Nancy Meyers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nancy Meyers
Meyers in 2013
Born	Nancy Jane Meyers (1949-12-08) December 8, 1949 (age 75) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	American University
Occupation	Filmmaker
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Charles Shyer ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1999)​
Children	2; including Hallie Meyers-Shyer

Nancy Jane Meyers, born on December 8, 1949, is an American filmmaker. She is famous for writing, producing, and directing many popular movies. She was even nominated for an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for her original movie script, Private Benjamin, in 1980. Her film Baby Boom (1987) was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Nancy Meyers helped write movies like Father of the Bride (1991) and Father of the Bride Part II (1995). She also wrote and directed many other well-known films. These include The Parent Trap (1998), What Women Want (2000), Something's Gotta Give (2003), The Holiday (2006), It's Complicated (2009), and The Intern (2015).

Meyers was married to filmmaker Charles Shyer. They had two daughters together. One of their daughters, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, also became a filmmaker.

Early Life and Education

Nancy Meyers was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, Irving Meyers, worked as an executive for a company that made voting machines. Her mother, Patricia Meyers, was an interior designer. She also volunteered with programs like Head Start Program and the Home for the Blind. Nancy was the younger of two daughters. She grew up in the Drexel Hill area in a Jewish family.

When she was twelve, Nancy read a book called Act One. This book was written by a playwright named Moss Hart. It made her interested in theater, and she started acting in local plays. Her interest in writing movie scripts began later. This happened after she saw the movie The Graduate in 1967. Nancy went to Lower Merion High School. In 1970, she graduated from American University with a degree in journalism.

Career in Filmmaking

After college, Nancy Meyers worked for a year in public television in Philadelphia. When she was 22, she moved to Los Angeles. She lived with her sister, Sally, in the Coldwater Canyon area. Soon after, she got a job as a production assistant. This job was for the CBS game show The Price Is Right.

Nancy was inspired by the TV show The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She decided she wanted to write. She eventually became a story editor. In this role, she read scripts and worked with screenwriters. She helped producers develop new projects. She even took filmmaking classes. There, she met famous directors like Martin Scorsese. To support herself, she started a small cheesecake business. This was after people loved a cake she made for a dinner party.

Starting Out in the 1980s

In the late 1970s, Meyers began working with Charles Shyer. They met when she was a story editor at Motown's film division. They became friends and, with Harvey Miller, wrote the script for Private Benjamin (1980). This comedy was about a young woman who joins the U.S. Army. Actress Goldie Hawn starred in the film. She also helped produce it with Meyers and Shyer.

It was hard to get the movie made. Many studios turned it down. One studio even told Goldie Hawn that making the movie would "end her career." But Private Benjamin became a huge success. It earned almost $70 million in 1980. This made it one of the biggest hits of the year. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing. It also won a Writers Guild of America Award. The movie was so popular that it led to a TV show with the same name.

Meyers and Shyer's next film was Irreconcilable Differences (1984). This was Charles Shyer's first time directing. Shelley Long and Ryan O'Neal played a Hollywood couple. Their focus on success hurt their relationship with their daughter, played by Drew Barrymore. The movie earned $12.4 million and received several Golden Globe nominations.

In 1987, Meyers produced Baby Boom. This film was about a New York City executive who suddenly becomes a guardian to her young cousin's daughter. It was her first time working with actress Diane Keaton. The idea for the movie came from Meyers and Shyer's own experiences. They saw how hard it was to balance a successful career with a growing family. Baby Boom was well-liked by critics and audiences. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. The film earned about $26.7 million. Like Private Benjamin, it also inspired a TV series.

Success in the 1990s

In 1990, Meyers and Shyer worked with Diane Keaton again. They remade the 1950 film Father of the Bride. Their 1991 version starred Steve Martin. He played a father dealing with his daughter's wedding. The movie was very popular. It became their biggest financial success at the time, earning $90 million worldwide. A sequel, Father of the Bride Part II, was made in 1995. It was also very successful.

In 1998, Nancy Meyers directed her first movie, The Parent Trap. This was a remake of the 1961 film. It starred Lindsay Lohan in her first movie role. Lindsay played twin sisters who try to reunite their divorced parents. The parents were played by Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson. Because Lindsay played two characters, Meyers had to use special filming techniques. She said it was complicated, but she tried to make it feel real. The Parent Trap received good reviews and earned $92 million worldwide.

Directing More Films in the 2000s

After The Parent Trap, Nancy Meyers directed What Women Want (2000). This movie starred Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. It was about a man who could hear what women were thinking. The film earned $183 million in the United States. It made over $370 million worldwide. At the time, it was the most successful film ever directed by a woman.

After her divorce, Meyers wrote and directed Something's Gotta Give (2003). This comedy starred Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. They played older characters who find love. Some studios were worried that older lead actors wouldn't attract audiences. But the film became a surprise hit. It earned $266.6 million worldwide.

Meyers' next film was The Holiday (2006). This romantic comedy starred Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. They played two women who swap homes to escape heartbreak during the holidays. Jude Law and Jack Black also starred. The film was a global success, earning $205 million worldwide. It won a Teen Choice Award in 2007.

In 2009, Meyers' film It's Complicated was released. It starred Meryl Streep as a bakery owner. She starts a secret relationship with her ex-husband, played by Alec Baldwin. She also finds herself drawn to another man, played by Steve Martin. Critics had mixed reviews, but the movie was another commercial hit. It earned $219.1 million worldwide. It's Complicated earned Meyers two Golden Globe nominations.

Projects in the 2010s and 2020s

In 2015, Meyers directed The Intern. This comedy was about a fashion company founder. She starts a program where older people can intern at her firm. Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro starred in the movie.

In 2017, Meyers was a producer for Home Again. This film was directed by her daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer. Reese Witherspoon starred in it.

In September 2020, Nancy Meyers announced a follow-up to the Father of the Bride films. This "mini-sequel" was called Father of the Bride Part 3(ish). It was written and directed by Meyers. The story showed a family reunion over Zoom. Many of the original actors returned, including Steve Martin and Diane Keaton. The film was released on September 25, 2020, on Netflix. It also helped raise money for a charity called World Central Kitchen. This charity supports families affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

In April 2022, Netflix announced that Meyers would write, direct, and produce a new comedy film for them. However, in March 2023, it was reported that the film, called Paris Paramount, would not move forward at Netflix. This was because the studio did not approve the requested budget. A few days later, Warner Bros. Pictures began talks to take on the project.

Directing Style and Influences

Nancy Meyers says her main influences are the fast-paced comedies from the 1930s and 1940s. Her films often focus on middle-aged women. These women face challenges balancing their personal lives and careers. Meyers' films are also known for showing male characters from a female point of view.

Meyers usually spends a year writing a script. Then she spends six months filming and another six months editing. She has the power to make the final decisions on her films. This is rare for directors working with big American studios. Meyers is known for paying close attention to details. She films many takes of scenes. She is also very involved in designing the look of her films. She believes that the film's set acts like a character in her movies.

The main characters in Meyers' films are often wealthy. They live in beautiful, luxurious homes. Meyers says this shows that they are successful women. They can afford to create lovely and comfortable spaces for themselves. The fancy kitchens in her films have received special attention. The style of decor seen in Meyers' films is even called the "Nancy Meyers aesthetic." This style uses neutral colors, natural wood, patterned fabrics, and old-fashioned accessories.

Influence on the Film Industry

Nancy Meyers has had a big impact on the filmmaking industry. She is known as one of the most important female filmmakers in romantic comedies. This is because of her unique directing style and memorable film sets. There are not many female directors in Hollywood, which makes her influence even more significant.

Meyers' films are very popular in the romantic-comedy genre. Many people remember her work fondly. Her later films, which showed older women on screen, also became very popular. Meyers has also influenced the actors she works with. For example, Reese Witherspoon has said that Meyers is a helpful resource for her own creative projects.

Personal Life

Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer started their relationship in 1976. They got married in Rome in 1980. They separated in 1999 and later divorced. They have two daughters, Annie Meyers-Shyer and Hallie Meyers-Shyer. Both daughters have had small roles in their parents' films. On February 28, 2020, Meyers shared her post-divorce story in The New York Times column called "Modern Love."

Meyers lives in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film

Television

Film Reception

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Nancy Meyers para niños