Philippa Boyens

Philippa Boyens
MNZM
Boyens in 2023
Born
Philippa Jane Boyens

1962 (age 61–62)
Auckland, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Auckland (BA)
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • producer
Years active2001–present
SpousePaul Gittins (–present)
Children3

Philippa Jane Boyens MNZM (born 1963) is a New Zealand screenwriter who co-wrote the screenplay for The Lord of the Rings series, King Kong, The Lovely Bones, and the three-part film series The Hobbit.

Biography

Born in 1962, Boyens is the daughter of John Fraser Boyens and Jane Moana Menhennet.[1] She was educated at Massey High School, and was later a part-time student at the University of Auckland, graduating with a BA in English and history in 1994.[2] After that Boyens joined a theatre company and her wages were paid by the government in a PEP scheme.[3]

Boyens received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University and Auckland in 2006.[2]

Boyens co-wrote the screenplay for Peter Jackson's films The Lord of the Rings series, King Kong, The Lovely Bones, and the three-part film The Hobbit,[4] all with Jackson and Fran Walsh.[5][6][7][8]

Boyens, Jackson, and Walsh won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004. She was co-producer on every one of Jackson's films since King Kong, and on District 9. Prior to screen-writing, Boyens worked in theatre as a playwright, teacher, producer, and editor.[9]

Boyens was director of the New Zealand Writers Guild for a time.[10]

Work on Lord of the Rings

Boyens first became a Tolkien fan as a child. When she came on board to help the writing team on The Lord of the Rings, she had already read the book seven times.[10]

Personal life

Boyens has three children, Phoebe and Calum Gittins, whose father is actor Paul Gittins, and Isaac Miller. All have worked as actors on screen on movies Boyens has been involved in: Phoebe Gittins as a Hobbit in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, in The Lovely Bones, and in the Prancing Pony in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Calum Gittins appeared as Haleth in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers;[11] and Isaac Miller appeared as a young Hobbit in a flashback of the Old Took's party in the extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.[citation needed]

Filmography

Writer

Year Title Notes
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Screenplay
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005 King Kong
2009 The Lovely Bones
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2018 Mortal Engines
2024 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Story by
TBA The Merlin Saga[12] Screenplay

Producer

Year Title Notes
2005 King Kong Co-producer
2009 District 9
The Lovely Bones
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2024 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Producer

Soundtrack

Year Title Notes
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Writer "The Edge of Night", "The Green Dragon"

Awards

In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, Boyens was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to film.[13]

References

  1. ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 74. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  2. ^ a b "Distinguished Alumni Profiles - Philippa Boyens". University of Auckland. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  3. ^ Productions, WestMark (21 May 2023), WIFT: Capital Champions - Cine Queens Speak 3 May 2023, retrieved 12 July 2023
  4. ^ Taylor, Drew (19 December 2014). "Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens on "The Hobbit", a Missing Elf, and What's Next (EXCLUSIVE)". Moviefone. No. 19 December 2014. Moviefone. AOL Inc. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  5. ^ Sobczak, Marcin J. (5 December 2014). "The Producer's Work: An Interview With Philippa Boyens". The Huffington Post. No. 5 December 2014. huffingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  6. ^ Rodger, Kate (2 December 2014). "Full interview: Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens on finishing the Hobbit movies". 3news.co.nz. No. 2 December 2014. 3 News Newzealand. 3 News Newzealand. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  7. ^ Wilner, Norman. "Q&A: Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, & Lee Pace". Now Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  8. ^ Clark, Noelene (18 December 2014). ""The Hobbit": Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens on "Five Armies" ending". Los Angeles Times. No. 18 December 2014. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  9. ^ Ethan Gilsdorf. "Hobbit Week: A Conversation with Hobbit Screenwriter Philippa Boyens". Wired.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Phillipa Boyens biodata". In.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  11. ^ Philippa Boyens at IMDb
  12. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (17 November 2015). "Disney Sets "Lord Of The Rings" Co-Writer Philippa Boyens To Write Young Merlin Movie". Deadline. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2004". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2019.