Elizabeth Henley

Biography

Beth Henley was born in Jackson, Mississippi. Her plays have been produced internationally and translated into over ten languages. CRIMES OF THE HEART (The Golden Theatre) and THE WAKE OF JAMEY FOSTER (Eugene O'Neill Theatre) were performed on Broadway. Off-Broadway productions include: THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST, AM I BLUE, THE LUCKY SPOT, THE DEBUTANTE BALL, ABUNDANCE, IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE, and FAMILY WEEK. Her play RIDICULOUS FRAUD was produced at McCarter Theatre as well as South Coast Repertory Theatre. Henley's newest work THE JACKSONIAN premiered at the Geffen Theatre in January 2012 to great acclaim. Robert Falls directed and the cast included Ed Harris, Bill Pullman, Amy Madigan and Glenne Headly.

Henley was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play for CRIMES OF THE HEART. Other awards include: American Theatre Wing 1998 Award for Distinguished Achievement in Playwriting; Susan Smith Blackburn Finalist for CRIMES OF THE HEART and RIDICULOUS FRAUD; Richard Wright Literary Excellence Award 2000; New York Stage and Film Honoree, 2007; ATHE Career Achievement Award, 2010.

Henley wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed film version of CRIMES OF THE HEART for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. The film starred Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard. Bruce Beresford directed. She also wrote the screenplay for MISS FIRECRACKER starring Holly Hunter and Tim Robbins. She wrote the screenplay for NOBODY'S FOOL that starred Rosanna Arquette and Eric Roberts, and co-wrote David Byrne's TRUE STORIES. Her television credits include SURVIVING LOVE a film for CBS starring Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen as well as a teleplay for the PBS series, TRYING TIMES, directed by Jonathan Demme.

Henley is a member of The Fellowship of Southern Writers, the Dramatist Guild and the Academy of Arts and Science.