Nora Ephron, the American filmmaker best known for her memorable scripts for 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Sleepless in Seattle', has died aged 71. Her passing has prompted luminaries of the movie world to share their memories of the talented and witty journalist, writer and director.
Actor Tom Hanks and his with Rita Wilson - who both appeared in 'Sleepless in Seattle - recalled the times they spent with Ephron once the cameras had stopped rolling, telling E! News in a joint statement, "Nora Ephron was a journalist/artist who knew what was important to know; how things really worked, what was worthwhile, who was fascinating and why.At a dinner table and on a film set she lifted us all with wisdom and wit, mixed with love for us and love for life. Rita and I are so very sad to lose our friend who brought so much joy to all who were lucky enough to know her". Hanks went on to star in one of Ephron's later works 'You've Got Mail' - the much loved romantic comedy also featuring Meg Ryan, who often spoke of her love for working with the filmmaker. Meanwhile, Ephron's close friend Meryl Streep remembered the filmmaker's positive outlook on life, saying, "Nora just looked at every situation and cocked her head and thought, 'Hmmmm, how can I make this more fun? You could call on her for anything: doctors, restaurants, recipes, speeches or just a few jokes, and we all did it, constantly. She was an expert in all the departments of living well".
Carrie Fisher, Billy Crystal and Nicole Kidman are just a few of the other stars who have been paying tribute to one of the most respected individuals in the movie business.