Nora Ephron Interview: On Writing Novels, Screenwriting Success, and Directing

Nora Ephron recalls growing up in Hollywood and how her screenwriter mother proved that you could have both a family and a career. Ephron discusses getting her start in journalism in the 1960’s, dealing with sexism, eventually becoming a reporter for the New York Post, then later a columnist for Esquire, and covering The Women’s Movement. She describes how writing novels led to writing screenplays, which led to her directing films. Nora Ephron was born on May 19, 1941, in New York, New York. The daughter of playwrights Henry and Phoebe Ephron. She grew up in Los Angeles, feeling much like an outsider. She went east to go to school at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Gifted with a sharp wit, Ephron first made her mark as an essayist. In 1970, her articles were collected and published in 1970’s Wallflower at the Orgy and 1975’s Crazy Salad. Her first novel, Heartburn (1983), drew inspiration from the end of her second marriage to journalist Carl Bernstein and was later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Ephron wrote the screenplay for the drama Silkwood (1983). It earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay. While that film received much praise, she really hit box office gold with her screenplay for When Harry Met Sally (1989), starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in the title roles. Audiences and critics alike responded enthusiastically to the well-crafted exploration into whether a man and a woman can be just friends and the relationship that develops between the lead characters. She received her second Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay for the film. Later, she wrote and directed Sleepless in Seattle (1993), You’ve Got Mail (1998) and Julie & Julia (2009). She had 2 sons, Max and Jacob Bernstein. Ephron died from pneumonia, caused by acute myeloid leukemia, on June 26, 2012, at the age of 71. From the 2013 PBS Documentary “Makers: Women Who Make America”, examines how women have helped shape America over the past 150 years, striving for a full and fair share of political power and economic opportunity. SSubscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: @lifestoriesinterviewarchive Follow us on Instagram: Nora Ephron, Journalist, Author, Filmmaker Interview Date: September 29, 2011 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:08 Growing up with a working mother 01:24 A Hollywood childhood 02:14 Mother’s advice 02:56 Growing up differently 04:00 Finding her voice as a writer 05:27 Fear of failure 06:45 Starting out in journalism as a woman 08:59 Working as a reporter 09:49 Covering the women’s movement 11:42 Writing about yourself 11:52 Joining a consciousness-raising group 12:09 Humor and feminism 12:50 Betty Friedan vs Gloria Steinem 14:47 Groundbreaking writing 17:17 “A Few Words About Breasts“ essay 17:51 Writing “Heartburn“ 20:41 Criticism surrounding her writing 21:26 Getting into show business 23:23 Women in show business 24:43 “When Harry Met Sally“ 27:21 Becoming a director 30:55 “Julie & Julia“ 31:23 Women directors in Hollywood 32:10 Women today 33:17 Women’s life stages 34:56 Balancing work and family 36:10 Younger women at feminists 36:39 Roe v. Wade 38:10 Most useful advice ever received 39:08 Advice for young women 40:08 Dream job as a child 40:23 Proudest accomplishment 40:42 First paying job 40:55 Q&A ©Kunhardt Productions & McGee Media. All rights reserved. #NoraEphronInterview #kunhardtfilmfoundation