Vanessa Taylor

Vanessa Taylor
Born
(1970-09-24) September 24, 1970 (age 54)[1]

Boulder, Colorado, U.S.[1]
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
Years active1998–present
Notable workHope Springs
Divergent
The Shape of Water

Vanessa Taylor (born September 24, 1970)[1] is an American screenwriter and television producer. She is best known for writing the screenplay for the films Hope Springs, Divergent, and The Shape of Water. For her work on The Shape of Water, Taylor was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Early life and education

As a child, Taylor wrote fairy tales. From age twelve, Taylor pursued acting and singing. She attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan,[2]: 84  and later joined The Groundlings for two years.[2]: 57 

Career

Her television credits include Game of Thrones, Gideon's Crossing, Alias, Everwood, Tell Me You Love Me, and Cupid. She also co-created Jack & Bobby.[3]

Taylor's debut feature film script was Hope Springs (2012), directed by David Frankel, about a marriage therapist who tries to help a couple rekindle their loveless relationship after 31 years of marriage.[4] She then co-wrote the screenplay for the sci-fi action film Divergent (2014).[5]

Taylor co-wrote the screenplay for the fantasy romance film The Shape of Water (2017), along with its director Guillermo del Toro.[6] For her work, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

In 2019, Taylor performed an uncredited rewrite on Disney's live action remake of Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie.[7] The following year, Taylor adopted the screenplay for Netflix's Hillbilly Elegy.[8] She continued her relationship with Netflix over the following years, doing uncredited work on The School for Good and Evil (2022) and writing the screenplay for the young adult dystopian film Uglies (2024).

Awards and nominations

Taylor was nominated for two Primetime Emmy awards for Outstanding Drama Series for Game of Thrones in 2012 and 2013.[9]

She was also nominated for a WGA Award (Drama Series) in 2013 for Game of Thrones.[10]

In 2012, Taylor was nominated for a WIN Outstanding Writer Award (Outstanding Film or Show Written by a Woman) in 2012 for Hope Springs.[3]

Alongside her The Shape of Water co-writer and director Guillermo del Toro, Taylor was honoured with the 2017 PEN Center USA Screenplay Award at the 27th Annual Literary Awards Festival.[11]

She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Shape of Water. She was also nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Writing.

Filmography

Film

Writer

Year Title Director Notes
2012 Hope Springs David Frankel
2014 Divergent Neil Burger
2017 The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
2020 Hillbilly Elegy Ron Howard Nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay
2024 Uglies McG

Uncredited writer

Television

Producer

Year Title Notes
2012-2013 Game of Thrones Co-executive producer (Season 3 and Season 2)
2007 Tell Me You Love Me Consulting producer (Season 1)
2004-2005 Jack & Bobby Co-creator and co-executive producer (Season 1)
2002-2004 Everwood Supervising producer (Season 2)
2001-2002 Alias Co-producer (Season 1)

Writer

Year Title Episode Notes
2013 Game of Thrones "Dark Wings, Dark Words"
2012 "The Old Gods and the New"
"Garden of Bones"
2007 Tell Me You Love Me "Episode #1.9"
"Episode #1.5"
2005 Jack & Bobby "Pilot" Co-creator
2004 Everwood "Do or Die"
2003 "Burden of Truth"
"My Brother's Keeper"
"Home"
"Episode 20"
"My Funny Valentine"
2002 "A Thanksgiving Tale"
"The Doctor Is In"
2001 Alias "Spirit"
"A Broken Heart"
2000 Gideon's Crossing
1998 Cupid "Botched Makeover"

References

  1. ^ a b c "Vanessa Taylor". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b Meyers, Lawrence (June 2, 2010). Inside the TV Writers' Room: Practical Advice for Succeeding in Television. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-3241-2.
  3. ^ a b Vanessa Taylor. IMDb
  4. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 16, 2011) Tommy Lee Jones For 'Great Hope Springs'?. deadline.com
  5. ^ Dockterman, Eliana. "A Look Ahead: Women Behind the Camera in 2014". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  6. ^ Lodge, Guy (2017-08-31). "Film Review: 'The Shape of Water'". Variety. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  7. ^ https://geeksofcolor.co/2017/07/17/disney-hires-vanessa-taylor-for-aladdin-rewrites/
  8. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 28, 2018). "Oscar-Nominated 'Shape Of Water' Co-Writer Vanessa Taylor Set To Adapt 'Hillbilly Elegy'". Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "Vanessa Taylor | Television Academy". Television Academy. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  10. ^ "Previous Nominees & Winners". awards.wga.org. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  11. ^ "'Shape of Water,' 'Better Call Saul' Scribes to Be Honored With PEN Center USA Writing Awards (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  12. ^ https://directories.wga.org/member/vanessataylor/