Filmography/Reviews | Recommendations | Biography

Rachel Portman with her Oscar

"Most of the films I've worked on have been independent in nature rather than huge box-office successes. I've really made my career out of doing projects I love."
-- Rachel Portman in 1997

After becoming the first female composer to win an Academy Award (for the 1996 film Emma), Rachel Portman has suddenly received the recognition in America that she has truly deserved. A master of the romantic comedy genre, Portman, a British musician, composes scores that are witty, clever, fully orchestral, and thematically sharp. She composes using only a piano, keeping a distance from the film music industry's move towards the complexity of electronics. Her personality is honest and down-to-earth, and she composes her scores from her home in England.

The lush orchestrations and creative use of strings in Portman's works distinguish her from other romance/comedy score composers of the 1990's. Arguably the best effort in the first decade of her career is Only You, a score with an abundance of whimsical, sweeping themes and irresistible charm. Three years later, Addicted to Love revisited many of these light-hearted, enjoyable cues. The odd score in her career came the same year as Only You; The Road to Wellville was released on an album complete with quotes about defecation. Most importantly, though, the true beauty of Rachel Portman's music is evident through the love of her profession. Because she enjoys her music and scoring career, that joy is reflected in her compositions, making almost every one of her albums an enjoyable listening experience.