01of 09Emerald IsleEmerald Fennell.Dia Dipasupil/GettyBorn to jewelry designer Theo Fennell and author Louise Fennell in 1985, Emerald Fennell grew up in London, running in interesting social circles and attending Marlborough College, alma mater ofKate Middleton. Alsoan author(and actress and director), she’s written horror books for adults and kids.But her name is in the news these days for her feature directorial debut,Promising Young Woman,a dark comedy starring Carey Mulligan and getting lots of awards season buzz. Here, a look at the 35-year-old’s skyrocketing career.
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Emerald Isle
Emerald Fennell.Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Born to jewelry designer Theo Fennell and author Louise Fennell in 1985, Emerald Fennell grew up in London, running in interesting social circles and attending Marlborough College, alma mater ofKate Middleton. Alsoan author(and actress and director), she’s written horror books for adults and kids.
But her name is in the news these days for her feature directorial debut,Promising Young Woman,a dark comedy starring Carey Mulligan and getting lots of awards season buzz. Here, a look at the 35-year-old’s skyrocketing career.
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Murder She Wrote
Steffan Hill/Courtesy of Carnival Films
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Emerald Fennell.Mike Marsland/WireImage
In 2015, she appeared in the acclaimed filmThe Danish Girl,stunning at the film’s U.K. premiere.
04of 09Pregnant PauseOllie Upton/©PBS/Neal Street Prod./courtesy Everett CollectionMore recently, Fennell has gained praise for her role onCall the Midwife,playing a nurse with a secret, Patsy Mount.“Playing someone who feels they can never really show their true self is heartbreaking at times,“she toldThe Mirrorof her part. “It means a lot to me that we have a storyline like this.”
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Pregnant Pause
Ollie Upton/©PBS/Neal Street Prod./courtesy Everett Collection
More recently, Fennell has gained praise for her role onCall the Midwife,playing a nurse with a secret, Patsy Mount.
“Playing someone who feels they can never really show their true self is heartbreaking at times,“she toldThe Mirrorof her part. “It means a lot to me that we have a storyline like this.”
05of 09Killing ItCorey Nickols/GettyA close friend of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fennell did some writing on Waller-Bridge’s seriesKilling Evebefore taking over as showrunner in 2019. “I didn’t think that I’d have the opportunity to work on something at such a big scale,“she told theNew York Timesthat year. “It’s life-changing, really.” Her writing and producing work earned her two Emmy nominations in 2019.Waller-Bridge called her pal a “badass” ina 2019 chatwithHarper’s Bazaar.“Her roar is very evident in [her work] and that’s what gives it its energy.”
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Killing It
Corey Nickols/Getty
A close friend of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fennell did some writing on Waller-Bridge’s seriesKilling Evebefore taking over as showrunner in 2019. “I didn’t think that I’d have the opportunity to work on something at such a big scale,“she told theNew York Timesthat year. “It’s life-changing, really.” Her writing and producing work earned her two Emmy nominations in 2019.
Waller-Bridge called her pal a “badass” ina 2019 chatwithHarper’s Bazaar.“Her roar is very evident in [her work] and that’s what gives it its energy.”
06of 09Writers' TablePiccadilly Pictures/AlamyFennell joined stars including Isabella Rossellini and Gemma Arterton in 2018’sVita & Virginia,about the relationship between writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf.
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Writers' Table
Piccadilly Pictures/Alamy
Fennell joined stars including Isabella Rossellini and Gemma Arterton in 2018’sVita & Virginia,about the relationship between writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf.
07of 09Crowning MomentDes Willie/NetflixFennell most recently appeared onThe Crown, playingPrince Charles' infamous love interest and future wife, Camilla Parker Bowles. The cast is up for a 2021 Screen Actors Guild Award.“What’s really great about it … is that there’s absolutely nothing about young Camilla. There’s two pictures,” Fennelltold theTimesof playing the duchess. “She was very private, and what we’re dealing with in the new season is her relationship with Charles that predated her marriage.”
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Crowning Moment
Des Willie/Netflix
Fennell most recently appeared onThe Crown, playingPrince Charles' infamous love interest and future wife, Camilla Parker Bowles. The cast is up for a 2021 Screen Actors Guild Award.
“What’s really great about it … is that there’s absolutely nothing about young Camilla. There’s two pictures,” Fennelltold theTimesof playing the duchess. “She was very private, and what we’re dealing with in the new season is her relationship with Charles that predated her marriage.”
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A Promising Future
Merie Weismiller Wallace / Focus Features
Fennell wasseven months pregnantwhile directing this season’s breakout,Promising Young Woman,starring Carey Mulligan.
Fennell also wrote the screenplay, and earned Golden Globe Award andOscar nominationsfor both her writing and directing.
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Oscar Gold
ABC
Her Best Director Oscar nod is historic, too: it’s the first time two women have been nominated in the category, asNomadland’s Chloé Zhao is up, too. Only five women have ever been nominated, and only one has won: Kathryn Bigelow, for 2010’sThe Hurt Locker.
source: people.com
