Cynthia Mort

Cynthia Mort (born June 18, 1956) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Mort has worked primarily in television since beginning her career in 1994, writing for the sitcom Roseanne. Her notable works include the HBO series Tell Me You Love Me as a creator and executive producer, the revenge film The Brave One as a screenwriter, and the biopic Nina (2016) as a director.

Biography

Mort was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.

Career Television Mort began her career as a screenwriter in 1994. She wrote multiple episodes for the sitcom Roseanne, and was later a producer on the show. She continued in television as a writer and producer for the program Will and Grace. The series gained notoriety for including highly graphic simulated sexual sequences, to the point that audiences asked whether the actors actually engaged in sexual intercourse on camera. The series ended after one season.

Writing in film Mort, along with Roderick Taylor and Bruce A. Taylor, wrote the screenplay for the 2007 film The Brave One. The film features Jodie Foster as a woman seeking revenge on the men who killed her fiancé.

Nina, controversy, and lawsuit In 2016, Mort released her first film as a director, Nina, a biopic chronicling the life of singer Nina Simone. The film elicited a strong negative response from both critics and audiences alike as a result of Mort's choice to cast actress Zoe Saldaña in the title role, despite discrepancies between the two women's skin colours. The film and its creators were accused of perpetuating blackface by darkening Saldana's skin to play the role.

Furthermore, the film underwent another controversy in which Mort filed a lawsuit against the producers of Nina in 2014, after finding that choices made by the company compromised her long-standing artistic vision of the film. As a result, the film was not released for another two years, and while Mort has expressed her support for the project, she maintains that the final result does not properly reflect her work.

Personal life Mort is a lesbian. She was involved in a long-term relationship with actress Melanie Mayron and helped raise Mayron's children until their separation in 2008. Mort's personal life garnered attention after the release of The Brave One for her rumoured adulterous romance with actress Jodie Foster, who starred in the film. Both Foster and Mort broke up with their partners and began dating each other, but ended their relationship the following year.

Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Producer 2007 The Brave One 2016 Nina 2020 When We Kill the Creators

Television Year Title Writer Producer Notes 1994-1997 Roseanne 1998 Even the Losers Unsold pilot 2001-2002 Will & Grace 2007 Tell Me You Love Me Also creator 2011 Tilda Unsold pilot