Jane Campion Family Tree: The Story Behind The Piano

Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion, born 30 April 1954 in Wellington, New Zealand, is the New Zealand director-writer of An Angel at My Table (1990), The Piano (1993 — Cannes Palme d'Or and Academy Award Best Original Screenplay), Portrait of a Lady (1996), Holy Smoke (1999), In the Cut (2003), Bright Star (2009), Top of the Lake (2013 TV), The Power of the Dog (2021 — Academy Award Best Director — 3rd woman ever). Only female director with Cannes Palme d'Or and Best Director Oscar.

The Family's Roots: A New Zealand Theatrical Family

Both parents were theatrical.

Her Parents

Father: Richard M. Campion (1923–2016) — New Zealand theatre director.

Mother: Edith Campion (née Beverley Georgette Hannah) (1923–1998) — actress-heiress.

Her Siblings

Anna Campion, born 1952 — elder sister; filmmaker.

Michael Campion — brother.

Her Ex-Husband

Colin Englert (m. 1992, sep. 2001) — Australian.

Her Children

Jasper Campion Englert (1993) — son; died shortly after birth.

Alice Campion Englert, born 15 June 1994 — actress (Beautiful Creatures).

The Campion Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Richard M. Campion (1923–2016) — theatre director.

Mother: Edith Campion (1923–1998) — actress-heiress.

Siblings: Anna Campion (b. 1952) — filmmaker; Michael Campion.

Husband (separated): Colin Englert (m. 1992, sep. 2001).

Children: Jasper (1993, died as infant); Alice Englert (b. 15 June 1994) — actress.

Jane Campion:

  • Born 30 April 1954, Wellington
  • Victoria University of Wellington
  • Chelsea School of Art, London
  • Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS)
  • Palme d'Or: 1993 (The Piano) — first woman
  • Academy Award Best Original Screenplay: 1994 (The Piano)
  • Academy Award Best Director: 2022 (The Power of the Dog) — 3rd woman ever (after Bigelow, Zhao)
  • Dame Commander of the New Zealand Order of Merit: 2016

What the Campion Family Story Teaches Us

Theatre-director father and actress-heiress mother. A filmmaker sister. A son lost as infant. A daughter who became an actress. A career of two Palmes-and-an-Oscar historically unmatched.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Campion story carries the same lesson. Some careers cross a stage-and-screen family to Cannes and Hollywood history.

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