Biography for
Rachel Portman More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

11 December 1960, Haslemere, Surrey, England, UK

Birth Name

Rachel M. Portman

Spouse

Uberto Pasolini

(1995 - present) 3 children

Trade Mark

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).

Trivia

First female composer to win an Oscar.

Started composing on the piano at age 13.

Composed the music to a successful student film, Privileged (1982), which starred fellow Oxford student Hugh Grant.

Chooses not to conduct her music.

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.

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.

Has three daughters with her husband Uberto Pasolini - Anna Pasolini (b.1995), Giulia Pasolini (b.1998) and Niky Pasolini.