Susan Seidelman

Susan Seidelman
A candid shot of Susan Seidelman holding a lifetime achievement award from Mystic Film Festival
Seidelman at Mystic Film Festival, 2021
Born (1952-12-11) December 11, 1952 (age 71)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Director, producer, writer
Years active1982–present
Notable workSmithereens, Desperately Seeking Susan, Making Mr. Right, Cookie, She-Devil, Gaudi Afternoon, Musical Chairs
PartnerJonathan Brett

Susan Seidelman (born December 11, 1952) is an American film director, producer, and writer.[1][2][3] She is known for mixing comedy with drama and blending genres in her feature-film work. She is also notable for her art direction and pop-cultural references throughout her films, with a focus on women protagonists, particularly outsiders.

She first came to notice with Smithereens (1982), the earliest American independent feature to be screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Her next feature, Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), co-starred Madonna in her first film, and was named as one of 100 greatest films directed by women by the BBC; it resulted in a Cesar Award nomination.[4] She-Devil (1989) co-starred Meryl Streep in her first starring comedic film role, and Roseanne Barr in her first feature-film role.[5]

Seidelman also worked in television, directing first-season episodes of Sex and the City, including the pilot.[6] She directed productions for Showtime, Comedy Central and PBS.

Seidelman's memoir Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir about Movies, Mothers and Material Girls was published in 2024.[7]

  1. ^ "Susan Seidelman". TVGuide.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Academy Awards Database Search | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences". awardsdatabase.oscars.org. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Recherche Susan, désespérément". Académie des César (in French). Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  4. ^ BBC - Culture - The 100 greatest films directed by women
  5. ^ Ebert, Roger. (December 8, 1989) "She-Devil," RogerEbert.com. Retrieved on July 14, 2016.
  6. ^ Gaita, Paul. Susan Seidelman Biography, Hollywood.com. Retrieved on October 12, 2015.
  7. ^ Seidelman, Susan (2024). Desperately Seeking Something, pgs. 200, 220, 246-249, 313, 314, 322, 338. St. Martin's Press, New York. ISBN 9781250328212.