Editing Nora Ephron (section)

=== 1980–1998: Romantic comedy stardom ===
In 1983, Ephron co-scripted the film ''Silkwood'' with [[Alice Arlen]]. The film, directed by [[Mike Nichols]], starred [[Meryl Streep]] as [[Karen Silkwood]], a whistleblower at the Kerr McGee Cimarron nuclear facility who dies under suspicious circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/58079|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|language=en|access-date=February 12, 2018}}</ref> Ephron and Arlen were nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 1984 for ''[[Silkwood]].''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive|date=April 1, 1984|work=Boxoffice}}</ref>

Ephron's novel ''[[Heartburn (novel)|Heartburn]]'' was published in 1983.<ref name=":0" /> The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of her marriage with Carl Bernstein.<ref name=":0" /> The film adaptation was released in 1986, directed by Mike Nichols starring Meryl Streep and [[Jack Nicholson]]. Ephron adapted her own novel into the screenplay for the film.<ref name=":0" /> In the film, Ephron's fictionalized portrayal of herself, played by Streep, is a pregnant food writer who learns about her husband's affair.

In 1986, Ephron wrote the script for the romantic comedy ''[[When Harry Met Sally...]]''. Released in 1989, the film was directed by [[Rob Reiner]], and starred [[Billy Crystal]] and [[Meg Ryan]]. The film depicted the decade-long friendship between Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) as they navigate their own romantic relationships. Ephron claimed that she wrote this screenplay with Reiner in mind as the character of Harry, and herself as the character of Sally.<ref name=":0" /> The film has become iconic in the romantic comedy genre, most notably for the scene in which Sally pretends to have an orgasm in the middle of [[Katz's Delicatessen|Katz's Deli]] during lunch. Ephron said she wrote the part of Sally simulating an orgasm into the script per Ryan's suggestions. Additionally, the comment "I'll have what she's having" said by a deli patron (played by Rob Reiner's real-life mother [[Estelle Reiner]]) watching the scene unfold nearby, was an idea from Billy Crystal.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The Last Interview and Other Conversations|last=Ephron|first=Nora|publisher=Melville House Publishing|year=2015|isbn=978-1-61219-524-7|location=Brooklyn, New York}}</ref> Ephron's script was nominated for the 1990 Oscar in Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.<ref name=":1" />

Ephron's directorial debut was the film ''[[This Is My Life (1992 film)|This Is My Life]]'' (1992). Ephron and her sister [[Delia Ephron]] wrote the script based on [[Meg Wolitzer]]'s novel ''This is Your Life.''<ref name=":0" /> The film is about a woman who decides to pursue a career in stand-up comedy after inheriting a substantial sum of money from a relative.<ref name=":0" /> In a conversation released by [[Criterion Collection|Criterion Channel]] between [[Lena Dunham]], and Ephron, she stated "That movie I made completely for [[Woody Allen]]." She later stated in the conversation that he saw it and liked it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.criterionchannel.com/videos/nora-ephron-and-lena-dunham|title=Nora Ephron and Lena Dunham|website=Criterion Channel|access-date=March 21, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321220504/https://www.criterionchannel.com/videos/nora-ephron-and-lena-dunham|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1993, Ephron directed and wrote the script for the romantic comedy ''[[Sleepless in Seattle]]''. The film stars [[Tom Hanks]] as Sam Baldwin, a recently widowed father whose son calls into a Chicago-based radio talk show in an attempt to find his father a new partner. After hearing this call, Baltimore resident Annie Reed, played by Meg Ryan, becomes infatuated with Sam, and sets up a rendezvous for the two to meet in New York City. The film received positive reviews with Michael Wilmington of ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' describing it as a "real charmer ... a romantic comedy about an ultimate long-distance relationship. Emphasize 'romantic.' Emphasize 'comedy.' It delivers both", adding that it "almost makes us forget our modern-day cynicism".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-25-ca-7056-story.html|title= ‘Sleepless’: An Affair to Remember : Movie review: Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks shine in Nora Ephron’s romantic comedy that almost makes us forget our modern-day cynicism.|website= Los Angeles Times|accessdate= September 25, 2023}}</ref> The film was a box office success becoming [[1993 in film#Highest-grossing films|one of the highest-grossing films of 1993]]. Ephron was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay]] losing to [[Jane Campion]] for ''[[The Piano]]'' (1993).

In 1994, Nora Ephron was awarded the [[Women in Film Los Angeles|Women in Film]] [[Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards#THE CRYSTAL AWARD|Crystal Award]].<ref name="WIF">{{cite web|url=http://wif.org/past-recipients|title=Past Recipients: Crystal Award|work=Women in Film|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630083646/http://www.wif.org/past-recipients|archive-date=June 30, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=May 10, 2011}}</ref> That year, she directed the dark Christmas comedy ''[[Mixed Nuts]]'' (1994) which starred [[Steve Martin]], [[Madeline Kahn]], [[Rita Wilson]], [[Rob Reiner]] and [[Adam Sandler]]. The film was based on the French comedy ''[[Le Père Noël est une ordure]]'' (1979). She co-wrote the screenplay with her sister [[Delia Ephron]]. The film received mixed reviews and was a box office flop. She then directed the comedy fantasy film ''[[Michael (1996 film)|Michael]]'' (1996) starring [[John Travolta]], [[Andie MacDowell]] and [[William Hurt]]. The film received mixed reviews but was a box office success. David Ansen of ''[[Newsweek]]'' praised the film as being "charming...quirky...[and] a Christmas stocking stuffer".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.newsweek.com/aliens-angels-and-artiness-175446|title= Aliens, Angels And Artiness|website= Newsweek|accessdate= September 25, 2023}}</ref>

In 1998, Nora Ephron directed the film ''[[You've Got Mail]]'', which she co-wrote with her sister Delia Ephron. The story is a loose adaptation of the [[Ernst Lubitsch]] film from 1940 ''[[The Shop Around the Corner]].''<ref name=":0" /> ''You've Got Mail'' stars Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly, an owner of a small, independent children's bookstore in New York City. Her quiet life is then threatened by Fox Books, a [[Barnes & Noble]]-esque book selling chain, which opens near her shop. Fox Books is run by Joe Fox, played by Tom Hanks. Joe and Kathleen navigate a tumultuous business rivalry, while unknowingly forming an intimate connection with each other via email.