Claire Simpson is a British film editor. For her work on Oliver Stone's Platoon (1986), she won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing and received a second nomination for The Constant Gardener (2005), while her work on both films won her the BAFTA Award for Best Editing. She also worked as editor of Stone's Salvador (1986) and Wall Street (1987).
Claire Simpson - Quotes about editing
"I think that editing has...to do with architecture and, having built a house recently, I can honestly say that dealing with the plumbing can be as tantalizing as disguising the mechanics of the plot." "Cutting rooms are only dark and gloomy places if you make them so. Hard work, educated taste, sharp instincts and a flair for the absurd have been essential to my career as an editor as well as important ingredients for my life. And never underestimate the value of good luck. I know many extraordinarily talented people who have not been lucky enough to win an Academy Award. Don't get me wrong, it was remarkably validating to win. But what really counts is to face every working day with the guts to be honest both with your director and with the material you're working with. If you can't do that, don't take the job."
Filmography
As film editor
Peace on Borrowed Time (1983) (TV) C.H.U.D. (1984) Salvador (1986) Platoon (1986) Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) Wall Street (1987) Tequila Sunrise (1988) Hell High (1989) State of Grace (1990) The Mambo Kings (1992) Black Beauty (1994) The Fan (1996) Without Limits (1998) Jakob the Liar (1999) Town & Country (2001) Possession (2002) The Constant Gardener (2005) The Return (2006) Stop-Loss (2008) The Reader (2008) Nine (2009) Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) A Most Wanted Man (2014) Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) The Snowman (2017) All the Money in the World (2017) The Last Duel (2021) House of Gucci (2021) Napoleon (2023) Gladiator 2 (2024)
As assistant film editor
Caligula (1979) (uncredited) Reds (1981)
Additional editing
Black Mass (2015)
Thanks
Imagining Argentina (2003) The Tree of Life (2011)
Academy Award nominations & wins
2006 – The Constant Gardener (nominated) Best Film Editing
1987 – Platoon (won) Best Film Editing
Other awards and nominations
2006 – The Constant Gardener (nominated) ACE Eddie - Best Edited Feature Film, Dramatic 2006 – The Constant Gardener (won) BAFTA Film Award - Best Editing 2006 – The Constant Gardener (nominated) OFCS Award (Online Film Critics Society) Best Editing 1987 – Platoon (won) ACE Eddie - Best Edited Feature Film 1988 – Platoon (won) BAFTA Film Award - Best Editing
References
External links
Avid: The Constant Gardener: Cultivating a Sophisticated Drama
Best Editing BAFTA Award winners
Best Film Editing Academy Award winners
British film editors
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people) British women film editors