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Profile: Lesley Paterson

11/03/2023

Lesley Paterson

BBC Radio 4 - Profile, Lesley Paterson

Triathlete and screenwriter whose debut film is nominated for nine Oscars.

World champion triathlete and screenwriter Lesley Paterson, whose debut film is nominated for nine Oscars.

Scottish screenwriter Lesley Paterson’s debut film, All Quiet on the Western Front, has won seven BAFTAs and has nine Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay.  It took her and co-writer Ian Stokell sixteen years to get their script to screen, with Netflix and German director, Edward Berger. 

On the way, Paterson competed in extreme off-road triathlons, winning five world titles and putting the prize money towards the adaptation rights for the novel. Now the movie is winning awards and provoking debate among critics.

Timandra Harkness talks to family, friends and colleagues about Paterson’s childhood going to ballet classes with knees still muddy from rugby, her journey from Stirling to Hollywood, and how her drive to win has got her through every challenge.

Presenter: Timandra Harkness
Production team: Sally Abrahams, Georgia Coan and Nathan Gower
Editor: Simon Watts
Sound engineer: Neva Missirian

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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