Tony McNamara (born 1967) is an Australian playwright, screenwriter, and television producer. He is also an occasional film director and producer. He is known for his work on the scripts for The Favourite (2018) and Poor Things (2023), two films directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with Deborah Davis for the former and the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the latter. On television, he created the comedy-drama series The Great (2020–2023).
Life and career Early years and education Tony McNamara was born in 1967 in Kilmore, in the state of Victoria, Australia, and was educated at Assumption College, Kilmore. Following careers in catering and finance, McNamara settled on a career as a writer following a visit to Rome. He studied writing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and screenwriting at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
Career After writing various television episodes and stage plays, McNamara made his film debut in 2003 directing The Rage in Placid Lake, adapted from his stage play The Café Latte Kid. Following this, he wrote for various television programmes in Australia, most notably The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, Tangle and Puberty Blues.
In 2015, McNamara directed his second feature film, comedy-drama Ashby, starring Mickey Rourke, Sarah Silverman and Emma Roberts. A year later, he returned to television as creator of medical drama Doctor Doctor.
In 2018, he received critical acclaim for his work in co-writing the historical comedy-drama film The Favourite with Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Emma Stone. Originally a screenplay by Deborah Davis written 20 years prior to the film's release, Lanthimos and McNamara worked together to complete the final script.
McNamara created The Great, a series revolving around the life of Catherine the Great, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, which premiered on Hulu on 15 May 2020. It is based on his play about Catherine the Great, which premiered at the Sydney Theatre Company in 2008. McNamara also wrote a film adaptation of the play.
McNamara returned to work with Lanthimos as the writer for the 2023 film Poor Things, with Stone as the lead actress once again.
In April 2024, it was reported that he would script the upcoming film adaptation of the comic book Avengelyne, with Olivia Wilde directing, and Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley producing through their LuckyChap Entertainment banner. By April 2025, he was co-writing an upcoming Star Wars film, with Taika Waititi.
Personal life McNamara has a child by a first marriage, and married Australian actress Belinda Bromilow in 2009. They have two children.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Notes 1995 The Beat Manifesto Short film 2003 The Rage in Placid Lake 2015 Ashby 2018 The Favourite Also executive producer 2021 Cruella 2023 Poor Things 2025 The Roses
Television Year Title Notes 1993 All Together Now 1 episode; 'Your Cheatin' Heart' 1997 Big Sky 3 episodes 2001–2005 The Secret Life of Us 12 episodes 2004–2007 Love My Way 7 episodes 2008 Echo Beach 2 episodes Moving Wallpaper 1 episode Rush 2009–2012 Tangle 7 episodes 2010–2011 Spirited 3 episodes 2011 Offspring 1 episode; 'Complications' 2012–2014 Puberty Blues 7 episodes 2016–2018 Doctor Doctor Creator, 15 episodes 2020–2023 The Great Creator, 30 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1995 Australian Film Institute Best Screenplay in a Short Film The Beat Manifesto 2003 Australian Comedy Awards Outstanding Comic Screenplay The Rage in Placid Lake Australian Film Institute Best Adapted Screenplay AWGIE Awards Major AWGIE Award Best Screenplay Adaptation Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Melbourne International Film Festival Most Popular Feature Film 2007 AWGIE Awards Best Writing for a Television Series Love My Way Australian Film Institute Best Screenplay in Television 2013 AACTA Awards Best Screenplay in Television Puberty Blues 2014 AWGIE Awards Best Writing for a Television Series 2015 Best Screenplay Original Ashby 2018 Academy Award Best Original Screenplay The Favourite Atlanta Film Critics Circle Best Screenplay BAFTA Award Best Original Screenplay British Independent Film Awards Best Screenplay Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Original Screenplay Golden Globe Award Best Screenplay Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Original Screenplay Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Best Original Screenplay Detroit Film Critics Society Best Original Screenplay Gotham Independent Film Awards Best Screenplay 2020 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series The Great 2023Florida Film Critics CircleBest Adapted ScreenplayPoor ThingsCapri Hollywood International Film FestivalBest Adapted ScreenplayNational Board of ReviewBest Adapted ScreenplayAACTA International AwardsBest International Screenplay2024BAFTA AwardBest Adapted Screenplay Academy Award Best Adapted Screenplay
See also List of Australian Academy Award winners and nominees References
External links