Newsflash – The news-wires are just reporting that Anthony Minghella has died at the age of 54 (update: of a brain haemorrhage).
A great loss to the Island – and clearly far, far too young to go.
He’s well-known globally as an Oscar-winning screenwriter and director, as well as locally for his extensive, strong and consistent support for the Isle of Wight.
Lord Puttnam has just been quoted on BBC radio news that Anthony Minghella was “a beautiful man,” “lots of fun,” “thoughtful and intelligent” – a clear pointer to how well regarded he was in the industry.
His best known works are Truly Madly Deeply, The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley. The English Patient winning him Best Director Oscar, within another eight for the film including best picture.
His most recent work, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, written with Richard Curtis, shot in Botswana, premiered on Friday at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London just last week. Two other projects were understood to be underway for him – “New York, I Love You” currently filming and “The Ninth Life of Louis Drax,”
The BBC has a quote showing a lot of insight by him when he took the role of chairman of the British Film Institute (BFI) in 2003, he told the BBC: “We’re not good at lassoing the talent we have here and containing it within the British Isles, and we should all be working to address that.”
2pm UPDATE : Not only is it now top story on the BBC Radio 4 news, but to give some idea of how important this news is globally, you’ll see that it’s already global – The International Herald Tribune; Sydney; Associated Press; and Reuters.
(Thanks for alerting us to this Craig)
