Anthony McCarten is well known and much celebrated for his biography work,
having written The Theory of Everything and Darkest Hour, with his Freddie
Mercury biopic on the way. McCarten has successfully presented some of the
most iconic figures in British history, but how does a writer convey a moment in
history that wasn’t fully documented? What does a writer say, when they don’t
know what was actually said?
“Inspired speculation” that’s what McCarten advised to any budding writer in the
audience who had thoughts of biographical work. He pointed out that his films
were invention, not reportage. But McCarten didn’t suggest things should be
made up,
“History demands accuracy,” McCarten said, “or the public demand their money
back.”
His point was one of a greater truth; in order to convey what happened it was
sometimes necessary to make educated presumptions. When it came to writing
a biography, McCarten said that it was possible.