Lynette Howell Taylor, Liverpool-born producer of A Star is Born, is in charge of the awards ceremony on Sunday night
Lynette Howell Taylor, Liverpool-born producer of A Star is Born, is in charge of the awards ceremony on Sunday night
A Liverpudlian will be at the helm of cinema’s biggest night as the Oscars is held in Hollywood. Lynette Howell Taylor, Liverpool-born producer of A Star is Born, is in charge of the awards ceremony on Sunday night (March 15).
Lynette, who attended Birkenhead Sixth Form College and LIPA, was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation behind the Oscars, in July last year. She told the Hollywood Reporter she feels “privileged and very honoured to be able to be in this position”. The elected president oversees the production of the ceremony. Lynette told the publication this year’s show is “going to feel different, a warmer sort of tone”, presented by the “joyful, celebratory” talk show host Conan O’Brien
Born in Fazakerley, Lynette lived in Crosby until she was eight, and her family moved to Prenton, Wirral. Talking to the ECHO on a visit to LIPA in 2019, Lynette said: “I had the most incredible experience at LIPA. I made lifelong friends, and learnt so much about myself, and what I wanted to do.”
Initially she wanted to be an actress, but things didn’t quite turn out. She explained: “I auditioned for the acting course at LIPA – and I didn’t get in. The head of the acting course at the time talked to the management course and said ‘we think this person would be a better fit here’.
“So I went back and had the interview, and it was honestly the best thing that ever happened. I have so much respect for actors and actresses – but I was way more suited to this.”
After graduating, Lynette moved to London where she got work experience with a film and TV agent, and with a casting agent – David Grindrod. She said: “I learned a ton about working for an agent, and about casting. But while I was doing that, I decided what I wanted to be involved with was more of the production side – putting on a show – being an agent wasn’t for me at all.
“So David ended up calling his friend who was producing a musical in London, and was looking for an assistant. He told them he had this great girl on work experience, and that he should hire me – and he did.”
Lynette worked as an assistant on the musical, which was being produced by an LA based company. She continued: “Working on the show, I was doing a lot of liaising with them back in LA, and then they offered me an unbelievable opportunity to come and work for them in LA.”
So in 2001 aged just 22, Lynette made the move to America. She said: “I remember every day just feeling so, so lucky that someone had taken a chance on me and given me the opportunity. I honestly felt that – and still feel that.”
Lynette now has more than 30 credits to her name including Half Nelson, Blue Valentine and Captain Fantastic. In 2017 she launched her own production company, 51 Entertainment.
While visiting LIPA, she said: “I was not born to a Hollywood family, far from it. I have worked since I was 12 years old. I had three jobs while I was at LIPA, all at once, including ushering at the Liverpool Empire, to make money.
“Each and every one of the students has the power to make themselves into anything they want to be. As long as they are willing to put in the time and work hard.”
