Meet 'Ella McCay,' the latest big screen muse of Oscar winner James L. Brooks

"Terms of Endearment," "Broadcast News," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and "The Simpsons" are just a few of the projects that have all been part of the incredible career of James L. Brooks.

His latest movie is "Ella McCay." When asked if he's loved every minute of his career. he said: "Love?" Brooks laughed. "Yes. Do I not feel? Do I not hurt? Yes."

The writer and director is excited about this latest movie, "Ella McCay." The film tells the story of a smart, ambitious young woman dealing with a big job, a dysfunctional family, a needy husband and all the things life throws your way at the most inopportune times.

Emma Mackey, best known for the series, "Sex Education," plays the lead role.

"It's a momentous thing and it was a really, you know, striking piece from the get-go for me, and I was so excited to read something so rare," said Mackey. "I've never read that kind of thing before that's so full. It's so full. It's a woman's full life and how often does that come along?"

Mackey has some new fans: co-stars Albert Brooks and Jamie Lee Curtis love her.

"She is so unbelievably great in this movie and so beautiful and funny and fragile and fierce and complicated, like a young Katharine Hepburn," said Curtis. "It's a gorgeous performance."

Brooks added: "I think one of the great things about a movie is the discovery of a lead. So it's really cool to watch a beginning. I think that's exciting. Only movies can do that."

"Ella McCay" is in theaters Friday, Dec. 12.

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