Most people have heard the term "triple threat" on reality shows where someone is aspiring to be a singer/dancer/fashion model or whatever combination of things they can do on camera. Nora Ephron (1941 - 2012) was a journalist, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, director, producer, and a playwright.
From the early 1980's to her passing in 2012, she worked in the film industry making iconic films. Her work in film lead her to be nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Raspberries alike.
Nora Ephron's distinctive voice explores the many roles and lives of women. The only other screenwriter that comes to mind for connecting to such a distinctive audience is John Hughes. The thing that makes her work illustrious is not her desire to tell "women's stories" but rather that she tells compelling stories about women. Women exist in her movie world, which lets face is, doesn't exist in the worlds of many prolific screenwriters and film directors.
From the game changing When Harry Met Sally (1989) to the stunningly beautiful Julie & Julia (2009) so many of Nora's films are hallmarks in the landscape of movie history. She made the romantic comedy something to be appreciated.
Nora's directorial debut with This is My Life (1992) is the film that made Lena Dunham want to become a writer.
Other memorable works include Heartburn (1986) (Our review here), You've Got Mail (1998), and Sleepless in Seattle(1993).
Part of her legacy is that Nora was someone people wanted to be around. After her passing in 2012 the general feeling of shock and sadness has become memorialized in essays of her opinionated, fun loving, nature, and undeniable kindness. She was encouraging and spirited, inspiring friends and fans to go forward with their lives, and take chances.
If there is one thing to be said about Nora Ephron it's that she showed her love and passion for life in everything she did. Something we should all learn from her and strive to achieve in ourselves.
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