| Max Minghella | |
|---|---|
 Minghella and girlfriend Leigh Lezark at the opera, September 25, 2006 |
|
| Born | September 16, 1985 Hampstead, London, United Kingdom |
| Years active | 2005 - present |
Max Giorgio Choa Minghella (born September 16, 1985) is an English actor. The son of late film director Anthony Minghella, he has appeared in several dramatic American films, making his feature film debut in 2005's Bee Season and starring in 2006's Art School Confidential.
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Early life
Minghella was born in Hampstead, London, the son of Academy Award-winning British director Anthony Minghella and Carolyn Choa, a Hong Kong-born Chinese[1] choreographer. Minghella spent time on his father's film sets while growing up, of which he has "fond memories", and has said that he has felt "no pressure" by his father to succeed in the entertainment industry.[2]
Education
Minghella was educated at two independent schools: at St Anthony's Preparatory School and University College School in Hampstead.
Life and career
Minghella was inspired to become an actor during his late teenage years, after seeing a production of the play This is Our Youth at London's West End; he subsequently dropped out of the University College School to pursue an acting career, and attended the National Youth Theatre.[3]
Career
Although Minghella had a minor, uncredited appearance as an extra in his father's film, Cold Mountain,[4] his first professional role was in Bee Season, playing the son of a dysfunctional Jewish American family. The film was released in November 2005 to mostly mixed reviews and low box office, grossing only $1 million in its limited release,[5][6] although critics remarked that Minghella was "a talented young actor to watch, delivering a strong performance".[7]
Minghella followed with the political thriller Syriana, which was also released in November 2005, playing the son of George Clooney's CIA agent character. In 2006, he starred in the Daniel Clowes adaptation Art School Confidential, a quirky comedy directed by Terry Zwigoff and co-starring Sophia Myles and John Malkovich. Minghella got the part after meeting Zwigoff when he visited the set of Bee Season.[1]
His most recent film, which premiered at the South by Southwest film festival on March 10, 2007, is Elvis and Anabelle, a dark romantic comedy in which he plays a mortician's son; the film co-stars Blake Lively and Mary Steenburgen. Minghella has described it as "a really sweet film".[1] Minghella was to play Art Bechstein in the film version of writer Michael Chabon's novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, but eventually dropped out of the project due to his university schedule.[8]
In March 2008, it was announced that Minghella would star opposite Rachel Weisz in Alejandro Amenábar's second English-language film entitled Agora. The film is set in fourth century Egypt and revolves around Weisz' character Hypatia of Alexandria. Later in 2008, Minghella was seen in two theatrical releases; How to Lose Friends & Alienate People starring Simon Pegg in which Minghella plays a pompous film director, and a segment of the dark comedy Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.
Minghella will be seen next in Beeban Kidron's Hippie Hippie Shake, a film about Richard Neville set in 1960's London.[9] He has also joined the cast of David Fincher's The Social Network, a film about the origins of Facebook.[10]
Personal life
Minghella attends Columbia University, which he considers his "first priority", as part of the class of 2009. He typically works on films only during his summer break.[1] Minghella has said that he feels like "an English boy at an American school", keeps to himself, and that most students at Columbia have "no idea" who he is.[1]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Toy Boys | Danny | Short |
| 1998 | Let The Good Times Roll | Boy with dog | Short |
| 2005 | Bee Season | Aaron Naumann | |
| Syriana | Robby Barnes | ||
| 2006 | Art School Confidential | Jerome Platz | |
| 2007 | Elvis and Anabelle | Elvis | |
| 2008 | How to Lose Friends & Alienate People | Vincent LePak | |
| 2009 | Brief Interviews with Hideous Men | Kevin / Subject #28 | |
| Agora | Davus | ||
| 2010 | Hippie Hippie Shake | Martin Sharp | Awaiting release |
| The Social Network | In production |
References
- ^ a b c d e Roman, Julian (May 8, 2006). "Max Minghella Talks Art School Confidential". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5ladvn6Ui. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Pearlman, Cindy. "Film director's son makes his own busy career". Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.suntimes.com/output/pearlman/sho-sunday-fiveq30.html. Retrieved April 30, 2006.[dead link]
- ^ Ghorbani, Liza (May 14, 2006). "The Talented History Student". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/fashion/sundaystyles/14NITE.html?_r=3&oref=slogin. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Petruzzi, Elissa (November 20, 2005). "The Max Factor". USA Weekend. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5lagqkjHx. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ "Bee Season". The Numbers. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2005/BSESN.php. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ "Bee Season (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bee_season/. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Douglas, Edward. "Bee Season Movie Review". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5lafDQaEt. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ "Interview with Rawson Marshall Thurber". Pajiba. July 5, 2006. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5lafg2cBz. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Dawtrey, Adam (May 2, 2007). "'Hippie' grooves for Universal". Variety. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5laipALXg. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Rich, Katey (October 20, 2009). "New Social Network Cast Announced On Facebook, Of Course". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5laiTXOcQ. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
External links
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