One of the more successful female producers, Zanuck, who has also begun a secondary career as a director, reached the top at a very young age. After a brief stint as a research assistant with the World Bank in Washington, DC, she moved to Los Angeles with the hopes of becoming a film editor. Shortly thereafter, she married producer Richard Zanuck, whom she had met on a blind date. Zanuck entered the industry as an unpaid researcher for her husband's partner David Brown, then assumed the full-time responsibilities of handling contracts, reading scripts and negotiating deals for The Zanuck/Brown
Worked as research assistant at the World Bank in Washington in 1970s
1977
Moved to Los Angeles to become a film editor; moved into office management at Carnation Company
Worked part-time as researcher for Zanuck's partner David Brown; assumed full-time responsibilities and began to handle contracts, scripts and to negotiate deals
