Rachel Portman

Won 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 19 nominations. See more awards »

Known For

Never Let Me Go Composer

(2010)

Chocolat Composer

(2000)

Emma Composer

(1996)

The Legend of Bagger Vance Composer

(2000)

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Filmography

Jump to: Composer | Music department | Soundtrack | Thanks | Self

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Composer (98 credits)

American Selfies (pre-production)

2018 See the Silence (Short) (composer) (post-production)

2017 A Dog's Purpose (music by)

2016 Remembering Christmas (Short) ("With Love")

2016 Their Finest

2016/I Race

2016 Despite the Falling Snow

2015 Bessie (TV Movie)

2014 Dolphin Tale 2

2013 The Right Kind of Wrong

2013 Belle

2013/I Still Life

2013/I Paradise

2012 Private Peaceful

2012 Bel Ami

2012 The Vow

2011 One Day

2011 Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

2011 His Way (TV Movie documentary)

2010 Über die Anden bis ans Ende der Welt (TV Movie documentary)

2010 Never Let Me Go

2010 National Theatre Live: London Assurance

2009 Grey Gardens (TV Movie)

2008 The Duchess

2008 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

2006 Infamous

2006 The Lake House (music by)

2006 It's a Happy Movie: The Children's Making-of (Video documentary short)

2006 Twist by Polanski (Video documentary short)

2005 Oliver Twist

2005 Define Normal (TV Series documentary short)

2005 Because of Winn-Dixie

2004 Lard (Short)

2004 The Manchurian Candidate

2003 Mona Lisa Smile

2003 The Human Stain

2003 The Truth About 'The Truth About Charlie' (Video documentary short)

2002 Nicholas Nickleby

2002 The Truth About Charlie

2002 Hart's War

2001 The Emperor's New Clothes

2000 Chocolat

2000 The Legend of Bagger Vance

2000 The Closer You Get

1999 The Cider House Rules

1999 Ratcatcher

1999 The Other Sister

1998 Beloved

1998 Home Fries

1997 Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (Video)

1997 Addicted to Love

1996 Marvin's Room

1996 The Adventures of Pinocchio

1996 Emma

1995 To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar

1995 Palookaville

1995 A Pyromaniac's Love Story

1995 Smoke

1994 The Road to Wellville

1994 Only You

1994 War of the Buttons

1994 Great Moments in Aviation

1994 Sirens

1993 The Joy Luck Club

1993 Friends

1993 Benny & Joon

1993 Ethan Frome

1992 Used People

1992 Mr. Wakefield's Crusade (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Episode #1.3 (1992)

- Episode #1.2 (1992)

- Episode #1.1 (1992)

1992 Rebecca's Daughters

1992 Elizabeth R (TV Movie documentary)

1990-1992 Screen Two (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- Flea Bites (1992)

- Sometime in August (1990)

1992 The Cloning of Joanna May (TV Mini-Series)

1991 Where Angels Fear to Tread

1991 The Storyteller: Greek Myths (TV Mini-Series) (4 episodes)

- Theseus & the Minotaur (1991)

- Daedalus & Icarus (1991)

- Perseus & the Gorgon (1991)

- Orpheus & Eurydice (1991)

1990 The Widowmaker (TV Movie)

1989-1990 The Jim Henson Hour (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Living with Dinosaurs (1990)

- Garbage (1989)

- Monster Maker (1989)

1990 Life Is Sweet

1987-1990 Screenplay (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Antonia and Jane (1990)

- Loving Hazel (1989)

- Cariani and the Courtesans (1987)

1990 Shoot to Kill (TV Movie)

1990 Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (TV Mini-Series) (3 episodes)

- Episode #1.3 (1990)

- Episode #1.2 (1990)

- Episode #1.1 (1990)

1989 Precious Bane (TV Movie)

1989 The Woman in Black (TV Movie)

1989 Nice Work (TV Mini-Series) (4 episodes)

- Episode #1.4 (1989)

- Episode #1.3 (1989)

- Episode #1.2 (1989)

- Episode #1.1 (1989)

1989 Wonderworks: Young Charlie Chaplin (TV Series)

1988 The Short & Curlies (TV Short)

1987-1988 The Storyteller (TV Series) (9 episodes)

- The True Bride (1988)

- The Heartless Giant (1988)

- Sapsorrow (1988)

- The Three Ravens (1988)

- The Soldier and Death (1988)

Show all 9 episodes

1987 90 Degrees South (Documentary)

1987 The Falklands War: The Untold Story (TV Movie documentary)

1987 1914 All Out (TV Movie)

1986 A Little Princess (TV Mini-Series)

1986 Good as Gold (TV Movie)

1984 Last Day of Summer (TV Movie)

1984 Four Days in July (TV Movie)

1984 Sharma and Beyond (TV Movie)

1984 Reflections

1982 Experience Preferred... But Not Essential

1982 Privileged

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Music department (40 credits)

2016 Their Finest (orchestrator)

2015 Bessie (TV Movie) (orchestrator)

2013 Girl Rising (Documentary) (music: Ethiopia and interlinking)

2011 One Day (arranger: "Sparkling Day") / (orchestrator)

2010 Never Let Me Go (orchestrator)

2008 The Duchess (orchestrator) / (score producer)

2006 Miss Potter (composer: additional music) / (orchestrator)

2006 Infamous (orchestrator)

2005 Oliver Twist (orchestrator) / (score producer)

2005 Because of Winn-Dixie (orchestrator)

Great Performances (TV Series) (music by - 1 episode, 2004) (musical director - 1 episode, 2004)

- The Little Prince (2004) ... (music by) / (musical director)

2004 The Manchurian Candidate (orchestrator)

2003 Cantando dietro i paraventi (music advisor)

2003 The Human Stain (orchestrator)

2002 Nicholas Nickleby (music producer)

2002 The Truth About Charlie (orchestrator) / (score producer)

2001 The Emperor's New Clothes (orchestrator)

2000 Chocolat (orchestrator) / (score producer)

2000 The Legend of Bagger Vance (orchestration)

1999 The Cider House Rules (orchestrator) / (score producer)

1999 Ratcatcher (orchestrator)

1999 The Other Sister (orchestrator)

1998 Beloved (orchestrator)

1998 Home Fries (orchestrator)

1997 Addicted to Love (orchestrator)

1996 Marvin's Room (orchestrator)

1996 Emma (orchestrator)

1995 To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (orchestrator)

1995 Palookaville (orchestrator)

1995 Smoke (orchestrator)

1994 The Road to Wellville (orchestrator)

1994 Only You (orchestrator)

1994 War of the Buttons (orchestrator - uncredited)

1994 Sirens (orchestrator)

1993 The Joy Luck Club (orchestrator)

1993 Benny & Joon (orchestrator)

1992 Used People (orchestrator)

1991 Where Angels Fear to Tread (orchestrator)

1990 Screen Two (TV Series) (musician - 1 episode)

- Sometime in August (1990) ... (musician)

1982 Privileged (musical director)

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Soundtrack (18 credits)

2016 Their Finest (performer: "Shine On Harvest Moon", "Red Sails in the Sunset", "They Can't Black Out the Moon", "Will You Go, Lassie, Go" (aka "Wild Mountain Thyme"))

2015 Reel Iconic (TV Mini-Series) (1 episode)

- Singin' Rouge! ACT 2 (2015) ... ("End Credits")

2013 What Is Cinema? (Documentary) (performer: "Life Is Sweet - End Title") / (writer: "Life Is Sweet - End Title")

2013/I Saturday (Short) (performer: "Story of Grandmere") / (writer: "Story of Grandmere")

2009 I Love You, Man (performer: "Score from 'Chocolat'") / (writer: "Score from 'Chocolat'")

2008 Lost in Austen: Behind the Scenes (TV Movie documentary) ("Harriet's Portrait")

2002 The Real Jane Austen (TV Movie documentary) ("Sewing and Archery", "Harriet's Portrait", "Celery Root", "Frank Churchill Arrives")

2002 The Truth About Charlie (writer: "Charade d'Amour")

2000 ESPN SportsCentury (TV Series documentary) (writer - 1 episode)

- Babe Ruth (2000) ... (writer: "Theme from 'The Cider House Rules'")

2000 The Closer You Get (arranger: "Black Is The Color")

1998 Beloved (lyrics: "Uhuru") / (music: "Uhuru") / (writer: "Little Rice, Little Bean", "Sethe's Lullaby")

1997 For Richer or Poorer (writer: "Tango", "Garet Kisses Hattie")

1997 Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (Video) (writer: "Stories", "As Long As There's Christmas", "Don't Fall in Love", "As Long As There's Christmas (Reprise)", "A Cut Above the Rest", "As Long As There's Christmas (End Title)", "Belle's Magical Gift", "Fife's Yuletide Theme", "The Enchanted Christmas Finale")

1996 The Adventures of Pinocchio (arranger: "All For One")

1996 Emma (arranger: "Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly")

1995 Feast of July (writer: "QUEEN'S HUSSARS", "HARVEST SUPPER", "LONGWAY SET", "HARVEST WALTZ", "CORN RIGGS", "HASTE OF WEDDING", "BOATMAN'S SONG")

1994 The Road to Wellville (writer: "Laughing Song", "The San Waltz")

1990 Life Is Sweet ("Happy Holidays")

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Thanks (2 credits)

2006 Twist by Polanski (Video documentary short) (special thanks)

2000 One Taste Is Never Enough... The Pleasures of 'Chocolat' (TV Movie documentary) (special thanks)

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Self (7 credits)

2016 Score: A Film Music Documentary (Documentary)
Herself

2007 Lights! Action! Music! (TV Movie documentary)
Herself

2006 Twist by Polanski (Video documentary short)
Herself

2001 Music Behind the Scenes (TV Mini-Series documentary)
Herself

- Love ... Herself

2000 One Taste Is Never Enough... The Pleasures of 'Chocolat' (TV Movie documentary)
Herself - Composer

2000 The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (TV Special)
Herself - Nominee

1997 The 69th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special)
Herself - Winner

Personal Details

Other Works:

She composed the original score for the musical adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's novel, "Little House on the Praire, the Musical", at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey with Melissa Gilbert as "Ma" in the cast. The new musical was adapted for the stage by Francesca Zambello (director), book by Rachel Sheinkin ... See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Pictorial | See more »

Official Sites:

The official website of the composer Rachel Portman

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Did You Know?

Trivia:

First female composer to win an Oscar. See more »

Trademark:

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).