A short life of the author
Katherine Matilda Swinton (born 1960 in London) is a Scottish actress whose career bridges art cinema and mainstream film. She trained at Cambridge and began her screen career with Derek Jarman (Caravaggio, 1986; Edward II, 1991; Wittgenstein, 1993), establishing an association with avant-garde and politically engaged filmmaking that has defined her reputation. Her range extends from blockbusters (The Chronicles of Narnia, Doctor Strange) to art-house landmarks (Orlando, I Am Love, Only Lovers Left Alive), and she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Michael Clayton (2007).
Published Works
Swinton is not primarily a writer, but she has contributed essays and introductions to film and art publications, and has collaborated on artist’s books and exhibition catalogues. Books about her — including critical studies of her screen work and photography monographs — document one of the most visually striking and intellectually ambitious careers in contemporary cinema.
Collecting Swinton
Books about or featuring Swinton are collected within the broader market for film and art-cinema literature. Limited-edition photography books and exhibition catalogues signed by Swinton are the most sought-after items. The market is small but overlaps with collectors of artist’s books and contemporary art publications.