Elaine May
Birth Name:
Elaine Iva Berlin
Birth Place:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Profession
Actress, Writer, Script department, Director, Soundtrack, Music department
Fast Facts
- Won a Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy at the 1994 American Comedy Awards
- Toured with her father's traveling Yiddish theater company, appearing on stage as early as the age of three
- Broke from the stereotypical roles previously available to female comics, often portraying doctors, psychiatrists or employers
- Known for performing improvisational comedy routines with Mike Nichols in the 1950s
- Enjoyed reading fairy tales and mythology as a child
- Would sit in on classes at the University of Chicago, sometimes engaging in dialogue with the professors though she was not enrolled there
Awards
- 1972Golden Globe - Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical:Nominated
- 1972WGA Award (Screen) - Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium:Nominated
- 1979Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 1979Saturn Award - Best Writing:Winner
- 1979WGA Award (Screen) - Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium:Winner
- 1988Razzie Award - Worst Screenplay:Nominated
- 1988Razzie Award - Worst Director:Winner
- 1996ACCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 1997WGA Award (Screen) - Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:Nominated
- 1998ACCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 1999Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:Nominated
- 1999BAFTA Film Award - Best Screenplay - Adapted:Winner
- 1999OFTA Film Award - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 1999OFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 1999SEFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 1999USC Scripter AwardNominated
- 1999WGA Award (Screen) - Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:Nominated
- 2001Chlotrudis Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2001NSFC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2001OFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated