Stephen Frears
Stephen Frears is one of Britain’s most distinctive and provocative directors for stage and screen, both in the UK and Hollywood. There aren’t many people with whom he hasn’t worked; the list reads like a Who’s Who of the theatre, film and television world. From Alan Bennett to Michelle Pfeiffer; Martin Scorese on The Grifters, to directing Helen Mirren in The Queen – both of which he gained an Oscar nomination for.
Stephen’s latest film is Tamara Drewe, based on the book adapted from the Posy Simmonds book, an ironic look at life in the quiet of the English countryside.
Born in Leicester in 1941, he studied law at Cambridge University. His breakthrough as a feature film director came in 1985 with the low budget hit My Beautiful Launderette written by Hanif Kureishi, it was a critical and commercial success. His Hollywood debut came with Dangerous Liaisons in 1989, which received six Oscar nominations.
He was made a Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2009.
Links:
- Profile of Stephen Frears:
- Review of Tamara Drewe:
