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Sam Taylor-Johnson

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Sam Taylor-Johnson
OBE
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in September 2010
Born
Samantha Taylor-Wood

(1967-03-04) 4 March 1967 (age 57)
Croydon, Surrey, England
Occupation(s)Film director, artist
Years active1993–present
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1997; div. 2008)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2012)​
Children4

Samantha "Sam" Taylor-Johnson[1][2] OBE born Taylor-Wood; 4 March 1967), is an English filmmaker, photographer and visual artist. Her directorial feature film debut came in 2009 with Nowhere Boy, a film based on the childhood experiences of the Beatles songwriter and singer John Lennon. She is one of a group of artists known as the Young British Artists. She is married to English actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Early life

Born Samantha Taylor in Croydon, Surrey,[3] her father, David, left the family when she was nine.[4] Her mother, Geraldine, is a yoga teacher and astrologer. She has one younger sister Ashley, and a maternal half-brother, Kristian. Taylor-Wood grew up near Streatham Common in south London until her parents' divorce.[5] The family then moved and lived in an old school house in Jarvis Brook in East Sussex, and Samantha went to Beacon Community College.

Career

Fine art

Taylor-Johnson began exhibiting fine art photography in the early 1990s. In 1994, she exhibited a multi-screen video work titled Killing Time, in which four people mimed to an opera score. From that point multi-screen video works became the main focus of Taylor-Johnson's work. Beginning with the video works Travesty of a Mockery and Pent-Up in 1996. One of Taylor-Johnson's first United Kingdom solo shows was held at the Chisenhale Gallery, east London, in September–October 1996. Taylor-Wood was nominated for the annual Turner Prize in 1998, but lost out to the painter Chris Ofili. She won the Illy Café Prize for Most Promising Young Artist at the 1997 Venice Biennale.[6]

In 2000, Taylor-Johnson created a wraparound, photomural around scaffolding of the London department store Selfridges while it was being restored; the mural featured 21 cultural icons including Elton John, musician Alex James and actors Richard E. Grant and Ray Winstone. The poses of the figures referenced famous works of art from the past and recent movies.[7]

In 2002, Taylor-Johnson was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to make a video portrait of David Beckham—whom she depicted sleeping. She is perhaps best known for her work entitled 'Crying Men' which features many of Hollywood's glitterati crying, including Robin Williams, Sean Penn, Laurence Fishburne and Paul Newman.[8] In 2006, Taylor-Wood had a survey exhibition at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, United Kingdom.

2014 saw a new photographic exhibition by Taylor-Johnson, of the private apartment of Mademoiselle Chanel at The Saatchi Gallery. Entitled ‘Second Floor’, the series of 34 photographs captured the private rooms of Coco Chanel at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris.[9]

Nowhere Boy

In August 2008, Taylor-Johnson was chosen to direct Nowhere Boy, a biopic about the childhood of The Beatles' singer, John Lennon.

Speaking about her experience directing the film, in September 2010, Taylor-Johnson said,

I thought, I'm in too deep and if I mess this up I'm just never gonna make a film again, and I went into a panic. I got into the car and said, I just have to call these producers and pull out. I got into the car and I put the key into the ignition and Lennon's voice came straight out of the radio and it was Starting Over. It was one of those moments where I thought it was a sign: OK I'm gonna do it.[10]

The 53rd annual London Film Festival screened the film as its closing presentation on 29 October 2009. The film was released in the UK on Boxing Day, 2009. to positive reviews. Taylor-Johnson was nominated for a BAFTA award on 21 January 2010, but lost out to Duncan Jones.

Other music, film and television work

In 2006, Taylor-Johnson contributed the short film Death Valley to the British version of Destricted. In 2008, Taylor-Johnson directed a short film Love You More, written by Patrick Marber and produced by Anthony Minghella. The film includes two songs by the Buzzcocks and features a cameo appearance by the band's lead singer Pete Shelley. In February 2009, Taylor-Johnson, collaborating with Sky Arts chose to interpret "Vesti la giubba" from Pagliacci. She commented: "I’m really happy to be involved in such a great project. I think by capturing one of opera's most moving moments in a film short, we have put a modern spin on the aria."[11] In 2011, she directed the music video of "Überlin" by R.E.M..[12] The clip starred her then fiance Aaron Johnson, who, "throws some kung-fu kicks, attempts some pirouettes, prances, punches the air, chicken walks, tries out some bunny impressions, and, at one point, fondles his bottom."[13]

In September 2011, she collaborated with Solange Azagury-Partridge on the short film Daydream. This was aired to support the launch of Azagury-Partridge's new jewellery collection, 24:7. Under the direction of Taylor-Johnson, Liberty Ross plays a beautiful woman in her bedroom, bejewelled by her lover, played by JJ Feild. The original music was composed by Oscar winner Atticus Ross, and the director of photography was BAFTA winner John Mathieson.[14][15]

From a list that included Angelina Jolie,[16] Steven Soderbergh, Joe Wright,[17] and Gus Van Sant,[18] Taylor-Johnson was chosen to direct the film adaptation of E. L. James' best-selling erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey to be made by Universal Pictures and Focus Features.[19]

Personal life

Taylor-Wood has overcome two bouts of cancer. In December 1997, at age 30, she suffered from and was treated for late-diagnosed colon cancer.[20] Three years later, in 2000, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.[20]

She practises yoga and Transcendental Meditation, of which she says, "I wouldn’t be able to survive everything without the meditation that I do. It’s what I think has made me able to cope with the madness."[21]

Taylor-Wood was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to the arts.[22]

Marriages and children

Taylor-Wood married art dealer Jay Jopling in 1997.[20] Together they have two daughters: Angelica (born June 1997)[20] and Jessie Phoenix (born November 2005).[20] In September 2008, Taylor-Wood and Jopling announced that they were separating amicably after 11 years of marriage.[23]

Taylor-Wood began a relationship with Nowhere Boy star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, after meeting on the 2009 set of the film.[24] The couple announced their engagement at the film's premiere in October 2009.[25] They married at Babington House, Somerset on 21 June 2012[26] and both took the name Taylor-Johnson.[1] The couple have two daughters together: Wylda Rae (born 7 July 2010)[27][28] and Romy Hero (born 18 January 2012).[29][30]

References

  1. ^ a b Emily Allen (22 June 2012). "Sam Taylor-Wood and her toyboy lover Aaron Johnson tie the knot". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  2. ^ Dahvi Shira. "Aaron Johnson Marries Sam Taylor-Wood". People. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Film4/MirageCV" (PDF). Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  4. ^ Peter Wilson (26 December 2009). "Sam Taylor-Wood: somewhere woman". The Australian. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  5. ^ Miranda Sawyer (11 November 2001). "Miranda Sawyer meets Sam Taylor-Wood". The Observer. London. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Sam Taylor-Wood, British (1967 – )". rogallery.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Sam Taylor-Wood & Sir Elton John in "Art and Celebrity" (2003)". Art Design Café. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  8. ^ "National Portrait Gallery – Portrait – NPG 6661; David Beckham ('David')". Npg.org.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Through Coco Chanel's keyhole with Sam Taylor-Johnson". The Telegraph. London. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  10. ^ "John Lennon | Lennon Sign Calmed Director Taylor-Wood". Contactmusic. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Opera Shorts". Sky Arts. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  12. ^ "R.E.M. Work With Sam Taylor-Wood". Clash. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  13. ^ Ben Walsh (7 March 2011). "Please put the camera away, darling... – Features – Films". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Daydream by Sam Taylor-Wood for Solange Azagury-Partridge". YouTube. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  15. ^ "'Daydream' By Sam Taylor-Wood For Solange Azagury-Partridge". Wallpaper. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  16. ^ "'Fifty Shades of Grey' Heating Up With Angelina Jolie Talk". Deadline.com. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  17. ^ Kroll, Justin (9 May 2013). "'50 Shades of Grey' Flirts With Director Joe Wright". Variety. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  18. ^ "Gus Van Sant Shot Sex Scene Starring Alex Pettyfer in Bid to Direct 'Fifty Shades of Grey' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  19. ^ "SAM TAYLOR-JOHNSON TO DIRECT '50 SHADES' MOVIE". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d e Kate Summerscale (15 December 2007). "Sam Taylor-Wood: the bigger picture". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Sam Taylor-Wood". Sunday Times Magazine. 23 March 2014.
  22. ^ "No. 59808". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 11 June 2011.
  23. ^ Noah, Sherna, "Art couple Taylor-Wood and Jopling to separate after 11 years' marriage" The Independent 20 September 2008[dead link]
  24. ^ "She's Having His Baby!". People. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Aaron Johnson, fiancé of artist Sam Taylor-Wood, considers himself 'a very lucky man'". The Telegraph. London. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  26. ^ http://www.sheptonmalletjournal.co.uk/50-Shades-Grey-film-directed-Sam-Taylor-Johnson/story-19367650-detail/story.html
  27. ^ Sara Nathan (8 July 2010). "Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson become the proud parents of baby girl Wylda". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  28. ^ Eden, Richard (7 November 2010). "Sam Taylor-Wood: I'd love another child with Aaron Johnson". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  29. ^ "Aaron Johnson, Sam Taylor-Wood Welcome Daughter Romy Hero". People. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  30. ^ "Sam Taylor-Wood's baby is another Hero | Showbiz". London Evening Standard. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.


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