Emma Jensen graduated from the Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Film and Television Production, beginning her career in London in 2000 as an assistant in the production department of FilmFour. Emma returned to Australia and was a Development Executive for Working Title Australia and Mushroom Pictures, segueing into screenwriting in 2011 while living in Los Angeles.
Emma wrote the original feature film screenplay MARY SHELLEY, inspired by the true story of Mary Shelley and her journey to write “Frankenstein”. Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, produced by Gidden Media and Parallel Films, and starring Elle Fanning, Douglas Booth, Bel Powley, Tom Sturridge, Ben Hardy, Maisie Williams and Stephen Dillaine, MARY SHELLEY premiered in the Gala Presentation section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and was released worldwide in 2018. The New York Times declared MARY SHELLEY, “a rarity, a literary biopic with an argument” and Variety described it as, “suffused with righteous feminist fire”.
Emma’s next screenplay I AM WOMAN, based on the life of singer and feminist icon Helen Reddy, was directed by Unjoo Moon, produced by Rosemary Blight of Goalpost Pictures, and starred Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Evan Peters and Danielle McDonald. I AM WOMAN premiered as the Opening Night of Special Presentations at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and was nominated for 7 AACTA Awards, including Best Film.
Emma is currently developing a television series adaptation of a memoir set in the UK with a true crime backdrop.
Emma is one of the original members of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Task Force, which advocates for gender equality within the screen industry.
