Eduardo Serra obit

Eduardo Serra, the Portuguese cinematographer who conquered Hollywood and European cinema, has died. 

He was not on the list.

Portuguese cinematographer Eduardo Serra passed away this Tuesday at the age of 81. The news was confirmed by the Portuguese Film Academy , which expressed its "deep sorrow" over the passing of its Honorary Member, whose work left an indelible mark on European, North American, and Portuguese cinema.

Born in Lisbon in 1943, Eduardo Serra was the only Portuguese to be nominated twice for an Oscar for Best Cinematography—for The Wings of the Dove ( 1997 ) and Girl with a Pearl Earring ( 2003), the latter of which also won a BAFTA for his cinematography. Over a career that spanned more than five decades, he became known for his mastery of natural light and his ability to create images of great emotional depth and refined aesthetics.

His career began in Portugal, where, as a young man, he became involved in the film society movement and opposed the Estado Novo regime. In 1963, he moved to Paris, where he studied at the ENS Louis Lumière and the Sorbonne, earning degrees in Cinema and Art History. He began as a camera assistant on over thirty films before making his debut as a cinematographer on José Fonseca e Costa's Sem Sombra de Pecado (1983).

Over the years, he has photographed works such as The Neighbor's Woman (1988), The King's Trial (1990), Love and Toes (1992) and The Dolphin (2002), by Fernando Lopes.

In Europe, he established himself as one of the most respected cinematographers, thanks to long-lasting partnerships with major names in French cinema. He worked on seven films with Claude Chabrol, such as The Bridesmaid (2004), and nine with Patrice Leconte, including The Hairdresser's Husband (1990), The Perfume of Yvonne (1994), The Grand Dukes (1996), Confidences Trop Intimes (2004), Bellamy (2009) and  A Promise ( 2013), his last credit as a cinematographer.

In the 1990s and 2000s, he achieved global recognition with work in major international productions. He was responsible for the image of Jude (1996), by Michael Winterbottom, Unbreakable ( 2000 ) , by M. Night Shyamalan, and Blood Diamond ( 2006 ), by Edward Zwick, a film for which he received nominations for a BAFTA and an ASC Award.

Her participation in the Harry Potter saga —in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and Part 2 (2011), the final two films in the series, directed by David Yates—was one of her most visible international moments. Other notable titles in her filmography include Kevin Spacey's Bobby Darin (2004), The Wives of Saint-Pierre (2000), with Juliette Binoche, and What Dreams May Come (1998), with Robin Williams.

As a director, Eduardo Serra filmed, between the 1970s and 1990, Um Aniversário (1975), about the first free elections in Portugal after the 25th of April revolution; Rink-Hockey (1982), a portrait of the World Roller Hockey Championships in Barcelos, when Portugal was crowned champion; and Cinéma portugais? Un mod d'emploi (1990), a critical essay on the difficulties of national cinema, commissioned by the French television station SEPT. In July, the Cinemateca Portuguesa paid tribute to Serra in the form of the series " Interpreting a Text with Light ." Comprising 16 films from his cinematography, these three documentaries were among them – shown at the inaugural session on July 8.

Awarded the Sophia de Carreira Award in 2014, and awarded the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator in 2017, Eduardo Serra was also honored in 2014 by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) with the career achievement award — a rare recognition for a European filmmaker.

“ He brought with him the vision of a Portuguese artist who knew how to engage with filmmakers from various geographies, from European auteur cinema to major international productions ,” wrote the Portuguese Film Academy.

Director

Um Aniversário

Short

Director

2025

 

Cinematographer

Rebecca Hall in A Promise (2013)

A Promise

5.7

Cinematographer

2013

 

Belle du Seigneur (2012)

Belle du Seigneur

5.0

Cinematographer

2012

 

A Therapy (2012)

A Therapy

6.1

Short

Cinematographer

2012

 

Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ian Hart, Ciarán Hinds, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Jason Isaacs, Alexandre Desplat, Michael Henbury Ballan, David Barron, Alan Bennett, Sarah Bennett, Sean Biggerstaff, David Bradley, David Bulbeck, Peter Burroughs, Stuart Craig, Mark Day, Mike Edmonds, Alfred Enoch, Tom Felton, Rusty Goffe, Rupert Grint, George Harris, Guy Henry, Andrew Herd, Josh Herdman, David Heyman, Ralph Ineson, Gemma Jones, Tony Kirwood, Steve Kloves, Dave Legeno, Matthew Lewis, Kelly Macdonald, Miriam Margolyes, Helen McCrory, Nick Moran, Devon Murray, Luke Newberry, Ian Peck, Leslie Phillips, Katie Purvis, Daniel Radcliffe, Chris Rankin, Adrian Rawlins, J.K. Rowling, Keijo Salmela, Granville Saxton, Mark Sealey, Eduardo Serra, Judith Sharp, Geraldine Somerville, Richard Trinder, Julie Walters, Emma Watson, Brian Wheeler, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, David Yates, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Clémence Poésy, David Ledger, Gabriella Pond, Samantha Davis, Jessica Niles, Persephone Muse, Roseanna Brown, Graham Duff, Joshua Jo, Emil Hostina, Jonothon Masai, Natalia Tena, Georgina Leonidas, Ashley Beaver, Ashley McGuire, Jon Campling, Eva Loy, Nikki Bond, Lily Tello, Phil Holden, Chloé Bruce, David Decio, Katie Leung, Jeff Lipman, Nina Aimer Fox, Jon Key, William Melling, Afshan Azad, Domhnall Gleeson, Spencer Wilding, Natalie Hallam, Binde Johal, Andy Callaghan, Evanna Lynch, Matt Da Silva, Michael Thompson, Charlie Hobbs, Freddie Stroma, Lisa Osmond, Tony Montalbano, Jessie Cave, Benn Northover, Pauline Stone, Peter G. Reed, John Warman, Amber Evans, Ruby Evans, Johann Benét, Grace Meurisse Francis, Louis Cordice, Anna Shaffer, Isabella Laughland, Sean Francis George, Scarlett Hefner, Ninette Finch, Suzanne Toase, Mason Kayne, Tony Adkins, Aimee Holden, Curtis Rowland Small, Paul Bateman, Greg Doherty, Aaron Virdee, George Appleby, Ryan Turner, Ellie Darcey-Alden, Thomas Alan Williamson, Christian Black, Timothy Shieff, Maxwell Laird, Louisa Warren, Adam Brashaw, Kamilla Woodburn, Glen Stanway, Karen Anderson, Sarah-Jane De Crespigny, Arti Shah, Bertie Gilbert, Hebe Beardsall, Jamie McLeod-Ross, Nathan Barris, Mark Dusty Miller, Tim Mcgill Grieveson, Samuel Supple, Gino Picciano, Ifeoma Oboko, Chloe Franks, Sarah Lowe, Elisabeth Roberts, Kelvin Wise, Rohan Gotobed, Chris Knight, Will Dunn, Arthur Bowen, Anthony Allgood, Bob Yves Van Hellenberg Hubar, Joe Kallis, Matthew Hodgkin, Benedict Clarke, Grace Bruce, Hattie Gotobed, Lauren Barrand, Steve Poulsen, Robin Harvey, Jennifer Clegg, Jade Stanger, Victor Akintunde, Gemma Kayla, Helena Barlow, Sian Grace Phillips, Daphne de Beistegui, Toby Papworth, Ariella Paradise, Garry Sayer, Jade Gordon, Jordan Coulson, Nasir Mohamed, Amy Wiles, Israr Azam, Michael Aston, Josh Bennett, Laura Whitfield, Craig Garner, Ryan Webb, Christina Low, Charlie Ryall, Nick Hopper, Alfred Camp, Alain Stash, Steven Hopwood, Lucy Chappell, Chris Chan, Leila Kotori, Sha'ori Morris, Jamie John, Daniella Farley, George Christodoulou, Jada Brevett, Debra Leigh-Taylor, Nick Turner, Collet Collins, Hrvoje Klecz, Ben Champniss, Louisa Bettine, Steve Redford, Isla Jane Selley, Adam Alderman, Rachel Lin, Annabelle Davis, Marta Royles, Zoltan Adorjan, Melissa Gotobed, Dean Conder, Tobi Stubbs, Harper Heyman, Paul Bailey, Natalie Harrison, Phil Wright, Christoph Cordell, Albert Tang, Sandeep Mohan, Sammy Measom, Courtney Fearon, Gideon Tekeste, Rich Goble, and Abram Welsh in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

8.1

director of photography

2011

 

Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

7.7

director of photography

2010

 

Inspector Bellamy (2009)

Inspector Bellamy

5.9

Cinematographer

2009

 

Daniel Craig in Defiance (2008)

Defiance

7.1

director of photography

2008

 

Fados (2007)

Fados

7.1

Cinematographer

2007

 

A Girl Cut in Two (2007)

A Girl Cut in Two

6.2

Cinematographer

2007

 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond (2006)

Blood Diamond

8.0

director of photography

2006

 

Comedy of Power (2006)

Comedy of Power

6.3

Cinematographer

2006

 

Il ne faut jurer... de rien! (2005)

Il ne faut jurer... de rien!

5.5

Cinematographer

2005

 

Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth in Beyond the Sea (2004)

Beyond the Sea

6.7

director of photography

2004

 

Benoît Magimel and Laura Smet in The Bridesmaid (2004)

The Bridesmaid

6.7

Cinematographer

2004

 

Sandrine Bonnaire and Fabrice Luchini in Intimate Strangers (2004)

Intimate Strangers

6.9

Cinematographer

2004

 

Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)

Girl with a Pearl Earring

6.9

director of photography

2003

 

Nathalie Baye, Mélanie Doutey, Suzanne Flon, Bernard Le Coq, and Benoît Magimel in The Flower of Evil (2003)

The Flower of Evil

6.4

director of photography

2003

 

O Delfim (2002)

O Delfim

6.5

Cinematographer

2002

 

Laetitia Casta and Vincent Elbaz in Love Street (2002)

Love Street

5.3

director of photography

2002

 

Papillons de nuit (2002)

Papillons de nuit

6.3

Cinematographer

2002

 

Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis in Unbreakable (2000)

Unbreakable

7.3

director of photography

2000

 

Widow of St. Pierre (2000)

Widow of St. Pierre

7.1

director of photography

2000

 

Demi Moore, William Fichtner, and Stellan Skarsgård in Passion of Mind (2000)

Passion of Mind

5.5

director of photography

2000

 

Sandrine Bonnaire and Jacques Gamblin in The Color of Lies (1999)

The Color of Lies

6.6

director of photography

1999

 

Robin Williams in What Dreams May Come (1998)

What Dreams May Come

7.0

director of photography

1998

 

Isabelle Huppert and Michel Serrault in The Swindle (1997)

The Swindle

6.5

Cinematographer

1997

 

Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Elliott, and Linus Roache in The Wings of the Dove (1997)

The Wings of the Dove

7.1

director of photography

1997

 

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Luke Griffin in The Disappearance of Finbar (1996)

The Disappearance of Finbar

6.3

Cinematographer

1996

 

Kate Winslet and Christopher Eccleston in Jude (1996)

Jude

6.9

director of photography

1996

 

Les grands ducs (1996)

Les grands ducs

5.9

Cinematographer

1996

 

The Jew (1995)

The Jew

6.3

Cinematographer

1995

 

L'amour conjugal (1995)

L'amour conjugal

5.2

Cinematographer

1995

 

Funny Bones (1995)

Funny Bones

6.7

Cinematographer

1995

 

Carole Bouquet and Michel Blanc in Dead Tired (1994)

Dead Tired

6.4

Cinematographer

1994

 

Sandra Extercatte, Hippolyte Girardot, and Jean-Pierre Marielle in Yvonne's Perfume (1994)

Yvonne's Perfume

6.3

Cinematographer

1994

 

Die Inschrift des Gottes (1993)

Die Inschrift des Gottes

Short

Cinematographer

1993

 

Artcore oder Der Neger (1993)

Artcore oder Der Neger

Cinematographer

1993

 

Tango (1993)

Tango

6.2

Cinematographer

1993

 

Amor e Dedinhos de Pé (1992)

Amor e Dedinhos de Pé

6.4

Cinematographer

1992

 

Le zèbre (1992)

Le zèbre

5.8

Cinematographer

1992

 

Anne Parillaud in Map of the Human Heart (1992)

Map of the Human Heart

7.0

Cinematographer

1992

 

Lapse of Memory (1991)

Lapse of Memory

5.8

Cinematographer

1991

 

Le crime de monsieur Stil (1995)

Cycle Simenon

TV Series

Cinematographer

1991

1 episode

 

Anna Galiena in The Hairdresser's Husband (1990)

The Hairdresser's Husband

7.1

Cinematographer

1990

 

O Processo do Rei (1990)

O Processo do Rei

6.5

Cinematographer

1990

 

Madeleine Stowe and David Carradine in Tropical Snow (1988)

Tropical Snow

5.4

Cinematographer

1988

 

A Mulher do Próximo (1988)

A Mulher do Próximo

6.4

Cinematographer

1988

 

Die dritte Dimension - Teile 1, 2 und 3 (1987)

Die dritte Dimension - Teile 1, 2 und 3

TV Mini Series

Cinematographer

1987

 

Tant qu'il y aura des femmes (1987)

Tant qu'il y aura des femmes

4.9

Cinematographer

1987

 

I Grandi Manoveri (1986)

I Grandi Manoveri

Cinematographer

1986

 

Duty Free Shop

Short

Cinematographer

1985

 

Moi vouloir toi (1985)

Moi vouloir toi

4.1

Cinematographer

1985

 

Marriage of the Century (1985)

Marriage of the Century

4.6

Cinematographer

1985

 

Contes clandestins (1985)

Contes clandestins

Cinematographer

1985

 

Les Spécialistes (1985)

Les Spécialistes

6.4

director of photography

1985

 

Tranches de vie (1985)

Tranches de vie

4.6

Cinematographer

1985

 

Nasdine Hodja au pays du business (1984)

Nasdine Hodja au pays du business

Cinematographer

1984

 

Michel Blanc and Gérard Lanvin in Marche à l'ombre (1984)

Marche à l'ombre

6.6

Cinematographer

1984

 

Pinot simple flic (1984)

Pinot simple flic

5.4

Cinematographer

1984

 

Jane Birkin, Sami Frey, and Gérard Jugnot in The Bodyguard (1984)

The Bodyguard

4.8

Cinematographer

1984

 

Debout les crabes, la mer monte! (1983)

Debout les crabes, la mer monte!

3.9

Cinematographer

1983

 

Des terroristes à la retraite (1983)

Des terroristes à la retraite

6.9

Cinematographer

1983

 

À vendre (1980)

Side Roads

4.8

Cinematographer

1983

 

Sem Sombra de Pecado (1983)

Sem Sombra de Pecado

6.3

Cinematographer

1983

 

Une histoire dérisoire

Short

Cinematographer

1982

 

Une voix

Short

Cinematographer

1980

 

À vendre (1980)

À vendre

6.1

Cinematographer

1980

 

Les derniers beaux jours

Short

Cinematographer

1976

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Jessye Norman Sings Carmen (1989)

Jessye Norman Sings Carmen

7.9

lighting director

1989

 

I Grandi Manoveri (1986)

I Grandi Manoveri

image

1986

 

Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine (1981)

Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine

6.3

assistant camera

1981

 

Romy Schneider in La banquière (1980)

La banquière

6.2

first assistant camera (as Edouard Serra)

1980

 

Je vais craquer!!! (1980)

Je vais craquer!!!

5.6

first assistant camera

1980

 

French Fried Vacation 2 (1979)

French Fried Vacation 2

7.4

assistant camera

1979

 

Le coup de sirocco (1979)

Le coup de sirocco

5.4

assistant camera

1979

 

Martin et Léa (1979)

Martin et Léa

6.4

assistant camera

1979

 

French Fried Vacation (1978)

French Fried Vacation

6.7

first assistant camera

1978

 

Molière (1978)

Molière

7.6

first assistant camera

1978

 

La zizanie (1978)

La zizanie

6.4

camera operator

1978

 

Why Not! (1977)

Why Not!

6.8

camera operator

1977

 

La communion solennelle (1977)

La communion solennelle

6.1

assistant camera

1977

 

Fill 'er Up with Super (1976)

Fill 'er Up with Super

6.6

assistant camera

1976

 

Claude Faraldo in Les fleurs du miel (1976)

Les fleurs du miel

6.0

first assistant camera

1976

 

On s'est trompé d'histoire d'amour (1974)

On s'est trompé d'histoire d'amour

6.4

assistant camera

1974

 

Les Chinois à Paris (1974)

Les Chinois à Paris

6.2

assistant camera

1974

 

Les chiennes (1973)

Les chiennes

5.4

assistant camera

1973

 

Anna Karina in Vivre ensemble (1973)

Vivre ensemble

5.9

camera operator

1973

 

Jean-Paul Belmondo in The Inheritor (1973)

The Inheritor

6.3

assistant camera

1973

 

M comme Mathieu (1971)

M comme Mathieu

5.8

assistant camera

1971

 

Thanks

Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, and James McAvoy in Glass (2019)

Glass

6.6

the producers wish to thank

2019

 

Untitled (2004)

Untitled

Short

special thanks

2004

 

Self

Janela Indiscreta (2010)

Janela Indiscreta

6.2

TV Series

Self

2014

1 episode

 

Páginas Soltas

TV Series

Self

2007

1 episode

 

Por Outro Lado (2001)

Por Outro Lado

TV Series

Self

2005

1 episode

 

The 2004 European Film Awards (2004)

The 2004 European Film Awards

6.2

TV Special

Self - Winner

2004

 

Ceremonia de clausura del festival de cine de San Sebastián

TV Special

Self

2004

 

Ceremonia de apertura del festival de cine de San Sebastián

3.9

TV Special

Self

2004

 

Cerimónia do 10 de Junho

TV Movie

Self

2004

 

Anatomy of a Scene (2001)

Anatomy of a Scene

6.6

TV Series

Self

2004

1 episode

 

The Making of 'Unbreakable'

7.1

Video

Self

2001

 

HermanSIC (2000)

HermanSIC

5.0

TV Series

Self

2001

1 episode

 

The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998)

The 70th Annual Academy Awards

6.8

TV Special

Self - Nominee

1998

 

Directo XXI

TV Series

Self

1998

1 episode

 

Jornal da Noite (1992)

Jornal da Noite

6.8

TV Series

SelfGuest (2004)

1992

 

Archive Footage

The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004)

The 76th Annual Academy Awards

6.7

TV Special

Self - Nominee (archive footage)

2004