Philippa Boyens

Who is Philippa Boyens?

Philippa Boyens, MNZM, is a New Zealand screenwriter and producer who co-wrote the screenplay for Peter Jackson's films The Lord of the Rings series, King Kong, The Lovely Bones, and the three-part film The Hobbit, all with Jackson and Fran Walsh.

She, Jackson and Walsh won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004. She was also co-producer in every one of Jackson's film since King Kong, and in District 9.

Prior to screenwriting, Boyens worked in theater as a playwright, teacher, producer and editor. She also spent time as director of the New Zealand Writers Guild.

Boyens was a part-time student at the University of Auckland, graduating with a BA in English and History in 1994. She received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the university in 2006.

She has three children, daughter Phoebe Gittins, and sons Calum Gittins and Isaac Miller. Calum starred as Haleth in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.