Laura’s screenwriting career began in 1985, writing two original telemovies for the ABC, COLD COMFORT and EVERYMAN FOR HIMSELF, both of which won Australian Writers’ Guild Awards.
In 1987 Laura wrote the original screenplay for HIGH TIDE for which she won Best Screenplay at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. She went on to adapt Janet Frame’s autobiography, AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE (1990) for director Jane Campion, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival as well as Best Screenplay at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. The screenplay was published by Century-Hutchison/Pandora.
In 1996 Laura adapted Henry James’ novel THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY (1996) for director Jane Campion. The film closed the Venice Film Festival and the screenplay was published by Penguin/Viking.
Other screenplay credits include adaptations of Elizabeth Jolley’s novel, THE WELL (1997) which screened in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival and won Best screenplay adaptation at the AFI and Australian Film Critics Circle Awards, Peter Carey’s novel OSCAR & LUCINDA, screenplay published by Faber & Faber (UK) and UQP (Australia), Frank McCourt’s novel ANGELA’S ASHES (1999), AS Byatt’s novel POSSESSION and Monica Ali’s novel BRICK LANE. Laura latest film adaptation is Dominic Smith’s novel THE LAST PAINTING OF SARA DE VOS for Aquarius Films.
In 1996 Laura was awarded the Bryon Kennedy Award for excellence and contribution to Australian cinema.
