Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron (1941–2012) was an American writer, screenwriter, and film director whose sharp, personal voice shaped modern romantic comedy.
When Harry Met Sally...: A 1989 romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. Its conversations about friendship and romance became a defining example of Ephron’s screenwriting.
Romantic comedy: A comedy genre centered on the development and resolution of a romantic relationship. Ephron refreshed its conventions with adult characters, verbal sparring, and modern settings.
Journalism: The practice of gathering, verifying, and presenting information about current events and public life. Ephron’s reporting and editing shaped her concise prose and eye for revealing detail.
Rob Reiner: An American actor and film director who directed When Harry Met Sally... and several other films. His direction and Ephron’s screenplay jointly established the film’s conversational romantic comedy.
Women's film: A broad category of cinema concerned with women’s experiences, perspectives, and social roles. Ephron made women’s work, friendships, and private thoughts central to popular comedy.
Sleepless in Seattle: A 1993 romantic comedy written and directed by Nora Ephron. Ephron builds its romance around two people who meet only near the film’s end.
Screwball comedy: A comedy style marked by fast dialogue, social conflict, and romantic reversals. Its rapid banter and mismatched couples echo the comic structure Ephron adapted for modern audiences.
New York City: The most populous city in the United States, located at the mouth of the Hudson River. The city’s restaurants, neighborhoods, and media world recur throughout her writing and films.
Mike Nichols: An American film and theater director, comedian, and producer. He directed Silkwood and Heartburn from screenplays co-written by Ephron.
Chick lit: A popular fiction genre focused on contemporary women’s personal and romantic lives, often with humor. Ephron’s essays and novels helped establish the witty, confessional voice associated with the genre.