Ross was born to a [[British Jews|Jewish]] family<ref>[https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/introucing-tessa-ross-the-movie-mogul-powering-british-film-8856698.html The Evening Standard: "Introucing Tessa Ross: the movie mogul powering British film" by Stephen Armstrong] 4 October 2013</ref> in 1961 in [[London]]. The daughter of a lawyer and teacher, she attended [[Westminster School]], and graduated from [[Somerville College, Oxford]] in 1980.<ref name="Power 100"/> Ross read oriental studies and Chinese at Oxford and became interested in theatre. She was president of the dramatic society and directed many plays, later getting postgraduate theatre training.<ref name="Somerville">{{cite web|url=http://www.some.ox.ac.uk/191-5810/Tessa-Ross-to-receive-BAFTA-Award-for-Outstanding-British-Contribution-to-Cinema.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163926/http://www.some.ox.ac.uk/191-5810/Tessa-Ross-to-receive-BAFTA-Award-for-Outstanding-British-Contribution-to-Cinema.html|archivedate=2 April 2015|title=Tessa Ross to receive BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema|publisher=Somerville College, Oxford|accessdate=24 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="people">{{cite web|url=http://www.film4.com/special-features/interviews/film4-people-tessa-ross|title=Film4 people: Tessa Ross|publisher=[[Film4]]|accessdate=24 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="introducing">{{cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/introucing-tessa-ross-the-movie-mogul-powering-british-film-8856698.html|title=Introucing Tessa Ross: the movie mogul powering British film|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|date= 4 October 2013|accessdate= 24 February 2016}}</ref>
Ross was born to a [[British Jews|Jewish]] family<ref name="introducing"/> in 1961 in [[London]]. The daughter of a lawyer and teacher, she attended [[Westminster School]], and graduated from [[Somerville College, Oxford]] in 1980.<ref name="Power 100"/> Ross read oriental studies and Chinese at Oxford and became interested in theatre. She was president of the dramatic society and directed many plays, later getting postgraduate theatre training.<ref name="Somerville">{{cite web|url=http://www.some.ox.ac.uk/191-5810/Tessa-Ross-to-receive-BAFTA-Award-for-Outstanding-British-Contribution-to-Cinema.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163926/http://www.some.ox.ac.uk/191-5810/Tessa-Ross-to-receive-BAFTA-Award-for-Outstanding-British-Contribution-to-Cinema.html|archivedate=2 April 2015|title=Tessa Ross to receive BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema|publisher=Somerville College, Oxford|accessdate=24 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="people">{{cite web|url=http://www.film4.com/special-features/interviews/film4-people-tessa-ross|title=Film4 people: Tessa Ross|publisher=[[Film4]]|accessdate=24 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="introducing">{{cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/introucing-tessa-ross-the-movie-mogul-powering-british-film-8856698.html|title=Introucing Tessa Ross: the movie mogul powering British film|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|date= 4 October 2013|accessdate= 24 February 2016}}</ref>
Ross was born to a Jewish family[6] in 1961 in London. The daughter of a lawyer and teacher, she attended Westminster School, and graduated from Somerville College, Oxford in 1980.[3] Ross read oriental studies and Chinese at Oxford and became interested in theatre. She was president of the dramatic society and directed many plays, later getting postgraduate theatre training.[7][8][6]
Career
After graduating from Oxford, Ross became a literary agent in 1986.[9][10] She then segued into television, commissioning work for Bill Bryden, who had worked at the Royal National Theatre and was the head of the BBC Scotland drama department. Ross also worked as a script editor.[9][8] Ross was married at the time and left when she became pregnant. She then returned to London, and in 1990 ran the National Film Development Fund, which later became British Screen.[9][11]
In 1993, Ross worked again at BBC. She ran the Independent Commissioning Group for Drama from 1993 to 2000, commissioning many film and television projects, including Billy Elliot and Clocking Off.[8][9][11] In 2000, Ross worked at Channel 4, where she became Head of Drama and was later appointed Head of Film.[8] Ross ran Film4 and Film4 Productions from 2002 to 2014.[5][10][12] She was appointed to the Board of the Royal National Theatre in 2011, and in 2014 appointed Chief Executive.[5][2] She resigned in April 2015, citing concerns over the new leadership structure, but remained working with the National Theatre as a consultant.[13]
Personal life
Ross resides in Camden, London. She is married to a marketing consultant, and has three children.[14][6]
