Tony McNamara is a two time Academy Award-nominated Australian screenwriter and playwright, best known for his work on Poor Things, which earned him his second Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The film, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, tells the story of a young woman resurrected by a scientist and was the second-most Oscar-nominated film of 2023. McNamara previously collaborated with Lanthimos and Stone on The Favourite, which earned him BAFTA award and Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay. He also wrote Cruella, the origin story of the iconic villain, which received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations. He created the Emmy-nominated historical comedy series The Great, starring Elle Fanning, which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and two Writers Guild of America awards for Best episode of a comedy.

Originally from Australia, McNamara began his career in theatre with the play The Café Latte Kid, later transitioning to television with acclaimed series such as Tangle and Puberty Blues. McNamara’s work is celebrated for blending humour, drama, and sharp social commentary, often infusing historical or fantastical stories with contemporary wit and emotional depth. His most recent film, The Roses, directed by Jay Roach and starring Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch, was released on 28 August 2025.