Vanessa Taylor (born September 24, 1970) 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, and later joined The Groundlings for two years.
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.Vanessa Taylor. IMDb
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.Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 16, 2011) Tommy Lee Jones For 'Great Hope Springs'?. deadline.com She then co-wrote the screenplay for the sci-fi action film Divergent (2014).
Taylor co-wrote the screenplay for the fantasy romance film The Shape of Water (2017), along with its director Guillermo del Toro. 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. The following year, Taylor adapted the screenplay for Netflix's Hillbilly Elegy. 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.
She was also nominated for a WGA Award (Drama Series) in 2013 for Game of Thrones.
In 2012, Taylor was nominated for a WIN Outstanding Writer Award (Outstanding Film or Show Written by a Woman) in 2012 for Hope Springs.
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.
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 +YearTitleDirectorNotes 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 Aladdin (2019) The School for Good and Evil (2022)
Television Producer +YearTitleNotes2012-2013 Game of Thrones Co-executive producer (Season 3 and Season 2)2007Tell Me You Love MeConsulting producer (Season 1)2004-2005Jack & BobbyCo-creator and co-executive producer (Season 1)2002-2004 Everwood Supervising producer (Season 2)2001-2002 AliasCo-producer (Season 1)
Writer +YearTitleEpisodeNotes2013Game of Thrones"Dark Wings, Dark Words"2012"The Old Gods and the New""Garden of Bones"2007Tell Me You Love Me"Episode #1.9""Episode #1.5"2005Jack & Bobby"Pilot"Co-creator2004Everwood"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"2001Alias"Spirit""A Broken Heart"2000Gideon's Crossing1998Cupid"Botched Makeover"
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