Shonda Rhimes is one of the most successful producers in Hollywood history. She became successful due to her exceptional abilities. Shonda knows how to create unique and exciting stories that combine drama, romance and intrigue. Her stories have kept the audience’s attention for many years. People are waiting for new episodes of various shows every day. Rhimes has also admitted that she always takes part in choosing the music for her series. Shonda Rhimes continues to influence the television industry of the 21st century, inspiring a new generation of screenwriters and producers. The producer’s success story has become an example for many that one should not rely only on talent. After all, perseverance and willingness to take risks can ultimately interest millions of viewers in different parts of the world. In May 2007, Rhimes was included in the Time 100 list as one of the people who help shape the world. In addition, learn about the history of the Kardashian family and their impact on society. Read more on los-angeles.pro.
Biography
Shonda Rhimes was born on January 13, 1970 in Chicago. The main characters of her TV series and films are women. Shonda was raised by parents who were as strong as her future heroes. Her mother was a college professor and earned a doctorate in educational administration. Her father worked as a university administrator. Later, he became a director of information technology at the University of Southern California. The family did not watch television. Her parents tried to instil a love of books in their children. After school, she received a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and continued to study screenwriting at the University of Southern California. Shonda sought work through her education. After studying, Rhimes wrote screenplays for films. She debuted as an author and producer of the film Blossoms and Veils in 1998. Her career went up every year. Over the next few years, she released the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which starred Anne Hathaway, and the film Crossroads with Britney Spears in the lead role.
The turning point for Shonda was 2005. Then, the whole world watched the medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy on TV. The characters of the series quickly became popular and it gained crazy ratings. This story turned into the longest medical series in the history of television. After the release of Grey’s Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes founded her own production company, Shondaland. The team works to entertain viewers and create exciting stories for them. In 2012, it became known about the release of another work by Shonda. This was the political thriller Scandal, where Kerry Washington played the main role. Two years later, Shonda presented the legal drama How to Get Away with Murder with Viola Davis.
Shonda Rhimes has received numerous awards for her professional work. Among them are the Golden Globe Awards, Peabody Award, Directors Guild of America Award, Writers Guild and Producers Guild of America Awards. In 2013, US President Barack Obama appointed her as a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
TV series Bridgerton and Grey’s Anatomy
The TV series Grey’s Anatomy focuses on the fictional lives of doctors who go through a difficult path from internship to work as surgeons, residents and therapists. The characters experience a lot of personal drama, maintaining a balance between personal and professional relationships. The series has received many awards, was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe Awards. In 2010, it was ranked fourth on the list of the highest-grossing TV shows with an income of $2.67 million per half hour of airtime. In 2013, Grey’s Anatomy was included in the list of the 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time according to the Entertainment Weekly. The name of the series did not come easily. Shonda Rhimes thought about such names as Doctors, Surgeons and Complications. However, the creators came up with the brilliant idea to call the series Grey’s Anatomy. This name is given to a popular medical book, a manual on anatomy, which has become a classic. In fact, the impetus for filming Grey’s Anatomy was the failure of another project. At that time, Shonda Rhimes wanted to make a film about war correspondents. However, America was at war and the show was not approved. Rhimes did not back down and transferred her idea to the world of medicine. The main goal of the producer was to show the power of women who can work and compete as equals in a team. A real hospital in Seattle was used to film some scenes of the series. The main part was filmed in a studio in Los Angeles.
Shonda Rhimes’ career continued to gain momentum every year. In 2015, her production company agreed to cooperate with the popular platform Netflix. This is how the series that conquered the whole world appeared, namely Bridgerton. It was created based on the novels by Julia Quinn. In the first month after the premiere, more than 80 million users watched it. This project became another confirmation of Rhimes’ professionalism as a producer.
This collaboration also resulted in such popular films as Inventing Anna with Julia Garner in the lead role and Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, which tells the story of the life of the legendary choreographer and director Debbie Allen. In 2022, Shonda Rhimes’ nine-part series Inventing Anna about the fraudster Anna Delvey, also known as Anna Sorokin, was released on the Netflix platform. Under the assumed name of a German heiress, Sorokin managed to deceive the staff of banks, hotels and her entire entourage. The author of the series Shonda Rhimes and actress Julia Garner embodied Anna’s story on the screen, captivating the viewer with a dynamic plot, dangerous twists, luxurious New York landscapes and the courage of the main character. According to the audience, this is the bingeable series.
Producer’s book
In 2015, Shonda Rhimes released her first book, which immediately became a New York Times bestseller. The director admitted that she often refused various opportunities, so she decided to say ‘yes’ to all life’s challenges for one year. In her book Year of Yes, she sincerely talks about her path to overcoming fear, improving self-esteem, finding a balance between work and family and accepting herself. This is a story about how openness to life helps to reveal inner strength, accept self-love and start living life to the fullest. Shonda frankly talked about how she struggled with excess weight. During this year of experiment, she managed to lose more than 50 kilograms. She also learned to love and understand herself. Despite her crazy popularity, Rhimes does not like publicity.
Personal life
Shonda Rhimes not only creates successful television shows. Despite her busy schedule, the director was able to raise three daughters on her own. The turning point in her life was the date of the terrorist attack in the United States – September 11, 2001. Then, Rhimes thought about adopting a child. This idea became reality. A few months later, Shonda became a mother to Harper Lee. In 2012, the producer adopted a second daughter, Emerson Pearl. In an interview, the screenwriter admitted that the girl helped her return the creative spark after burnout. A year later, Rhimes became a mother to Beckett thanks to surrogate motherhood.
Shonda Rhimes has never been married. She has devoted her free time to raising her daughters.