50 Coolest Movie Writers

Martin Sixsmith - Philomena (2013)

The Movie Writer: Down-on-his-luck journalist Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) sets out looking for a story to make him a bit of cash, but ends up finding a whole lot more when he agrees to help Philomena Lee (Judi Dench) find the son she gave up for adoption fifty years ago.

Coolest Moment: When Sixsmith finally snaps and gives the gaggle of nuns a real dressing down as he stands up for Philomena.

Lillian Hellman - Julia (1977)

The Movie Writer: Portraying the author of the novel that the film is based on, Jane Fonda gives her best as Lillian, a playwright who helps her best mate Julia (Vanessa Redgrave) smuggle money through Nazi Germany.

Coolest Moment: It's pure literary cool to see the fictional Hellerman cosying up to the godfather of crime writing; Dashiel Hammett (Jason Robards).

Lois Lane - Man Of Steel (2013)

The Movie Writer: Everyone's favourite red-haired comic book heroine (sorry Mary-Jane... and yes, we know Lane's mainly red-haired on-screen, but we're still taking it), Lois also happens to be the resident badass of newspaper The Daily Planet.

Coolest Moment : Stalking mysterious man-hunk Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) around the country, just so that she can bag a hot story.

That's what we call job dedication.

Henry 'Hank' Chinaski - Factotum (2005)

The Movie Writer: Factotum follows Chinaski (Matt Dillon) as he tries to become a writer, but gets distracted by low-level jobs, beautiful girls and cheap booze along the way.

Coolest Moment: Hank's lazy aura oozes cool, and he's never more inappropriately chilled out than when he crawls out of bed to investigate a noise, sees a gaggle of firemen escorting residents from the smoke-filled building, and slowly clambers back into bed.

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester -The Libertine (2004)

The Movie Writer: The flamboyant and overly-dramatic Earl of Rochester gives Johnny Depp his fourth appearance in this list as he pulls on a wig and powders his nose to play the infamous Libertine.

Coolest Moment: Commissioned to write a play by King Charles II (John Malkovich) can only end badly.

Rochester presents his sovereign with Sodom, or the Quintessence of Debauchery, a play that features live sex acts (amongst other things). No one can accuse the guy of being a sell-out.

Bridget Jones - Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

The Movie Writer: The voice of her generation, Bridget's (Renee Zellweger) writing might not be up there with Tolstoy or Dickens, but the singleton and her over-sized pants united modern ladies everywhere.

Coolest Moment: Sticking it to scumbag boyfriend Daniel Cleaver with a sassy putdown and a burst of Aretha Franklin.

Chick-flick home run.

Jean-Dominque Bauby - The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (2007)

The Movie Writer: Jean-Do (Mathieu Amalric) was once the editor of fashion bible Elle , but after a sudden stroke he finds himself locked in his own body, only able to move his left eyelid.

Director Julian Schnabel tells Jean-Do's story with tact and authenticity, as we follow our protagonist as he attempts to write his first book, dictating using only his eye.

Coolest Moment : When Jean-Do connects with his ninety-two-year-old father - trapped in his own apartment thanks to his frail, aging body, the duo start to find they have imprisonment in common.

Frodo Baggins - The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)

The Movie Writer: The little hairy-toed hero that could, Frodo (Elijah Wood) spends what must be a very, very long time recording his adventures across Middle Earth in every detail.

Coolest Moment: It's tough to pick one, but when that ring FINALLY arrives at Mordor we all did a celebratory cheer.

Hard to believe his book is non-fiction, really.

William Lee - Naked Lunch (1991)

The Movie Writer: As always, David Cronenberg takes us on a surreal, psychadelic journey as secret agent and exterminator William Lee (Peter Weller) collates his reports to create a book.

Although everyone is so hopped up on insecticide, we're still not quite sure what's real...

Coolest Moment: His Clark Nova typewriter transforms into a ginormous talking insect who starts offering career advice.

We've all been there after too many late deadlines.

Oscar Madison - The Odd Couple (1968)

The Movie Writer: It's a comedy double-whammy as stuffy Felix (Jack Lemmon) collides with brass, slovenly sportswriter Oscar (Walter Matthau) in this laugh-out-loud classic.

Coolest Moment: "Look at this. You're the only man in the world with clenched hair."