Rachel Portman was born on December 11, 1960 in Haslemere, Surrey, England as Rachel M. Portman. She is known for her work on Chocolat (2000), The Cider House Rules (1999) and One Day (2011). She has been married to Uberto Pasolini since 1995. They have three children.
Her film scores, usually dominant in strings and wind instruments, often have a lilting, almost magical quality to them. This style is most prominent in the films, Used People (1992), Emma (1996), Benny & Joon (1993) & Chocolat (2000).
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Fact
1
Has three daughters with her husband Uberto Pasolini - Anna Pasolini (b.1995), Giulia Pasolini (b.1998) and Niky Pasolini.
2
She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to the film industry.
3
Rachel Portman has composed an opera, "The Little Prince", based on the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry story. The world premier is being given by Houston Grand Opera starting 31 May 2003.
4
Chooses not to conduct her music.
5
Composed the music to a successful student film, Privileged (1982), which starred fellow Oxford student Hugh Grant.
6
Started composing on the piano at age 13.
7
First female composer to win an Oscar.
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Dog's Purpose
2017
completed
American Selfies
pre-production
Their Finest
2016
Race
2016/I
Despite the Falling Snow
2016
Bessie
2015
TV Movie
Dolphin Tale 2
2014
The Right Kind of Wrong
2013
Belle
2013
Still Life
2013/I
Paradise
2013/I
Private Peaceful
2012
Bel Ami
2012
The Vow
2012
One Day
2011
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
2011
His Way
2011
TV Movie documentary
Über die Anden bis ans Ende der Welt
2010
TV Movie documentary
Never Let Me Go
2010
National Theatre Live: London Assurance
2010
Grey Gardens
2009
TV Movie
The Duchess
2008
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
2008
Infamous
2006
The Lake House
2006
music by
It's a Happy Movie: The Children's Making-of
2006
Video documentary short
Twist by Polanski
2006
Video documentary short
Oliver Twist
2005
Define Normal
2005
TV Series documentary short
Because of Winn-Dixie
2005
The Manchurian Candidate
2004
Lard
2004
Short
Mona Lisa Smile
2003
The Human Stain
2003
The Truth About 'The Truth About Charlie'
2003
Video documentary short
Nicholas Nickleby
2002
The Truth About Charlie
2002
Hart's War
2002
The Emperor's New Clothes
2001
Chocolat
2000
The Legend of Bagger Vance
2000
The Closer You Get
2000
The Cider House Rules
1999
Ratcatcher
1999
The Other Sister
1999
Beloved
1998
Home Fries
1998
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
1997
Video
Addicted to Love
1997
Marvin's Room
1996
The Adventures of Pinocchio
1996
Emma
1996
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
1995
Palookaville
1995
A Pyromaniac's Love Story
1995
Smoke
1995
The Road to Wellville
1994
Only You
1994
War of the Buttons
1994
Great Moments in Aviation
1994
Sirens
1993
The Joy Luck Club
1993
Friends
1993
Benny & Joon
1993
Ethan Frome
1993
Used People
1992
Mr. Wakefield's Crusade
1992
TV Series
Rebecca's Daughters
1992
Elizabeth R
1992
TV Movie documentary
Screen Two
1990-1992
TV Series 2 episodes
The Cloning of Joanna May
1992
TV Movie
Where Angels Fear to Tread
1991
The Storyteller: Greek Myths
1991
TV Mini-Series 4 episodes
The Widowmaker
1990
TV Movie
Life Is Sweet
1990
Screenplay
1987-1990
TV Series 3 episodes
Shoot to Kill
1990
TV Movie
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
1990
TV Mini-Series 3 episodes
Living with Dinosaurs
1989
TV Movie
Precious Bane
1989
TV Movie
The Woman in Black
1989
TV Movie
Nice Work
1989
TV Mini-Series 4 episodes
The Jim Henson Hour
1989
TV Series 2 episodes
Wonderworks: Young Charlie Chaplin
1989
TV Series
The Short & Curlies
1988
TV Short
The Storyteller
1987-1988
TV Series 9 episodes
90 Degrees South
1987
Documentary
The Falklands War: The Untold Story
1987
TV Movie documentary
1914 All Out
1987
TV Movie
A Little Princess
1986
TV Mini-Series
Good as Gold
1986
TV Movie
Last Day of Summer
1984
TV Movie
Four Days in July
1984
TV Movie
Sharma and Beyond
1984
TV Movie
Reflections
1984
Experience Preferred... But Not Essential
1982
Privileged
1982
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Joy Luck Club
1993
orchestrator
Benny & Joon
1993
orchestrator
Used People
1992
orchestrator
Where Angels Fear to Tread
1991
orchestrator
Screen Two
1990
TV Series musician - 1 episode
Privileged
1982
musical director
Bessie
2015
TV Movie orchestrator
Girl Rising
2013
Documentary music: Ethiopia and interlinking
One Day
2011
arranger: "Sparkling Day" / orchestrator
Never Let Me Go
2010
orchestrator
The Duchess
2008
orchestrator / score producer
Miss Potter
2006
composer: additional music / orchestrator
Infamous
2006
orchestrator
Oliver Twist
2005
orchestrator / score producer
Because of Winn-Dixie
2005
orchestrator
Great Performances
TV Series music by - 1 episode, 2004 musical director - 1 episode, 2004
The Manchurian Candidate
2004
orchestrator
Cantando dietro i paraventi
2003
music advisor
The Human Stain
2003
orchestrator
Nicholas Nickleby
2002
music producer
The Truth About Charlie
2002
orchestrator / score producer
The Emperor's New Clothes
2001
orchestrator
Chocolat
2000
orchestrator / score producer
The Legend of Bagger Vance
2000
orchestrator
The Cider House Rules
1999
orchestrator / score producer
Ratcatcher
1999
orchestrator
The Other Sister
1999
orchestrator
Beloved
1998
orchestrator
Home Fries
1998
orchestrator
Addicted to Love
1997
orchestrator
Marvin's Room
1996
orchestrator
Emma
1996
orchestrator
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
1995
orchestrator
Palookaville
1995
orchestrator
Smoke
1995
orchestrator
The Road to Wellville
1994
orchestrator
Only You
1994
orchestrator
War of the Buttons
1994
orchestrator - uncredited
Sirens
1993
orchestrator
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Reel Iconic
2015
TV Mini-Series 1 episode
Saturday
2013/I
Short performer: "Story of Grandmere" / writer: "Story of Grandmere"
I Love You, Man
2009
performer: "Score from 'Chocolat'" / writer: "Score from 'Chocolat'"
Lost in Austen: Behind the Scenes
2008
TV Movie documentary "Harriet's Portrait"
The Real Jane Austen
2002
TV Movie documentary "Sewing and Archery", "Harriet's Portrait", "Celery Root", "Frank Churchill Arrives"
Video writer: "Stories", "As Long As There's Christmas", "Don't Fall in Love", "As Long As There's Christmas Reprise", "A Cut Above the Rest", "As Long As There's Christmas End Title"