Florian Zeller

Florian Zeller is a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker. He came to prominence with his third novel, The Fascination of Evil, which was awarded the prestigious Prix Interallié and nominated for the Prix Goncourt in 2004. Between 2004 and 2020 Zeller wrote over 10 plays, including Si tu Mourais; La Vérité (The Truth); Le Mensonge (The Lie); Le Père (The Father); Avant de s’envoler (The Height of the Storm); Une Heure de Tranquillité (A Bit of Peace and Quiet); L’envers du Décor and La Mère (The Mother). They have been produced both in France and around the world. Since The Truth opened in France in 2011, it has been produced in over thirty countries, the London production being nominated for the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Comedy. His most successful play to date, The Father, garnered numerous awards both in France - Molière for Best Play in 2014 – and worldwide. Its London season at Wyndham’s earned nominations for the Evening Standard and Olivier Best Play Awards and won Kenneth Cranham the Olivier for Best Actor. It has been produced in over 45 countries including Spain, China, Brazil, Australia, India, Israel, South Africa, Germany, Italy and Poland as well as on Broadway where it played at the Friedman Theatre starring Frank Langella (Tony award for Best Actor). The Height of the Storm was produced to great acclaim at Wyndham’s in 2018 with Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins. Directed by Jonathan Kent, it transferred to Broadway in 2019 with the same cast. The Mother was produced in New York at the Atlantic Theatre in 2019 starring Isabelle Huppert. Following its successful London season in 2019 The Son received a further 20 international productions. All of Zeller’s plays have been translated into English by Christopher Hampton. His latest play Des trains à travers la plaine (The Forest) directed by Jonathan Kent opened at the Hampstead Theatre in February 2022. Zeller directed his first feature film in 2019, The Father starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman which he co-adapted from his play with Christopher Hampton. The film was awarded two Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and for Best Actor. He has just completed his second film, based on his play The Son and starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby. (Photo: Laurent Hini)