Oscar Nominations for Screenwriter Anthony McCarten

Among the five Oscar nominations announced for the Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory Of Everything came a nod for New Plymouth-born producer and screenwriter Anthony McCarten. McCarten has been nominated twice as co-producer and screenwriter in the categories of Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Huffington Post asked McCarten and one of the producers Lisa Bruce to see how they felt about the recognition.

“It’s something that I tried to put out of my thoughts, because I didn’t think it was very helpful to my centredness,” McCarten said. “Now it’s come rushing in, and it’s entirely pleasurable to be recognised by my peers in this way. With this film, in this category, too. It’s just really wonderful.”

“I think it’s such an inspirational story,” he added. “Despite his physical setbacks, [Hawking] was able to expand our understanding of the universe.”

McCarten is also a novelist; his young adult books have been translated into 24 languages. His third novel, Death Of A Superhero, won the 2008 Austrian Youth Literature Prize and was a finalist for the 2008 German Youth Literature Prize.

He divides his time between London and Los Angeles.

Original article by Lauren Duca, The Huffington Post, January 15, 2015.

Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images North America.