Neil Jordan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neil Jordan
Jordan at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival
Born	Neil Patrick Jordan (1950-02-25) 25 February 1950 (age 75) Sligo, Ireland
Education	University College Dublin (B.A., 1972)
Occupation	Filmmaker writer
Years active	1979–present
Spouse(s)	Vivienne Shields (divorced) Brenda Rawn ​ (m. 2004)​
Children	5

Neil Patrick Jordan (born 25 February 1950) is a famous Irish filmmaker and writer. He is known for directing many movies and TV shows. He first became known for his short stories. His collection, Night in Tunisia, won an award in 1979.

After working at RTÉ, an Irish TV channel, he directed his first movie in 1982. It was called Angel. Some of his most well-known films include Mona Lisa (1986) and The Crying Game (1992). He also directed Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Michael Collins (1996).

Neil Jordan has won many awards for his films. These include an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and a Golden Lion. In 1996, France honored him with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Early Life and Education

Neil Jordan was born in Sligo, Ireland. His mother, Angela, was a painter, and his father, Michael, was a professor. He went to St. Paul's College, Raheny for school.

Later, he studied Irish history and English literature at University College Dublin. He earned his degree in History in 1972. While there, he joined student theater and met Jim Sheridan. Jim Sheridan also became a well-known Irish film director.

In 1976, Jordan published his first collection of short stories. It was called Night in Tunisia and other Stories.

Exploring Neil Jordan's Career

Neil Jordan started his career in the late 1970s. He worked for RTÉ, the Irish television channel. He even wrote stories for a children's fantasy show called Wanderly Wagon.

His first collection of short stories, Night in Tunisia, was published in 1976. It won the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1979.

In 1981, director John Boorman was filming Excalibur in Ireland. He asked Jordan to be a "creative associate" on the film. A year later, Boorman helped produce Jordan's first movie, Angel. This film was about a musician caught up in the Troubles in Ireland. Stephen Rea, an actor, played the main character and has been in many of Jordan's films since.

During the 1980s, Jordan directed films that earned him praise. These included The Company of Wolves and Mona Lisa. The Company of Wolves was a dark retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. It became a very popular movie among fans.

As a writer and director, Jordan has made many different types of films. Some were big hits like Interview with the Vampire. Others were smaller, more personal films. He also created the TV series The Borgias.

Jordan often explores complex relationships in his movies. For example, The Miracle shows characters dealing with difficult feelings. Interview with the Vampire explores the deep connections between its main characters.

He also often tells stories about Northern Ireland's history. The Crying Game and Breakfast on Pluto both feature characters dealing with the events of the Troubles. Both films also star Stephen Rea. While The Crying Game is a realistic thriller, Breakfast on Pluto is a more artistic and funny story.

Jordan often directs movies about children or young people. Examples include The Miracle and The Butcher Boy. Most of his films are realistic, but some are more fantastical. These include The Company of Wolves and Interview with the Vampire.

Neil Jordan at the German premiere of The Brave One, 2007

After his early films were successful, Jordan went to Hollywood. He directed High Spirits and We're No Angels. These films were not as successful. He then returned home to make The Crying Game. This movie was nominated for six Academy Awards. Jordan won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for it.

The success of The Crying Game led him back to American filmmaking. He directed Interview with the Vampire. He also directed the crime drama The Brave One, starring Jodie Foster.

In 2009, Neil Jordan wrote and directed the Irish film Ondine. It starred Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda-Curuś. He also directed Byzantium in 2012. This was a vampire movie starring Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton.

Jordan with Alicja Bachleda-Curuś and Colin Farrell at the Ondine premiere, 2010 Tribeca Film Festival in New York

He directed the thriller Greta in 2018. It starred Isabelle Huppert and Chloë Grace Moretz.

Jordan also worked on the TV series Riviera. However, he later said he was not happy with how his scripts were changed by others.

Personal Life and Achievements

Neil Jordan has five children. He lives in Dalkey, Dublin.

In 1996, Neil Jordan received the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This is a special honor for artists. He has also received many honorary degrees from universities. These include Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.

In 2018, he gave his personal archives to the National Library of Ireland. This collection includes his film scripts, notes, and letters.

Filmography: Movies Directed by Neil Jordan

Filmography: Movies Produced by Neil Jordan

Television Work

Awards and Nominations for Films

Awards for Literature

• Guardian Fiction Prize for Night in Tunisia (1979)
• Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 1981
• 2004 Irish PEN Award
• Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award for 'Shade' (2005) and 'Mistaken' (2011)
• 2011 Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year for 'Mistaken'
• UCD Alumni Award in Arts & Humanities 2021

Actors Who Won Awards in Jordan's Films

Neil Jordan has directed actors who have been nominated for Academy Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Neil Jordan para niños

• List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Ireland