Anthony Minghella was born January 6, 1954 on the Isle of Wight, England. He is the son of Italian immigrants, Minghella graduated from the University of Hull where he studied English and drama. He began his career in television in the 1980s, scripting children's shows for the BBC and for Jim Henson's The Storyteller.

Minghella's directorial film debut, Truly, Madly, Deeply, was released to great reviews in 1990. In 1996, Minghella tackled the screenplay adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel The English Patient. He won a Best Director Academy Award for the beautifully filmed epic starring Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas and Juliette Binoche. His next project, The Talented Mr. Ripley, was another screen adaptation, this time starring Matt Damon as an outsider who covets the life of a wealthy playboy. In 2003, he wrote and directed the blockbuster Cold Mountain, adapted from Charles Frazier's bestselling book.

He also directed a 2007’s drama Breaking and Entering.

Minghella also directs for the stage, his first opera was Puccini's Madame Butterfly in 2005, and serves as chairman of the British Film Institute.

He is married to Hong Kong choreographer, Carolyn Choa; they have two children.

Director

• The Reader (2010)
• The Ninth Life of Louis Drax (2008)
• The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (2008) (TV)
• Breaking and Entering (2006)
• Cold Mountain (2003)
• Play (2000)
• The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• The English Patient (1996)
• Mr. Wonderful (1993)
• Truly Madly Deeply (1991)

Awards

• ShoWest Director of the Year 2000
• National Board of Review Award Best Director "The Talented Mr. Ripley" 1999
• BAFTA Award Best Film "The English Patient" 1996
• BAFTA Award Best Adapted Screenplay "The English Patient" 1996
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Director "The English Patient" 1996
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Screenplay "The English Patient" 1996
• Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film "The English Patient" 1996
• Golden Satellite Best Motion Picture Screenplay (Adaptation) "The English Patient" 1996
• Oscar Best Director "The English Patient" 1996
• Society of Texas Film Critics Award Best Adapted Screenplay "The English Patient" 1996
• Australian Film Institute Award Best Foriegn Film "Truly, Madly, Deeply" 1992
• BAFTA Award Best Original Screenplay "Truly, Madly, Deeply" 1991
• Evening Standard Award Most Promising New Writer "Truly, Madly, Deeply" 1991
• Plays and Players London Theatre Critics Award Best Play "Made in Bangkok" 1986
• Plays and Players London Theatre Critics Award Most Promising Playwright "A Little Like Drowning" 1984