Fran Walsh

Screenwriter/Producer


            


Full Name: Frances Walsh

Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand

Birth Date: 10th January 1959

Marital status: She is married to Peter Jackson

 

 

 

 


Trivia:

  • Started her career as a script writer writing for TV shows such as Worzel Gummidge Down Under (1989) and Shark in the Park (1990)

  • Attended Wellington’s Girls College

  • Originally intended to become a fashion designer

  • Provided the main screech sounds used for the Nazgul. She achieved the sounds because a crew member told her to scream like Peter (Jackson) had been given the rights to film The Silmarillion

  • The portraits above Bilbo’s fireplace in Bag End are of his mother and father. They are actually the images of Fran and Peter (without a beard)

  • Played in a band in the 1980’s called Naked Spots Dance as well as a punk rock band called The Wallsockets

  • She has two children, Billy born in 1995 and Katie born in 1996

  • Along with Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens, she wrote the scripts for The Lord of the Rings as well as being a producer and composer of three songs for the trilogy; Gollum’s Song, Into the West and A Shadow Lies Between Us. She also wrote the lyrics for In Dreams

  • Attended Victoria University of Wellington majoring in English Literature, graduating in 1981

  • Has kept out of the media due to wishing to remain private, and gave no interviews for any of The Lord of the Rings DVD releases although she did provide commentary

  • Occasionally served as second unit director during the making of The Lord of the Rings trilogy

  • Due to Peter’s Knighthood by the Queen, she can now be called "Lady Frances"


    Notable Projects:

  • The Lovely Bones (2009)
  • King Kong (2005)
  • The Frighteners (1996)
  • Heavenly Creatures (1994)
  • Braindead (1992)
  • Meet the Feebles (1989)


    Current Projects:

  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
  • The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2014)


    Selected Awards:

  • 2005: Grammy for Best Song Written for Motion Picture (Into the West; The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2004: Academy Award for Best Picture (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2004: Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song (Into the West; The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2004: Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2004: BAFTA for Best Film (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2004: BAFTA for Best Screenplay, Adapted (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2004: Golden Globe for Best Original Song (Into the West; The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2004: Nebula Award for Best Script (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)
  • 2004: Saturn Award for Best Writing (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
  • 2003: Nebula Award for Best Script (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
  • 2002: AFI Film of the Year (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)

     

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