Jane Goldman (born 11 June 1970 in Hammersmith, west London) is an English screenwriter, television producer and writer whose work spans film adaptations, original screenplays and popular television entertainment. She is best known for adapting novels and comics for the screen and for producing high-profile British panel and comedy specials.

Career overview

Goldman began her professional life in publishing and broadcast media before moving into screenwriting and television production. Her film work often involves genre material — fantasy, comic-book adaptations and suspense — and she has established a reputation for translating literary and comic-book source material into scripts for mainstream cinema. In television she has developed and produced formats that mix comedy, panel discussion and pop-culture curiosity.

Notable works and collaborations

Over the years Goldman has written or co-written scripts for several widely released films and has worked repeatedly with directors and producers in the British and international film industries. Selected credits include:

  • Stardust — adaptation of a fantasy novel into an accessible screen adventure.
  • Kick-Ass — a comic-book adaptation that blends dark humor and action.
  • X-Men: First Class — a script that helped reboot a well-known superhero franchise.
  • The Woman in Black — a screen adaptation of a gothic ghost story released in 2012.

She has frequently collaborated with director-producers on these projects and is noted for keeping the essence of source material while shaping it for cinematic audiences. For further context on specific films and credits, see industry listings and filmographies linked from reliable film databases.

Television production and public profile

In television Goldman has produced entertainment formats that often pair comedians, celebrities and topical quiz material. She is credited as a producer on the annual comedy special The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, a programme that combines current-affairs questions with stand-up and sketch comedy. Her production work in television complements her film career and helps maintain a public profile in British media.

Personal life and background

Born and raised in west London, Goldman has remained based in the capital. She married broadcaster Jonathan Ross in 1988 and the couple live in Hampstead Garden Suburb; they have three children together. Her domestic life and media career have kept her in the public eye in the UK, where she continues to work across film and television projects.

Style, influence and distinctions

Goldman is recognised for adapting diverse source material — novels, short fiction and comics — into commercially viable screenplays that balance fidelity to originals with cinematic pacing and character focus. Her contributions have helped bring British and international genre stories to wider audiences and have influenced subsequent screenwriters working in adaptation and franchise storytelling.

For authoritative career details, production credits and interviews, consult established film and television reference sources and industry biographies. Additional information about specific works and collaborations can be found through film databases and media profiles linked here: credits, biography, and interviews and media coverage.