Born in New Zealand and now residing in England, Anthony McCarten is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and filmmaker.
His first international success came with his play Ladies Night. Translated into 12 languages, it is New Zealand’s most commercially successful play of all time. In 2001, it brought Mr. McCarten France’s premiere theatre award for comedy, the Molière Prize.
His novels have been translated into 14 languages. His first, Spinners, was voted one of the Top 10 novels of 2000 by Esquire Magazine. In 2005, his second novel, The English Harem, became an international bestseller. 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. Mr. McCarten’s seventh and latest novel, funny girl, has just been published to critical acclaim.
He adapted, from his novel, and executive-produced Death of a Superhero; the feature was directed by Ian Fitzgibbon and starred Andy Serkis, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Aisling Loftus. The movie was nominated for three Irish Film and Television Awards: Best Film, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Michael McElhatton). He also adapted, from his novel, the feature The English Harem; directed by Robin Sheppard, the film starred Martine McCutcheon and Art Malik.
Mr. McCarten wrote and directed Show of Hands, adapted from his novel; the film starred Craig Hall and was nominated for three New Zealand Film and TV Awards, including Best Feature, Best Actress (Melanie Lynskey), and Best Director. He also adapted and directed the feature Via Satellite, from his own play, starring Karl Urban and Danielle Cormack; the film won two New Zealand Film and TV Awards, for Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Dorday) and Best Editing.