Female Filmmaker Friday: Marielle Heller, Director of "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Marielle Heller is an American director, writer, and actress from Marin, California.

While attending UCLA, Heller studied theater, and continued her studies in London, England at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

In 2015, Heller’s directorial debut came with the celebrated, vibrant film, The Diary of a Teenager Girl, an adaptation of the graphic novel released in 2002. Having first adapted the graphic novel into a play, Heller then adapted into a script. The film received critical praise, winning the Grand Prix of Generation 14+ at the Berlin International Film Festival. The story is from the perspective of a young girl experiencing and taking control of her first sexual experience.

In 2018, Heller’s film Can You Ever Forgive Me? is already receiving critical acclaim, especially for the performance by Melissa McCarthy, who plays an unemployed biographer who starts selling forged letters from famous people. McCarthy, known mostly for comedic roles, proves she is a tremendous actress and capable of deeper performances. Her vulnerable and poignant performance is sure to leave a mark with audiences.

Heller is also directing the Tom Hanks fronted Mr. Rogers film that is due to come out some time in 2019.