Frank Cottrell Boyce, the writer behind hit film Hilary and Jackie, has spoken of his fascination with real-life stories. Speaking as part of the 2011 BAFTA and BFI Screenwriters’ Lecture Series he said: “Real-life stories are always more surprising and more exciting than stuff you can make up.”
The Liverpool-born writer is known for his fascinating portrayals of real people. His 1998 biopic of Jacqueline du Pré – Hilary and Jackie – earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Screenplay. And his collaboration with Michael Winterbottom on 2002’s 24 Hour Party People brought his work to an even wider audience. Since then, as well as another five scripts for Winterbottom, Cottrell Boyce has also written for Danny Boyle (Millions) and Alex Cox (Revengers Tragedy).
So what is the secret to the screenwriter’s success? Speaking on stage on 27 September, Cottrell Boyce suggested it was all about passion. He said: “The only way to get something written is to do it with love and all the abandon that that word implies.”
