Jeremy Brock is an English screenwriter and director. His career began in 1985 with the play In Times Like These, starring Greta Scacchi and Tim Woodward, which premiered at the Bristol Old Vic. He also adapted Dickens’ Oliver Twist into a play, directed by Phyllida Lloyd at the Bristol Old Vic in 1990.
In 1985, Jeremy co-devised BBC1’s primetime hospital drama CASUALTY. Now in its 35th year, it is the longest running returning drama-series in the world. It has won numerous awards, including multiple BAFTAs, multiple Royal Television Society Awards and multiple National Television Awards.
In 1991, Jeremy wrote his first original full-length drama, THE WIDOWMAKER, directed by John Madden. It was shown on primetime ITV to universal critical acclaim and was nominated for the prestigious BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama.
In 1993 Jeremy wrote the critically acclaimed 15: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PHILIP KNIGHT, directed by Peter Kosminsky. It was broadcast on primetime ITV, winning the International Prix Europa in 1994.
Jeremy’s first full length feature, HER MAJESTY MRS BROWN, starring Dame Judi Dench and directed John Madden, was screened at the 1997 Cannes Festival to huge acclaim. He won the 1998 Evening Standard Best Screenplay Award and the film was further nominated for two Oscars and eight BAFTA awards, including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay.
In 1998 Jeremy wrote the original six-part drama PLOTLANDS for BBC1, directed by John Strickland. In 2001, he wrote the screenplay adaptation of CHARLOTTE GRAY, directed by Gillian Armstrong and starring Cate Blanchett. In 2005, he wrote and directed the semi- autobiographical feature-length drama DRIVING LESSONS, starring Dame Julie Walters and Rupert Grint. It aired on primetime ITV before being sold to Sony Classics as a feature film, where it went on to win Best Drama, Best Actress, the Critics Award and the Audience Award at the 2006 Moscow Film Festival.
In 2006, Jeremy co-wrote the screenplay for THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, directed by Kevin MacDonald and starring James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker and Gillian Anderson. Winner of the 2007 BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best British Film, it also won the BIFA for Best Independent Film 2006 and the Oscar for Best Actor.
In 2008, Jeremy wrote the screenplay adaptation of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, directed by Julian Jarrold and starring Emma Thompson, Ben Whishaw and Hayley Atwell.
In 2010 his original screenplay I AM SLAVE aired on Channel 4. Directed by Gabriel Range, it was nominated for a 2011 BAFTA for Best Single Drama. In 2011 Jeremy wrote the
screenplay adaptation of THE EAGLE, directed by Kevin Macdonald and starring Channing Tatum. In 2013 Jeremy co-adapted HOW I LIVE NOW, directed by Kevin Macdonald and starring Saoirse Ronan. In 2014 Jeremy’s play THE BLACKEST BLACK was produced at The Hampstead Downstairs, directed by Michael Longhurst. In 2015 Hampstead Downstairs presented his next play 36 PHONE CALLS, directed by Joanna McInnes. In 2017, to mark the twentieth anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, Jeremy was commissioned by BBC2 to write the original television drama DIANA & I, directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring Tamsin Grieg.
Jeremy’s current projects include his 2019 original screenplay, BURIED BODIES, for See-Saw Films and Focus Features, to be directed by Ariel Kleiman. He has written the book for a musical of Elizabeth Gaskell’s MARY BARTON, to be directed by Natalie Abrahami for The Royal Chichester Festival Theatre. His international adaptation of the Dutch mega-hit SOLDIER OF ORANGE will premiere in London, in Spring 2021, as the first production of the £18 million pound, newly constructed Royal Docklands Theatre.
In 2017, Jeremy was inducted into the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for “exceptional accomplishments” in the field of motion pictures.
