the revival chronicled
the three character’s lives. Later, Hare was garnered a London Critics Circle
Film award, a USC Scripter award, a Writers Guild of America award and a Seattle
Film Critics award. He was also nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA
Film award and a Discover Screenwriting award.
Hare will recreate the memoirs by Craig Murray, an ex-British Ambassador to
Uzbekistan, in the movie Murder in Samarkand (2008). The upcoming film will be
directed by Michael Winterbottom and will feature Steve Coogan.
Awards:
