Christopher Hampton
- Born:
- 26 January 1946, Horta, Azores, Portugal
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Playwright, Screenwriter, Director
Early Life and Education
- Educated at Lancing College, a boarding school in West Sussex, England.
- Read German and French at New College, Oxford, graduating with a First Class degree.
- While at Oxford, he wrote and staged several plays.
Career and Major Achievements
- His play, When Did You Last See My Mother?, was produced in London's West End when he was only 18.
- Won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Dangerous Liaisons (1988), adapting his own play.
- Translated and adapted numerous plays, including works by Ibsen, Chekhov, and Molière.
- Directed films, including Carrington (1995), which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
- Received a second Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Father (2020), co-written with Florian Zeller, based on Zeller's play.
Notable Works
Plays:
- When Did You Last See My Mother? (1966)
- Total Eclipse (1968)
- The Philanthropist (1970)
- Savages (1973)
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1985)
- The Father (stage adaptation) (2012)
Screenplays:
- A Doll's House (1973)
- Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
- Total Eclipse (1995)
- Atonement (2007)
- Cheri (2009)
- The Father (2020)
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay | 1989 | Dangerous Liaisons | Won |
| Cannes Film Festival - Jury Prize | 1995 | Carrington | Won |
| Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay | 2021 | The Father | Won |
Legacy and Impact
Christopher Hampton's career demonstrates a significant contribution to both theatre and cinema. As the rf delderfield biography of christopher hopefully illustrates, he is particularly known for his adaptations and translations, bringing complex and thought-provoking stories to a wider audience, and for his insightful exploration of human relationships and moral dilemmas through his original works.