Josephine Botting

Josephine Botting is curator, 20th century fiction, at the BFI National Archive.

All articles by Josephine Botting

Features

Britain’s first blonde bombshell: celebrating the centenary of Christine Norden

Born in Sunderland 100 years ago, Norden is little known today, but she exuded glamour and confidence in a string of ‘bad girl’ and femme fatale roles in post-war British cinema.

By Josephine Botting

Britain’s first blonde bombshell: celebrating the centenary of Christine Norden

Lists

The best British television of 2024

By Josephine Botting, Ros Cranston and others

The best British television of 2024

Features

Blue Gene: Tierney in the UK

By Josephine Botting

Blue Gene: Tierney in the UK

Obituaries

Glynis Johns obituary: veteran British star of Mary Poppins and Miranda

By Josephine Botting

Glynis Johns obituary: veteran British star of Mary Poppins and Miranda

Lists

The best British TV of 2023, as picked by BFI curators

By Xavier Alexandre Pillai, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2023, as picked by BFI curators

Features

360 classic feature films: how an archive project sought to show the canon, all year round

By Josephine Botting

360 classic feature films: how an archive project sought to show the canon, all year round

Obituaries

David Meeker obituary: film archivist who played a pivotal role in growing the BFI National Archive

By Josephine Botting

David Meeker obituary: film archivist who played a pivotal role in growing the BFI National Archive

Features

How Muriel Box broke down doors for female directors in Britain

By Josephine Botting

How Muriel Box broke down doors for female directors in Britain

Features

Papers, plans, diagrams: the making of The Draughtsman’s Contract

By Josephine Botting

Papers, plans, diagrams: the making of The Draughtsman’s Contract

Lists

40 years of Channel 4: 10 C4 gems currently streaming

By Josephine Botting, William Fowler and others

40 years of Channel 4: 10 C4 gems currently streaming

Lists

100 BBC TV gamechangers

By Lisa Kerrigan, Nadia Attia and others

100 BBC TV gamechangers

Best of 2021

The best new British TV of 2021, picked by BFI curators

By Lisa Kerrigan, James Bell and others

The best new British TV of 2021, picked by BFI curators

Features

“Servant? I’m nobody’s servant”: Dirk Bogarde in Pinterland

By Josephine Botting

“Servant? I’m nobody’s servant”: Dirk Bogarde in Pinterland

Features

Muriel Box: the government files on the work of Britain’s pioneering female director

By Josephine Botting and Sarah Castagnetti

Muriel Box: the government files on the work of Britain’s pioneering female director

Obituaries

Norman J. Warren: the gentleman of English exploitation

By Josephine Botting

Norman J. Warren: the gentleman of English exploitation

10 great

10 great Christmas films

By Josephine Botting, Sarah Currant and others

10 great Christmas films

Lists

The best British TV of 2020, picked by BFI curators

By Robin Baker, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2020, picked by BFI curators

Features

Remembering British film star Anne Crawford on the centenary of her birth

By Josephine Botting

Remembering British film star Anne Crawford on the centenary of her birth

Obituaries

Diana Rigg obituary: an independent, indefatigable star

By Josephine Botting

Diana Rigg obituary: an independent, indefatigable star

BFI Recommends

BFI Recommends: Red Road

By Josephine Botting

BFI Recommends: Red Road

Britain on Lockdown

Britain on Lockdown: The online videos shaping the crisis #2

By Jez Stewart, Patrick Russell and others

Britain on Lockdown: The online videos shaping the crisis #2

Obituaries

Honor Blackman obituary: a new-model leading lady

By Josephine Botting

Honor Blackman obituary: a new-model leading lady

Features

40 fabulous Flipside factoids

By Vic Pratt, William Fowler and others

40 fabulous Flipside factoids

Lists

The best British TV of 2019

By Josephine Botting, Mark Duguid and others

The best British TV of 2019

Features

Muriel Pavlow (1921-2019)

By Josephine Botting

Muriel Pavlow (1921-2019)

Interviews

Alexander Korda and Winston Churchill: how the producer and the politician changed British cinema

By Josephine Botting

Alexander Korda and Winston Churchill: how the producer and the politician changed British cinema

Obituaries

Peggy Cummins obituary: petite but powerful star

By Josephine Botting

Peggy Cummins obituary: petite but powerful star

Lists

The best British TV of 2017 so far

By Lisa Kerrigan, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2017 so far

Features

The Orchard End Murder and the forgotten world of the programme filler

By Josephine Botting

The Orchard End Murder and the forgotten world of the programme filler

Features

How British film celebrated the role of women during the Second World War

By Josephine Botting

How British film celebrated the role of women during the Second World War