Film director Christopher Nolan and his wife, film producer Emma Thomas, are set to receive a knighthood and damehood, respectively, for their contributions to the film industry, as announced by the government.
Their recognition follows the success of their biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the ‘father of the atomic bomb,’ which dominated the awards season. At the recent Academy Awards, the film secured seven Oscars, including Best Film and Best Director.
Accepting the Best Picture prize, Thomas said: ‘I think any of us who make movies dream of this moment. But it seemed so unlikely that it would ever actually happen.’
This win marked a significant achievement for Nolan, who had previously been nominated for six Academy Awards.
Apart from ‘Oppenheimer’, Thomas has also worked on a string of other Nolan films including ‘Tenet’, ‘Dunkirk’, ‘Interstellar’, ‘The Dark Knight’, ‘The Prestige’, ‘Batman Begins’, ‘Insomnia’ and ‘Memento’.
The news of their honors came as a surprise since they are typically bestowed twice a year, during the new year and on King Charles III's birthday. These honors, often linked to notable accomplishments in sports and the arts, are formally conferred at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, usually by the U.K. monarch.
However, King Charles III is currently on medical leave undergoing cancer treatment, halting his royal duties.
Born in London to a British father and American mother, Nolan, 53, met his future wife, Thomas, while both attended University College London. They have four children and co-run Syncopy, their production company, responsible for many blockbusters.
Upon receiving the British Film Institute Fellowship earlier this year, recognizing him as ‘one of the world’s most innovative and influential film directors,’ Nolan attributed much of his success to his wife. He emphasized that he never felt isolated in his filmmaking journey as Thomas consistently shared his vision and passion for the medium.
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