Aged 71, Norah Ephron, writer of When Harry Met Sally and writer and director of Sleepless In Seattle and Julie And Julia, has passed away today due to complications from Luekemia. Originally a journalist, Ephron made her first into Hollywood writing Silkwood, Meryl Streep's 1983 drama based on the true story of Karen Silkwood, who died in suspicious circumstances investigating wronging at the nuclear power plant where she worked. Her big break came with her script for When Harry Met Sally, for which she received an oscar nomination. It was with her second directorial effort, Sleepless In Seattle, that cemented her reputation as the foremost authority on romantic comedies. Other films followed, such as Micheal, Bewitched, You've Got Mail, and 2009's Julie And Julia, which was her last film.
In the male dominated Hollywood, Ephron was rare in that she had full control over what movies she made, and was a strong voice for a bigger role for women in the film industry. She had a real genuine talent, and will be sadly missed.
While the scene most people will remember of Ephron's is the infamous restaurant scene from When Harry Met Sally, it's the final scene from that same movie that, for me, perfectly captures the film maker at her best.
