Mary Agnes Donoghue

Mary Agnes Donoghue (26 March 1943 in Queens) is an American screenwriter and director. Following early jobs as a secretary and short story writer, Donoghue's first writing credit was the 1984 film The Buddy System. She went on to pen the screenplays for Beaches and Paradise (1991), which was also her directorial debut. Donoghue co-wrote and co-produced Deceived (1991) and two years later, her first play, Me and Mamie O'Rourke, made its debut at the Strand Theatre in London. In the 2000s, Donoghue wrote the screenplay for White Oleander (2002) and co-wrote Veronica Guerin (2003) with Carol Doyle. In 2013, Donoghue wrote and directed Jenny's Wedding.

Early and personal life Donoghue was born in Queens, New York City. Before becoming a screenwriter, she worked various secretarial jobs. Donoghue was also a short story writer and poet. Donoghue lived with her partner, writer and journalist Chris Robbins for 19 years, before marrying him in 1996. Robbins died on December 24, 2012, from pancreatic cancer.

Career Donoghue's first writing credit was the 1984 romantic comedy drama The Buddy System, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Susan Sarandon. During filming, the director Garry Marshall asked Donoghue to add "a couple more sugars" to the script. Donoghue said she learned that directing was not as easy as she thought it would be. Donoghue described how the film came to her; "You're sitting there at night and look over at your husband or your wife and think: Who is this person? I was fascinated by the idea of having a middle-class safe existence, predictable; and then certain events take place that let you know that you know nothing about your own life and the people in it." In the 2000s, Donoghue wrote the screenplay for White Oleander (2002). Producer John Wells enlisted Donoghue to adapt White Oleander from the novel of the same name by Janet Fitch. Wells wanted the story to be presented on-screen as fully as possible. Donoghue also co-wrote Veronica Guerin (2003) with Carol Doyle. The biographical film focuses on the life of Irish journalist Veronica Guerin, who was murdered in 1996. Donoghue called the film "a story about personal courage." Production wrapped in November 2013, but a crowd funding campaign was launched in February 2014 to help raise post-production finishing money.

Filmography The Buddy System (1984) Beaches (1988) Paradise (1991) – Also director Deceived (1991) – Co-written with Derek Saunders and co-produced White Oleander (2002) Veronica Guerin (2003) – Co-written with Carol Doyle Jenny's Wedding (2015) – Also director and producer