Amanda Eliasch

Amanda Eliasch was born in 1960 in Beirut, Lebanon, where her father Anthony Cave Brown worked as a foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail, and later wrote several books on espionage and World War II. Her mother, opera singer Caroline Gilliat, left him in 1962. She is the daughter of film director Sidney Gilliat. She returned to England when she was six weeks old, and was brought up by her grandfather, film director Sidney Gilliat, who encouraged her with artistic pursuits.{{cite web|first=Nick |last=Curtis |date=31 October 2001|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/a-peep-into-amandas-life-6348532.html|title= A Peep into Amanda's life |work=London Evening Standard|access-date= 21 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://liberatum.org/features/amanda-eliasch-women-creativity|title=Amanda Eliasch - Women in Creativity - Liberatum|website=liberatum.org|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012858/http://liberatum.org/features/amanda-eliasch-women-creativity|archive-date=10 August 2017|url-status=dead}}

She is a graduate of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.{{cite journal|author=|url=http://www.alra.co.uk/images/pdf/alra-article/alra_article-issue-5.pdf|title=Graduate: Amanda Eliasch|journal=ALRA:Article|pages=6–7|issue=5|publisher=Academy of Live and Recorded Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911182150/http://www.alra.co.uk/images/pdf/alra-article/alra_article-issue-5.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2014}}

Eliasch works in art photography.{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6bfaf82e-6847-11da-bfce-0000779e2340.html#axzz3CIYQqHqz |title=Let's get this party started|work= Financial Times|date= 10 December 2005|access-date=10 September 2014|first=Nicole|last=Swengley|publisher= Pearson PLC}}[http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2003/10/19/et-revoila-les-young-british-artists_4273977_1819218.html?xtmc=amanda_eliasch&xtcr=3 'Et revoilà les Young British Artists...'], 'LE MONDE', 19 October 2003

Her first black and white photographic show was 'Three Way Mirror', held in London in 1999 at the Cork Street Gallery.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-amanda-eliasch--belinda-carlisle-1072398.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109160115/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-amanda-eliasch--belinda-carlisle-1072398.html |archive-date=2012-11-09 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=How we met: Amanda Eliasch & Belinda Carlisle|work=The Independent|date= 21 February 1999|access-date=10 September 2014|first=Anna |last=Melville}} Her photography work often consists of glossy fashion-shoot images and black and white nudes. In November 2001 she exhibited a series of photographic contact sheets in a London exhibition, at The Proud Gallery, called 'Peep'. Her early work was given a review in British Journal of Photography.{{cite journal|last=Flatt|first= Amanda|year= 1999|title=On View – The Singular Work of Amanda Eliasch Is Wowing Viewers in Central London|journal= The British Journal of Photography|number= 7212|page= 12|location=London |publisher= H. Greenwood}} Her portraits of 47 British artists [http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2003/12/05/artistes-contemporains-londres-d-amanda-eliasch-et-gemma-de-cruz_4287501_1819218.html?xtmc=amanda_eliasch&xtcr=2 'ARTISTES CONTEMPORAINS, Londres d'Amanda Eliasch et Gemma De Cruz'], 'LE MONDE', 5 December 2003 were published (with text by Gemma De Cruz) in British artists at work in 2003,{{cite book|last1=Eliasch|first1= Amanda|title=British Artists at Work|location= New York City|publisher= Assouline Publishing|year= 2003|first2= Gemma |last2=de Cruz|others= Hartenstein-Saatchi, Kay; Maloney, Martin; Sozzani, Franca |isbn= 9782843235054}} and were chosen by both Publishers Weekly and Art Monthly for their lists of seasonal highlights;{{cite journal|last1=Riippa|first1= Laurele |last2=Croog|first2=Dena |last3=Dahlin|first3=Robert |last4=Hix|first4=Charles |last5=Riippa|first5=Karole |title=Fall 2003 Hardcovers |journal=Publishers Weekly |date=11 August 2003 |volume=250 |issue=32 |page=144 |issn=0000-0019}}{{cite journal|last=Wilson|first=Andrew|title=Seasonal Reading|journal=Art Monthly|date=December 2003|volume=272|pages=38–39|issn=0142-6702}} the collection was also published in French as Artistes contemporains: Londres.{{cite book|title=Artistes contemporains: Londres|first1=Amanda |last1=Eliasch|first2= Martin |last2=Maloney|location=Paris, France|publisher= Assouline Publishing|year= 2003|language=French}} From this book Eliasch started her own collection through photographing and entertaining many artists including Tracey Emin and Polly Morgan in her St Tropez home.The Evening Standard{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/polly-morgan-death-becomes-her-6459801.html|title=Polly Morgan: death becomes her|website=standard.co.uk|date=10 April 2012|access-date=9 August 2017}} According to photographer Bob Carlos Clarke, she served ostrich eggs for breakfast.Tamara BeckwithTheTatler

Her photographs have appeared in Made by Indians (2007), a book on Indian contemporary art curated by Fabrice Bouret, and Made by Brazilians (2014), a book on Brazilian contemporary art curated by Fabrice Bouret.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSxBMwEACAAJ|first1=Fabrice |last1=Bousteau|first2=Amanda |last2=Eliasch|title=Made by Indians|year=2007|publisher=Galerie Enrico Navarra|isbn=978-2911596377}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/arts/11iht-rcabraz.1.7850347.html|title=Paris guru readies his latest 'Made by' edition|access-date=10 September 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|first= Nazanin |last=Lankarani|date= 12 October 2007}}

She has also published poetry.[https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/jul/02/this-weeks-new-theatre 'This week's new theatre'], 'THE GUARDIAN', 2 July 2011 In 2008, Chipmunka Publishing published her book of poetry, Cloak & Dagger Butterfly.{{cite web|url=http://www.british-weekly.com/?p=13339|title= Amanda Eliasch Graces the Cover of Hollywood Weekly!|work=The British Weekly |location=Santa Monica, CA|date=12 October 2013|access-date= 26 August 2014}} Based on the book and a letter she wrote to her father,{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/As-I-Like-It-Plays-Macha-Theatre-20111021|title=As I Like It Plays Macha Theatre|date=21 October 2011|website=BroadwayWorld.com|publisher=Wisdom Digital Media|access-date=4 December 2014}} a theatrical production was produced by Eliasch As I like it at London's Chelsea Theatre in July 2011;{{cite news|last=Cook|first= Mark|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/jul/02/this-weeks-new-theatre#article-body-blocks|title=This week's new theatre: 'As I like it, London'|date=2 July 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=18 September 2014}} later that year it was transferred to the Macha Theatre in Los Angeles.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/fashion/fashion-news/as-i-like-it-amanda-eliasch-play-293|title= Theatre Gets Fashionable With Amanda Eliasch Debut|magazine= Harper's Bazaar|date= 2 June 2011|access-date=10 September 2014|first=O'ar |last=Pali}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-tom-aikens-amp-amanda-eliasch-2297811.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621013936/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-tom-aikens-amp-amanda-eliasch-2297811.html |archive-date=2011-06-21 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=How We Met: Tom Aikens & Amanda Eliasch|work=The Independent|date= 19 June 2011|access-date=10 September 2014|first=Adam|last=Jacques}}

In 2010 she published Sins of a Butterfly, a poetry collection.{{cite book|url=http://www.abebooks.com/SINS-BUTTERFLY-ELIASCH-Amanda-Lux-Pharos/8224819565/bd|publisher=Lux Pharos|title=The Sins of a Butterfly|year=2011|first=Amanda |last=Eliasch}}

Culture Monster [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/01/theater-review-as-i-like-it-at-macha-theatre.html] LA Times, 2012

During the Summer of 2011 Eliasch produced the Rebel Show of James Franco at the Venice Film Festival with Liberatum{{cite web |url=http://james-franco.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=895 |title=Liberatum And Amanda Eliasch Present "Rebel" By James Franco - Finding Franco |website=james-franco.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927105800/http://james-franco.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=895 |archive-date=2011-09-27}}

Eliasch exhibited artworks in July 2011 at the Leadapron Gallery, Los Angeles. Called Peccadillos, the exhibits were neon sculptures inspired by cartoons of her committing the seven deadly sins with neon artist Michael Flechtner in Los Angeles, they were drawn by her friend Kay Saatchi.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/16/amanda-eliasch-peccadillo_n_896597.html |title=Amanda Eliasch 'Peccadilloes' Exhibition at Leadapron Gallery, Los Angeles|work=Huffington Post|date= 16 July 2011|access-date=10 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://purple.fr/diary/entry/opening-night-of-peccadilloes-by-amanda-eliasch-at-leadapron-los-angeles |title=Opening Night Of 'Peccadilloes By Amanda Eliasch' at Leadapron, Los Angeles|work=Purple|date= 18 June 2011}} The exhibition later transferred to the Doyle Devere Gallery in Notting Hill Gate, London.{{cite web|url=http://squishypaw.wordpress.com/2011/09/|title='Peccadilloes' by Amanda Eliasch at the Doyle Devere Gallery, 3rd November 2011|access-date=10 September 2014|date= 30 September 2011|publisher=squishypaw.wordpress.com}}

The same year, Eliasch worked as a film director and writer, making a "jarringly frank" documentary drama The Gun, the Cake and the Butterfly, which contained the line: "When a woman confronts her loneliness she is free."{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/amanda-eliasch-the-gun-the-cake-and-the-butterfly|title=An Artist Reveals Her Many Inner Lives in 'The Gun, The Cake and the Butterfly' (VIDEO)|access-date=10 September 2014|date=21 May 2014|first=Ryan|last=Lattanzio|publisher=Indiewire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216053313/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/amanda-eliasch-the-gun-the-cake-and-the-butterfly|archive-date=16 February 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} It was based on her book and the theatrical production. In 2013 it won the Lena Wertmuller prize for best Documentary Drama and was screened at the Ischia International Film and Music Festival{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/italys-ischia-fest-honor-winx-525590|title=Italy's Ischia Fest to Honor 'Winx Club' Creator Straffi, Unveils First Films|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date= 20 May 2013|first= Eric J|last= Lyman|access-date=10 September 2014}} and the Bel Air Film Festival, Los Angeles, where she won Best Edit and best documentary made by a woman. The film has reportedly been called 'shockingly frank' by critics.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/fashion/People/article1285306.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921114000/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/fashion/People/article1285306.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2013|title= It's a wonderful life|work=The Sunday Times|date= 14 July 2013|access-date=10 September 2014|first=Katie |last=Glass }}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/10585354/Nigella-Lawson-kept-a-chaotic-house-for-Charles-Saatchi.html |title=Nigella Lawson kept a 'chaotic' house for Charles Saatchi|work=The Telegraph|date= 21 January 2014|first=Tim |last=Walker|access-date=10 September 2014}}

In 2014 she was producer of The Vortex by Noël Coward at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.british-weekly.com/?p=16182|title=The British Weekly – The Vortex: back by popular demand!|website=www.british-weekly.com|date=14 November 2014 |access-date=9 August 2017}}{{Cite web |url=http://reviewplays.com/11-14-jjr-vortex-.htm |title=11-14-JJR-Vortex- |access-date=23 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129094003/http://reviewplays.com/11-14-jjr-vortex-.htm |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Entertainment_109/the-vortex-at-the-matrix-theatre-review-deliciously-delightful-decadence.php|title="The Vortex" at The Matrix Theatre Review – Deliciously Delightful Decadence - Splash Magazines - Los Angeles|website=Splash Magazines - Los Angeles|access-date=9 August 2017}}

She confronted her doppelganger, who was using her name to gatecrash parties.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/londoners-diary-tilling-the-soil-in-the-guardian-s-rose-garden-a3209141.html|title=Londoner's Diary: Tilling the soil in the Guardian's rose garden|website=Evening Standard|date=22 March 2016|language=en-GB|access-date=12 April 2016}}[http://liberatum.org/features/amanda-eliasch-women-creativity 'LIBERATUM WOMEN IN CREATIVITY'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602062603/http://liberatum.org/features/amanda-eliasch-women-creativity |date=2 June 2016 }}, 'LIBERATUM' 2016 Her work appeared in Desire Magazine{{cite web|url=https://www.laboratoryartscollective.com/desiremagazine|title=DESIRE|website=The Laboratory Arts Collective|access-date=9 August 2017}} The Laboratory Collective.

Since 2008, Eliasch has also worked as the fashion editor for Genlux Magazine in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.genlux.com/amanda-eliasch/|title=fashion editor's notes|website=GENLUX|access-date=9 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trendboardnyc.com/fashion-film-the-wonderful-world-of-amanda-eliasch-one-on-one-with-the-noted-industry-personality/|title=Fashion, Film & the Wonderful World of Amanda Eliasch - One-on-One with the Noted Industry Personality - trendboardnyc|date=18 June 2014|website=trendboardnyc.com|access-date=9 August 2017}}

Eliasch was presented with the "Most Imaginative Documentary Film Award" at the 11th annual Ischia Global Film & Music Festival in June 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.ischiaglobal.com/news/377-the-amazing-british-artist-amanda-eliasch-will-join-ischia-global-2013-with-the-european-premiere-of-her-recent-work-qthe-gun-the-cake-and-the-butterflyq-.html |title=British artist Amanda Eliasch presented her film 'The Gun, The Cake and the Butterfly' at the 11th Annual Ischia Global Fest, where she was honoured with 'The Most Imaginative Documentary Film Award' |publisher=IschiaGlobal.com|date= 10 June 2013|access-date=21 August 2014}} It also received an honorary award for the Most Imaginative Documentary at the New York City International Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.nyciff.com/2013-winners |title=2013 Winners|publisher= New York City International Film Festival|access-date=10 September 2014}} She was named Best Female Director at the Burbank Film Festival and won the most exceptional documentary award at the La Jolla Indie Fest.{{cite journal|title=Amanda Eliasch: It's a wonderful life|journal= Hollywood Weekly |pages= 6–11|date= October 2013}}

In 2017, she said that Enoch Powell had been "sadly proven right" in his "Rivers of Blood" speech.{{cite web | last=Casalicchio | first=Emilio | title=Nigel Farage attended dinner with freedom of speech advocates | website=POLITICO | date=27 June 2019 | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farage-attended-dinner-with-right-wing-conspiracists/ | access-date=16 October 2024}}{{cite web | last=Wickham | first=Alex | last2=Stefano | first2=Mark Di | title=New Video Shows Nigel Farage Courting Figures At A Private Tea Party Hosted At The Ritz | website=BuzzFeed | date=21 May 2019 | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/farage-ritz-tea-party | access-date=16 October 2024}} In 2019, she attended a fundraising dinner for the right-wing group Turning Point UK.

Eliasch was married to Johan Eliasch, chairman of Head, from 1988 to 2006; the couple has two sons.vogueitalia{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.it/en/uomo-vogue/people-stars/2013/03/charles-eliasch|title=Charles Eliasch - Vogue.it|website=vogue.it|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913185404/https://www.vogue.it/en/uomo-vogue/people-stars/2013/03/charles-eliasch|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/08/homes|title=All Tamara's parties|last=Lutyens|first=Dominic|date=7 February 2009|publisher=Guardian Media Group|work=The Observer|access-date=10 September 2014}} Eliasch has publicly defended her friend Charles Saatchi during his divorce proceedings with Nigella Lawson. She has been linked romantically with Sir Tim Rice since 2007{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/conservation/8917696/Why-Jane-Rice-wants-to-save-the-red-squirrel.html|title=Why Jane Rice wants to save the red squirrel|website=telegraph.co.uk|date=27 November 2011 |access-date=9 August 2017}} and plastic surgeon Jean-Louis Sebagh which ended in 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/much-ado-about-amanda-eliasch-6411222.html |title=Much ado about Amanda Eliasch |website=standard.co.uk|date=14 June 2011 |access-date=9 August 2017}}

In 2013 she contributed to Nicky Haslam's album Midnight Matinee.{{cite web|url=http://www.music-news.com/shownews.asp?H=Nicky-Haslam-to-release-debut-album-Midnight-Matinee&nItemID=67448|title=Nicky Haslam to release debut album 'Midnight Matinee'|website=Music-News.com|access-date=9 August 2017}} That year the writer Katie Glass from the Sunday Times said she looked "like Marilyn Monroe dressed as a gothic Japanese schoolgirl".{{cite news |first=Katie |last=Glass |url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/fashion/People/article1285306.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921114000/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/fashion/People/article1285306.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 September 2013 |title=It's a wonderful life |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=14 July 2013 }}

Her current{{when|date=October 2023}} London residence and studio is in Cheyne Walk, where her art collection is on display, including pieces by Michael Ayrton and Oriel Harwood, a white elephant by Marc Quinn{{cite web|url=https://katieglass.net/2013/07/14/sperm-cakes-surgery-and-socialites/|title=Sperm-cakes, surgery and socialites – Sunday Times Style |last=00katieglass00|date=14 July 2013|website=katieglass.net|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011605/https://katieglass.net/2013/07/14/sperm-cakes-surgery-and-socialites/|archive-date=10 August 2017|url-status=dead}} and Jake and Dinos Chapman.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyvideo/10677873/Google-Glass-tour-around-Londons-sexiest-house.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307024937/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyvideo/10677873/Google-Glass-tour-around-Londons-sexiest-house.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2014 |title=Google Glass tour around London's sexiest house|work=The Telegraph|date= 11 March 2014|access-date=10 September 2014}} She divides her time between London and Los Angeles,{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/28/business/la-fi-hotprop-amanda-eliasch-20131028|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108230235/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/28/business/la-fi-hotprop-amanda-eliasch-20131028|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 November 2013|title= Amanda Eliasch lists pink-accented place in WeHo|work=Los Angeles Times|date=28 October 2013|first=Lauren|last= Beale|access-date=10 September 2014}} and also has a home in Paris.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/others/article1775253.ece|title=Four fans of boudoir style reaveal their favourite room|access-date=10 September 2014|date=12 April 2008|first=Lisa |last=Grainger|work=The Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907022131/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/others/article1775253.ece|archive-date=September 7, 2014}}

Eliasch sponsors the British Film Institute as part of the Directors Cut programme,{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/support/our-supporters/major-donors-film-forever-club-bfi-patrons|title=Major donors, Film Forever Club and BFI Patrons|website=bfi.org.uk|access-date=9 August 2017}} and The Elephant Family. In 2016 she supported The Evening Standard Film Awards for best screenplay in memory of her great grandfather George Gilliat, editor of the Evening Standard in 1930, and his son the screenwriter Sidney Gilliat.{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Norum |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/film/evening-standard-british-film-awards-the-winners-a3415651.html |title=Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Grant crowned winners |newspaper=The Evening Standard |date=8 December 2016 }}

Eliasch decided to sell some of her belongings for charity in 2020, among them some Tally Ho chairs by artist Mark Brazier-Jones.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/sex-relationships/article/tally-ho-socialite-amanda-eliasch-seeks-buyer-for-sex-chairs-never-used-xlbxgnljc|title=Tally-ho! Socialite Amanda Eliasch seeks buyer for sex chairs, never used |first=Katie|last=Glass|date=3 November 2023 |via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}

Eliasch appeared in "Inside Chelsea, London's wealthiest borough".{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/mhspjg/inside-chelsea-britains-wealthiest-borough/|title=Inside Chelsea: Britain's Wealthiest Borough|website=Radio Times}}

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• {{official website|http://amandaeliasch.uk}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1960s births

Category:English film directors

Category:English women photographers

Category:English socialites

Category:Artists from Beirut

Category:Alumni of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts