Nora Ephron (1941-2012)

Nora Ephron, the renowned journalist, author and filmmaker has passed away at 71.

Ephron, the writer and director of films including "Julie & Julia" and "Sleepless in Seattle", started her career as a journalist working for, among others, Newsweek and the New York Post. She quickly established herself as an essayist, publishing in New York Magazine, Esquire and the New York Times Magazine though the 60s. Her 1972 essay, "A Few Words About Breasts" brought her wide acclaim.

Ephron broke into screenwriting in the 70s by re-writing, then husband, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward's script for "All the President's Men". While the script was never used, it was seen by the right person who offered Ephron a screenwriting job for a television movie.

Ephron's greatest triumph as a screenwriter came in 1989 with the film "When Harry Met Sally", directed by Rob Reiner. The movie was a massive success, however Ephron decided there, in order to solidify her career in the industry, that directing was the next step she should take. Her directorial debut, "This is My Life" (1992), was a disappointment, but she struck gold the following year with "Sleepless in Seattle", written by Ephron and her sister Delia. Other well received movies Ephron directed include "You've Got Mail", a remake of the 1940 film "The Shop Around The Corner", The John Travolta angel movie "Michael", and 2009's "Julie & Julia". Her 2006 collection of essays, "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Reflections on Being a Woman", quickly hit #1 on the New York Times best-seller list.