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Richard Curtis Biography

Birth Name:Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis

Birth Place:Wellington, New Zealand

Profession Writer, Producer, Director, Actor, Soundtrack, Script department

Fast Facts

  • Founded Make Poverty History, which aims to publicize the poverty in the world, especially in Africa, and close the gap between the world's rich and poor
  • Attended college at Oxford University and was a part of the Experimental Theatre Club, where he met and started to work with future actor and screenwriter Rowan Atkinson
  • Quote: "My imagination doesn't seem to operate very well outside of things I know well․ I've learned that the films I've truly loved․․․have a real confidence in the way people speak and act․ So the benchmark for me became writing about people I know․"
  • Managed to best his own previous record for top-grossing British film with "Notting Hill․"
  • His breakthrough film was the romantic comedy "Four Weddings and a Funeral," which took the record for being the biggest-grossing British film in history at the time
  • Was ranked 12th place out of 100 in the 2008 issue of Telegraph’s list of most powerful people in the British culture
  • During his childhood, he lived in such places as New Zealand, the Philippines, and Sweden, due to his father's career as an executive for Unilever, the consumer goods company

Awards

  • 1988ACE-Writing a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1989ACE-Writing a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1990BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy Series: winner
  • 1992BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy (Programme or Series): nominated
  • 1993CableACE-Writing an Entertainment Special: winner
  • 1993CableACE-Comedy Special: nominated
  • 1994ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1994CableACE-International Movie or Miniseries/Comedy or Dramatic Special or Series: nominated
  • 1994Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Film - Screenplay: winner
  • 1995Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 1995BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
  • 1995CableACE-Writing an Entertainment Special: nominated
  • 1995CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 1995Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 1995Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1995ALFS Award-British Screenwriter of the Year: winner
  • 1995WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: winner
  • 1998BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy (Programme or Series): nominated
  • 1999BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy (Programme or Series): nominated
  • 2002BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Adapted: nominated
  • 2002Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2002ALFS Award-British Screenwriter of the Year: winner
  • 2002USC Scripter Award-: nominated
  • 2002WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: nominated
  • 2003ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2004Discover Screenwriting Award-: nominated
  • 2004Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: nominated
  • 2004EFA People's Choice Award-Best European Director: nominated
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2004ALFS Award-British Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
  • 2004ALFS Award-British Newcomer of the Year: nominated
  • 2004Stinker Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2006Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Award for The Most Valuable Work of a Director, Producer or Screenwriter: winner
  • 2006Humanitas Prize-90 Minute or Longer Category: winner
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: winner
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: winner
  • 2007Banff Rockie Award-Best Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2009Golden Capital-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009Golden Capital-Best Picture: winner
  • 2011Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form: nominated
  • 2011SFX Award-Best TV Episode: nominated
  • 2011Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2011Bradbury Award-: nominated
  • 2011Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best Television Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Christopher Award-Feature Films: winner
  • 2013Variety Piazza Grande Award-: nominated
  • 2013Waki.TV Audience Award-Best European Film: winner
  • 2014Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
  • 2014Humanitas Prize-90 Minute Category: nominated
  • 2015Felix-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017EMMA-Humanitarian Award: winner
  • 2019EMMA-Best Short Film: winner
  • 2020Humanitas Prize-Comedy Feature Film: nominated
  • 2021Emmy-Outstanding Long Sports Documentary: winner