Amma Asante facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amma Asante
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Asante in 2015
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| Born | 13 September 1969 Lambeth, London, England
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
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Notable work
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A Way of Life (2004); Belle (2013); A United Kingdom (2016) |
| Spouse(s) |
Søren Pedersen
(m. 2007) |
Amma Asante MBE (born 13 September 1969) is a talented British filmmaker, screenwriter, and former actress. She is also the Chancellor at Norwich University of the Arts. Amma was born in London, England, and her parents came from Ghana.
Her journey in the film world began when she got her first acting role in the BBC children's TV show Grange Hill. Later, she wrote and produced the 1998 BBC Two TV series Brothers and Sisters. She was also a childhood friend of famous model Naomi Campbell.
Contents
Who is Amma Asante?
Amma Asante was born in Lambeth, London. Her mother was a business owner with her own African cosmetics and grocery shop. Her father was an accountant who moved to the United Kingdom.
Early Training and TV Roles
Amma went to the Barbara Speake Stage School in Acton. There, she learned dance and drama skills. In the 1980s, she was part of the "Just Say No" anti-drugs campaign. She even visited the Reagan White House with other Grange Hill child actors.
She also appeared in other British TV shows. These included Desmond's on Channel 4 and Birds of a Feather on BBC 1. For one year, she worked as a presenter for The Children's Channel.
Family Life
Amma Asante is married to Søren Pedersen. He used to be a spokesperson for Europol, which is the police agency for Europe.
Amma's Journey in Film
Amma's career began at a performing arts school. This is where she first started writing scripts for TV shows. After acting as a child, she decided to focus on screenwriting.
She started her own film company called Tantrum Films. Through this company, she wrote and produced two series of the BBC Two drama Brothers and Sisters in 1998.
Directing Her First Film: A Way of Life
In 2004, Amma Asante directed her first full-length movie, A Way of Life. This film was supported by the UK Film Council. It was produced by Peter Edwards, Patrick Cassavetti, and Charlie Hanson.
The movie tells the story of Leigh Anne, a 17-year-old single mother played by Stephanie James. She struggles to make ends meet, especially with her daughter's medical costs. The film also explores cultural differences. It shows Leigh Anne's neighbor, Hassan Osman, who is accused of reporting her to social services. Critics praised the film as a powerful drama.
Awards for A Way of Life
A Way of Life won many awards. In 2004, Amma received the Alfred Dunhill UK Film Talent Award at the London Film Festival. In 2005, The Times newspaper named her their Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
She also won the Carl Foreman Award at the BAFTA Film Awards. This award is for new British writers, directors, or producers. Amma says this award was a big moment in her career. The film also won awards at the Miami International Film Festival and the Wales Chapter of BAFTA.
Belle: A Historical Story
Amma Asante's second major film was Belle (2013). This is a historical romance movie. It is based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle. Dido was a mixed-race daughter of an enslaved African woman and a British Navy captain in the 1700s.
The film shows Dido being raised by a wealthy white family in London. She uses her experiences to speak out against social issues of her time, like gender roles and slavery. The movie stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Belle and Tom Wilkinson as Lord Mansfield.
Global Recognition for Belle
Belle was filmed in the Isle of Man, London, and Oxford. Fox Searchlight Pictures distributed the movie. A special showing of Belle took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This was part of events remembering slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Amma Asante was honored by BAFTA in Los Angeles and New York as a "Brit to Watch." She also received The Signis Award at the 2014 Miami International Film Festival for directing Belle.
A United Kingdom: A True Love Story
In 2016, Amma Asante directed A United Kingdom. This film tells the true story of an interracial couple, Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams. They married and moved back to Bechuanaland (now Botswana). This was despite opposition from the British government.
The film stars David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike. It is based on the book Colour Bar: The Triumph of Seretse Khama and His Nation by historian Susan Williams. The film opened the 60th London Film Festival in June 2016.
Recent Projects and Influence
Amma Asante has continued to work on exciting projects. She contributed to the 2019 book New Daughters of Africa.
She also directed an episode of the popular TV series The Handmaid's Tale in 2019. This show is based on a novel by Margaret Atwood. Amma was listed in the Top 100 most influential people of African/African-Caribbean descent in the UK for both 2020 and 2021.
Amma is also set to direct a film called The Billion Dollar Spy.
Awards and Recognition
Amma Asante was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award in 2017. This was for her great contributions to film.
In 2018, she became the first woman to receive an honorary award from the British Urban Film Festival. Actress Dona Croll presented this award for Amma's outstanding work in film and television.
Professional Connections
Amma Asante has been an elected member of the BAFTA Council. She also served on the BAFTA Film committee. In 2014, she became an Honorary Associate of the London Film School.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | A Way of Life | Director and screenwriter |
| 2013 | Belle | Director |
| 2016 | A United Kingdom | Director |
| 2018 | Where Hands Touch | Director and screenwriter |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Handmaid's Tale | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Mrs. America | Director | 2 episodes |
Images for kids
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Amma Asante in 2015
See also
In Spanish: Amma Asante para niños
