Mimi Leder
- Producer
- Director
Multiple Emmy ® Award-winning director and producer MIMI LEDER is the visionary
storyteller behind some of the most acclaimed dramas in film and television, forging a
path for a generation of filmmakers. Owning many "firsts," Leder was the first woman
accepted into the AFI Conservatory’s Cinematography program, and per the request of
Steven Spielberg, helmed the first-ever feature film for DreamWorks SKG - the
George Clooney and Nicole Kidman-led action-drama THE PEACEMAKER. Most
notably, her film DEEP IMPACT for Paramount Pictures, was the highest-grossing film
ever made by a female director and held that record for a decade.
Born in New York City to classical pianist and Holocaust survivor, Etyl Ajzenberg, and independent filmmaker, Paul Leder, Leder began her directing career on the seminal legal drama L.A. LAW, and she quickly established herself as one of the most sought- after directors in television. Her work has received numerous industry honors and out of the ten pilots she has directed, seven have gone straight to series. ER earned Leder various accolades including two Emmy awards and four nominations, as well as three prestigious DGA nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Dramatic Series. In 2019, her film ON THE BASIS OF SEX won the first ever Women in Film Members Choice Award. She was also the recipient of the American Film Institute’s Franklin J. Schaffner Award, and in 2000, received the Women in Film Crystal distinguished Dorothy Arzner Directors Award.
In 2018, Leder’s inspiring drama, ON THE BASIS OF SEX was released by Participant Media and Focus Features. Told in the 25th anniversary year of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court appointment, the film stars Felicity Jones as Ginsburg and details her journey as a law student and young attorney as she brings a ground- breaking gender equality case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. This would ultimately forge Ginsburg’s path to the Supreme Court, overturning a century of sex discrimination laws. Premiering to critical acclaim, the film shows the resilience and tenacity of one of the most memorable women in US history, who faced discrimination and sexism. The film was awarded a Humanitas Prize for Drama Feature Film and a Women’s Image Network Award for Outstanding Film.
On the television side, in addition to her signature work on ER, Leder served as Directing Showrunner and Executive Producer on HBO’s critically acclaimed and Peabody Award-winning series THE LEFTOVERS. Other television credits include Showtime’s irreverent comedy SHAMELESS and hit broadcast series CRIME STORY, the Aaron Sorkin-political powerhouse THE WEST WING, the ground- breaking series CHINA BEACH, and HBO’s LUCK. Leder earned two Emmy ® nominations for Outstanding Directing and two for Outstanding Drama series on CHINA BEACH, and an Emmy ® nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series on THE WEST WING.
Leder has helmed and Executive Produced THE MORNING SHOW, AppleTV’s flagship series for five seasons, which has been broadly acclaimed for its unapologetic and provocative storytelling. The series continuously explores topical themes, including the #MeToo movement, racism, cancel culture, the pandemic, and provides a behind the scenes look at the ever-changing world of journalism. The first four seasons of the series were widely regarded by fans and critics alike, garnering SAG, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Emmy ® nominations - including Leder earning a directing nomination for season 1, and most recently earning her 12th Emmy ® nomination for directing the season 3 finale. Season 3 earned a coveted spot on the American Film Institute’s prestigious list of the 10 best films and television programs of the year, and it has become one of the most watched series globally on AppleTV.
Leder resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Gary Werntz. Their daughter, Hannah Leder, is an actress and an award-winning filmmaker.
Born in New York City to classical pianist and Holocaust survivor, Etyl Ajzenberg, and independent filmmaker, Paul Leder, Leder began her directing career on the seminal legal drama L.A. LAW, and she quickly established herself as one of the most sought- after directors in television. Her work has received numerous industry honors and out of the ten pilots she has directed, seven have gone straight to series. ER earned Leder various accolades including two Emmy awards and four nominations, as well as three prestigious DGA nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Dramatic Series. In 2019, her film ON THE BASIS OF SEX won the first ever Women in Film Members Choice Award. She was also the recipient of the American Film Institute’s Franklin J. Schaffner Award, and in 2000, received the Women in Film Crystal distinguished Dorothy Arzner Directors Award.
In 2018, Leder’s inspiring drama, ON THE BASIS OF SEX was released by Participant Media and Focus Features. Told in the 25th anniversary year of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court appointment, the film stars Felicity Jones as Ginsburg and details her journey as a law student and young attorney as she brings a ground- breaking gender equality case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. This would ultimately forge Ginsburg’s path to the Supreme Court, overturning a century of sex discrimination laws. Premiering to critical acclaim, the film shows the resilience and tenacity of one of the most memorable women in US history, who faced discrimination and sexism. The film was awarded a Humanitas Prize for Drama Feature Film and a Women’s Image Network Award for Outstanding Film.
On the television side, in addition to her signature work on ER, Leder served as Directing Showrunner and Executive Producer on HBO’s critically acclaimed and Peabody Award-winning series THE LEFTOVERS. Other television credits include Showtime’s irreverent comedy SHAMELESS and hit broadcast series CRIME STORY, the Aaron Sorkin-political powerhouse THE WEST WING, the ground- breaking series CHINA BEACH, and HBO’s LUCK. Leder earned two Emmy ® nominations for Outstanding Directing and two for Outstanding Drama series on CHINA BEACH, and an Emmy ® nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series on THE WEST WING.
Leder has helmed and Executive Produced THE MORNING SHOW, AppleTV’s flagship series for five seasons, which has been broadly acclaimed for its unapologetic and provocative storytelling. The series continuously explores topical themes, including the #MeToo movement, racism, cancel culture, the pandemic, and provides a behind the scenes look at the ever-changing world of journalism. The first four seasons of the series were widely regarded by fans and critics alike, garnering SAG, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Emmy ® nominations - including Leder earning a directing nomination for season 1, and most recently earning her 12th Emmy ® nomination for directing the season 3 finale. Season 3 earned a coveted spot on the American Film Institute’s prestigious list of the 10 best films and television programs of the year, and it has become one of the most watched series globally on AppleTV.
Leder resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Gary Werntz. Their daughter, Hannah Leder, is an actress and an award-winning filmmaker.
