The Oscar-nominated filmmaker who directed Harry and Meghan's Netflix docuseries hopes viewers will approach the show with an open mind. Liz Garbus, whose features What Happened, Miss Simone? and The Farm: Angola, USA were shortlisted for Academy Awards, said it was a "privilege" to work with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The 52-year-old said the couple "bravely allowed themselves to be vulnerable" for the six-part series, volume one of which dropped on Thursday. In a Netflix article released alongside the documentary, Garbus said: "It has been a privilege to be able to work with Harry and Meghan, who bravely allowed themselves to be vulnerable by sharing their personal stories and archive.
“I hope that when Netflix viewers press play, whatever preconceptions people have, they will be open to the discovery of what we’ve shared in this documentary series. It’s an incredible love story set against the context of huge stakes and their journey is a historical event that will be examined for a long time to come.”
In the first three episodes of the highly anticipated documentary series, Harry and Meghan spoke about their experience with members of the royal family and alleged racism and harassment from the British press. They also reminisced on their early romance and the tense days before their wedding when Meghan’s father was caught staging paparazzi photographs.
Raised in New York by a civil rights lawyer father, director Garbus’ career has spanned almost 25 years, covering documentaries, true crime and high-end drama. As well as her Oscar nominated movies, her notable titles include Bobby Fischer Against The World; Love; Marilyn; and The Fourth Estate.
The co-founder of documentary production company Story Syndicate, she has also been nominated for multiple other awards, including the 2002 Sundance Film Festival documentary Grand Jury Prize, a Directors Guild Of America award and several Emmys. Garbus also directed the series four finale of dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale, in which June, played by Elisabeth Moss, orchestrated the murder of her former abuser, Commander Fred Waterford.
The Story Syndicate website describes Garbus as “one of America’s most celebrated filmmakers, renowned for her documentary work and also for her breakthrough scripted feature and television debuts”. It says: “She is known for her propulsive, socially incisive storytelling across genres.”
A second volume of the Harry and Meghan series is due to be released on December 15.
