Allison Schroeder is an American screenwriter and former television writer. She is best known for co-writing the screenplay for the 2016 biographical drama film Hidden Figures, which chronicles the contributions of African‑American female mathematicians at NASA during the early Space Race. The screenplay, written with Theodore Melfi, earned the duo an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Early life and education
Allison Schroeder was raised in Southern California. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She later studied at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, obtaining a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting.
Career
Schroeder began her professional writing career in television, contributing to series such as The Middle and The Mystery of Matter: A Spiritual Adventure. Her transition to feature films was marked by her involvement in Hidden Figures, released by 20th Century Fox in December 2016. The film was both a critical and commercial success, grossing over $230 million worldwide.
Following Hidden Figures, Schroeder worked on several projects in development, including adaptations and original screenplays. She has been attached to scripts for The Smiths, a biopic about the eponymous rock band, and a film adaptation of the novel The Gilded Ones.
Awards and nominations
- Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay (Hidden Figures, 2016)
- Writers Guild of America nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay (Hidden Figures, 2017)
- Critics' Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay (Hidden Figures, 2016)
Personal life
Allison Schroeder is married to director and writer Theodore Melfi, with whom she co‑wrote Hidden Figures. The couple collaborates on various film projects.
Publications and contributions
In addition to her screenwriting work, Schroeder has contributed essays and articles on the craft of writing and representation in Hollywood to industry publications.
Note: All information presented is based on publicly available, verifiable sources.
