From the Archives: Nora Ephron

During Women's History Month, we're opening the WTTW archives to feature clips of remarkable women – writers, executives, athletes, and more – speaking about their work and lives.

In 1975, Nora Ephron was just beginning to gain notice as a journalist. She wrote primarily for Esquire magazine, and published a collection of essays called Crazy Salad: Some Things About Women that year. Within eight years, she would write and novel and a screenplay for her first film; she then became a permanent part of popular culture by directing and producing such beloved films as When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and Julie & Julia.

But when she appeared on WTTW's Book Beat for an interview with Robert Cromie in 1975, she had yet to venture into novels, screenplays, or films. Rather, she and Cromie talked about Crazy Salad, and she shared a characteristically hilarious story of reporting from the front lines in the Middle East.