Gillian Armstrong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gillian Armstrong
Armstrong in 2012
Born	Gillian May Armstrong (1950-12-18) 18 December 1950 (age 74) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1970–present
Spouse(s)	John Pleffer
Children	2
Awards	AACTA Award for Best Direction 1979 My Brilliant Career

Gillian May Armstrong (born 18 December 1950) is a famous Australian film director. She makes both feature films (like movies you see in cinemas) and documentaries (films about real life). She is well-known for movies such as My Brilliant Career (1979), Mrs. Soffel (1984), and Little Women (1994). Gillian Armstrong has won many awards for her work, including the AACTA Award for Best Direction. She is also a Member of the Order of Australia, which is a special honor in Australia.

Early Life and Learning

Gillian May Armstrong was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 18 December 1950. She grew up in a suburb called Vermont. Her dad was a real estate agent who loved photography as a hobby. Gillian remembers spending time in his darkroom, learning all about how photos are made.

When she was older, Gillian decided to go to art school. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do at first. She thought about becoming a set or costume designer for movies. But then she became very interested in filmmaking. She studied film at Swinburne Technical College from 1968. There, she watched many artistic films, which were different from the regular movies and TV shows she was used to.

After working for a year as an assistant editor, she got into a special film school called the Australian Film and Television School (AFTRS) in 1973. Only 12 students were chosen for this course! She made two films there that won awards. She even traveled overseas with one of her films. Gillian started her studies before the Australian film industry was very big. She remembers when new Australian films came out, the actors sounded Australian, not American, which was new and exciting.

Her Career in Film

Gillian Armstrong started by making short films and documentaries. Her first full-length film was The Singer and the Dancer in 1976. It won an award at the Sydney Film Festival. She became a film director when she was 27 years old.

Early Successes

Her second film, My Brilliant Career (1979), was a huge success. It was special because it was the first Australian feature film directed by a woman in 46 years! This movie won six awards at the 1979 Australian Film Awards, including Best Director for Gillian. It also made its main actors, Judy Davis and Sam Neill, very famous.

After My Brilliant Career, Gillian was offered jobs in Hollywood. But she chose to stay in Australia to make a smaller film called Starstruck (1982). This movie was a rock-musical, showing she could make different kinds of films.

Gillian also made a documentary called Smokes and Lollies (1976). It was about young teenage girls in Adelaide, South Australia. She was so interested in these girls' lives that she went back to film them again and again as they grew up. ..... These films are like a "Up Series" for Australian girls, showing how their lives changed over many years.

In the early 1980s, she even directed some rock music videos. One famous video was for the song "Bop Girl" by Pat Wilson in 1984, which featured a young Nicole Kidman.

Hollywood and Beyond

Gillian Armstrong often directs period dramas, which are films set in the past. She was the first non-American woman asked by the American film company MGM to direct a big movie. This film was Mrs. Soffel (1984), starring Mel Gibson and Diane Keaton. It was a true story about a prisoner and a prison warden's wife, and it was well-liked by audiences.

After returning to Australia, she continued making both documentaries and feature films. Her films High Tide (1987) and The Last Days of Chez Nous (1992) earned her nominations for Best Director at the Australian Film Institute Awards.

In 1994, Gillian had a big success in Hollywood with her film Little Women. This movie starred Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, and Christian Bale. It was based on the famous book by Louisa May Alcott and was one of the most popular films that year. It showed Gillian's talent for telling stories about strong female characters and their relationships.

She then directed Oscar and Lucinda (1997), based on a book by Australian writer Peter Carey. It starred Ralph Fiennes and a young Cate Blanchett.

In the 2000s, Gillian directed Charlotte Gray (2001), also starring Cate Blanchett, and Death Defying Acts (2008), with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Guy Pearce. Charlotte Gray was another film with a strong female lead. Death Defying Acts was a different kind of film for her, about the escape artist Harry Houdini.

Even with these bigger films, her documentary Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst (2006) received a lot of praise. It was even nominated for an award at the Sundance Film Festival.

Film Style and Themes

Themes in Her Films

Gillian Armstrong wants her films to be enjoyed by everyone. However, her movies often explore themes about how men and women interact and how families deal with problems. Many of her films show characters trying to escape or deal with traditional roles for men and women. People often say she creates "strong female characters." But Gillian says she just makes films about interesting characters who have to make tough choices.

Her Unique Style

Gillian Armstrong has a special style that makes her films stand out. Her movies often mix different types of film genres. Her films are known for their beautiful cinematography (how they are filmed), smooth editing, and a great sense of setting and costumes. She also focuses on developing her characters well and getting strong performances from her actors.

Personal Life

Gillian Armstrong is married to John Pleffer, and they have two daughters.

Awards and Recognition

Gillian Armstrong is a Member of the Order of Australia for her important contributions to the film industry.

She has won many awards, including the AFI Best Director Award. She has also been nominated for other major awards, like the Palme D'Or and two Golden Bear Awards. She has received several honorary doctorates from universities, which are special degrees given to people who have achieved great things.

Film Awards and Nominations

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Gillian Armstrong para niños