Peter Morgan is a highly acclaimed British scriptwriter and playwright, renowned for his exceptional work in historical and biographical films and plays. Born to migrant parents in the U.K., Peter’s passion for storytelling led him to write captivating student plays before making a name for himself in the 1990s through his contributions to popular TV shows. His talent and creativity shone through in TV projects like The Jury, The Deal, and The Queen, propelling him to greater recognition. Notable films such as The Last King of Scotland, Frost/Nixon (adapted from his earlier play), and Bohemian Rhapsody further solidified his reputation as a masterful writer. In 2016, Peter delivered a resounding success with the Netflix series The Crown, a captivating portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II’s life. His remarkable contributions have garnered him numerous award nominations, including the prestigious BAFTA TV Award, BAFTA Film Award, and Golden Globe Award, among others. While his personal life has seen its ups and downs, Peter is currently in a fulfilling long-term relationship with talented actor Gillian Anderson.
Quick Facts
- Name: Peter Julian Robin Morgan
- Age: 60 Years, 60 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Lila Schwarzenberg (m. 1997–2014), father: Arthur Morgenthau, mother: Inga Morgenthau, Partner: Gillian Anderson (2016–)
- Born Country: England
- Playwrights
- British Men
- Height: 6’2″ (188 cm), 6’2″ Males
- City: London, England, Wimbledon, England
- More Facts
- Education: University of Leeds
- Awards:
- 2007 · The Last King of Scotland – BAFTA Award for Best British Film
- 2007 · The Last King of Scotland – BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
- 2007 · The Queen – Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay – Motion Picture Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
- 2008 · Frost/Nixon
- 2004 · The Deal – British Academy Television Award for Best Single Drama
- 2007 · The Queen – Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay
- 2006 · The Queen – British Independent Film Award for Best Screenplay
- 2006 · The Queen – Best Screenplay Award
- 2011 · The Special Relationship – Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Long Form – Original
- 2006 · The Queen – New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay
- 2006 · The Queen – London Film Critics’ Circle Award for Screenwriter of the Year
- 2015 · The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies – British Academy Television Award for Best Mini Series
- 2006 · The Queen – Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay
- 2014 · The Audience – WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play
- 2008 · Frost/Nixon – San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
- 2006 · The Queen – Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay
- 2006 · The Queen – Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay
- 2007 · Longford – British Academy Television Writer Award
- 2006 · The Queen – Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Screenplay
- 2006 · The Queen – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay
- 2006 · The Queen – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay
- 2014 · Frost/Nixon – Premio Ubu al miglior testo o nuovo progetto drammaturgico straniero
Childhood & Early Life
Peter Morgan was born Peter Julian Robin Morgan on April 10, 1963, in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. His father, Arthur Morgenthau, was a German Jew who had fled the Nazi rule, while his mother, Inga Bojcek, was a Catholic Polish woman who had escaped from the Soviets. Peter’s parents changed their surname to “Morgan” after moving to the U.K. in 1933. Unfortunately, Peter lost his father when he was 9 years old. He attended St. Paul’s School in London and later joined the Downside School in Somerset. Peter eventually earned a fine art degree from the University of Leeds.
Career
Peter Morgan began his writing career by creating training videos for a student play that he had co-written and staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He then started writing scripts for TV shows in the 1990s, including Rik Mayall Presents…, The Chest, and Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence. Peter gained recognition for his biographical films and series that combined fact and fiction. In 2002, he received recognition for the TV series The Jury. His breakthrough came in 2003 when he worked on the script for the TV drama The Deal, which portrayed the deal between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. In 2006, Peter was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on The Queen, a film about Princess Diana’s death and its impact on the British royal family. He also co-wrote The Last King of Scotland, which won a BAFTA award in 2007.
Peter Morgan’s first play, Frost/Nixon, was performed in London in 2006 and focused on the Watergate scandal. He wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of the play, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Peter continued to write screenplays for films such as The Damned United, Hereafter, and Bohemian Rhapsody. He also wrote the biographical sports drama Rush and the Netflix series The Crown, which has been renewed for multiple seasons.
Awards and Recognitions
Peter Morgan has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career. His works have won awards at the British Academy Television Awards, the Venice Film Festival, and the Golden Globe Awards. He was also invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2016, he received the honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and a British Film Institute Fellowship (BFI). The Crown has won multiple AFI Television Program of the Year awards.
Personal Life
Peter Morgan married Anna Carolina “Lila” Schwarzenberg in 1997, and they have five children together. They separated in 2014, and Peter is currently in a relationship with actor Gillian Anderson. He is bilingual and fluent in both English and German.