Simon Cornwell

Simon Cornwell is a British film producer and screenwriter, known for his work in adapting the espionage novels of his father, John le Carré, for television and film. He has served as an executive producer on several high-profile BBC and AMC miniseries, including The Night Manager and The Little Drummer Girl. Through his production company, The Ink Factory, which he co-founded with his brother Stephen Cornwell, he has been instrumental in bringing complex, literary thrillers to international audiences.

Early life and education

He was born in London to David Cornwell, the renowned author who wrote under the pen name John le Carré, and his first wife, Alison Sharp. Growing up in a family deeply immersed in the world of espionage and literature, he was educated at Winchester College before attending University College, Oxford, where he studied English literature. His academic background provided a strong foundation for his later career in adapting narrative fiction for the screen, and he subsequently earned a master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Career

His early career involved work in investment banking at Morgan Stanley in London and Los Angeles, before he transitioned into the entertainment industry. In 2010, he co-founded the production company The Ink Factory with his brother, Stephen Cornwell, with a mission to develop and produce adaptations of John le Carré's works and other ambitious projects. The company's first major success was the critically acclaimed BBC One and AMC series The Night Manager, for which he served as an executive producer; the show won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. He later executive produced the follow-up series The Little Drummer Girl, directed by Park Chan-wook and starring Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgård. Beyond le Carré adaptations, his work with The Ink Factory has included producing films such as A Most Wanted Man, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, and the Academy Award-nominated animated feature The Breadwinner.

Personal life

He is married to fellow producer Michele Buck, the former president of The Ink Factory and later co-CEO of Heyday Films; the couple have two children and reside in London. He maintains a notably private life, often focusing public attention on the creative projects of The Ink Factory rather than his personal affairs. His family connections include his brothers, Stephen Cornwell and Nick Cornwell, and his half-sister, the novelist Sasha Cornwell.

Filmography

* A Most Wanted Man (2014) – Producer * The Night Manager (2016) – Executive producer * The Breadwinner (2017) – Executive producer * The Little Drummer Girl (2018) – Executive producer * The Courier (2020) – Executive producer * Slow Horses (2022–present) – Executive producer

Awards and nominations

His productions have garnered significant recognition, including Primetime Emmy wins for The Night Manager in categories such as Outstanding Limited Series. That series also won Golden Globes for Best Miniseries and for actors Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. The Breadwinner was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018. His work on Slow Horses has earned nominations from the British Academy Television Awards and the Critics' Choice Television Awards.

Category:British film producers Category:British screenwriters Category:Alumni of University College, Oxford Category:People educated at Winchester College