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Danny Boyle Biography

Birth Name:Daniel Boyle

Birth Place:Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Profession Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Assistant director

Fast Facts

  • Is on the board of trustees of the charity Dramatic Need and also supports Railway Children and the Small Steps Project
  • Won a London Film Critics Circle Award for best newcomer for his feature film directorial debut, "Shallow Grave," in 1996
  • Graduated from Bangor University with a degree in English and drama in 1978
  • Wanted to become a priest growing up, but a local priest convinced him not to enter seminary school
  • Got his start as a member of the Joint Stock Theatre Company before becoming the artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in 1982
  • Quote: "We're not very good at films in Britain, I don't think․ I think what we're good at is music․"
  • Best known as the director of "Slumdog Millionaire," "28 Days Later" and "Trainspotting․"
  • Was chosen to direct the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics
  • Was offered a knighthood as part of the New Year Honours List of Great Britain, but turned it down

Awards

  • 1991Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-TV - Original Drama Series: winner
  • 1992Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-TV - Original Drama Series: winner
  • 1994BAFTA TV Award-Best Drama Serial: nominated
  • 1994Golden Hitchcock-: winner
  • 1994Silver Seashell-Best Director: winner
  • 1994Golden Seashell-Best Film: nominated
  • 1995Liberation Advertisement Award-: winner
  • 1995Best Screenplay-Feature Film: winner
  • 1995Audience Award-Feature Film: winner
  • 1995Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: winner
  • 1995Grand Prix-: winner
  • 1995Audience Award-: winner
  • 1995International Fantasy Film Award-Best Film: winner
  • 1996ACCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 1996Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: nominated
  • 1996Empire Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1996Evening Standard British Film Award-Most Promising Newcomer: winner
  • 1996ALFS Award-British Newcomer of the Year: winner
  • 1996Golden Space Needle Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1996Audience Award-: winner
  • 1997BAFTA Scotland Award-Best Feature Film: winner
  • 1997Bodil-Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke-amerikanske film): winner
  • 1997Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1997Czech Lion-Best Foreign Language Film (Nejlepsí zahranicní film): winner
  • 1997Empire Award-Best British Director: winner
  • 1997Independent Spirit Award-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 1997European Silver Ribbon-: nominated
  • 1997ALFS Award-British Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2000Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 2003British Independent Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2003Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Gold-: nominated
  • 2003EFA People's Choice Award-Best European Director: nominated
  • 2003International Fantasy Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2003International Fantasy Film Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2003Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver-: winner
  • 2003Narcisse Award-Best Feature Film: winner
  • 2003Rondo Statuette-Best Genre Film: nominated
  • 2004Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2004Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2004Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form: nominated
  • 2005Emden Film Award-: nominated
  • 2005PFCS Award-Best Live Action Family Film: winner
  • 2007Scream Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2008AAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008EDA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008Audience Award-Out of Competition Feature: winner
  • 2008ACCA-Best Director: winner
  • 2008British Independent Film Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008CFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008Audience Choice Award-: winner
  • 2008DFWFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008DFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008FFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008Golden Schmoes-Best Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2008HFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008ALFS Award-British Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2008LAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2008NYFCO Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008OFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008PFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008SDFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008Satellite Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008SEFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008SLFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2008Audience Choice Award-Best International Feature: winner
  • 2008TFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2008People's Choice Award-: winner
  • 2008WAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2009Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: winner
  • 2009Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske kinofilm): winner
  • 2009David Lean Award for Direction-Best Director: winner
  • 2009Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: nominated
  • 2009COFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2009Critics Choice Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2009David-Best European Film (Miglior Film dell'Unione Europea): winner
  • 2009DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
  • 2009European Film Award-European Film: nominated
  • 2009European Film Award-European Director: nominated
  • 2009EFA People's Choice Award-: winner
  • 2009Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009FCCA Award-Best Foreign Film - English Language: winner
  • 2009Gold Derby Film Award-Director: nominated
  • 2009Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2009MovieZone Award-: winner
  • 2009Audience Award-: winner
  • 2009INOCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009IOFCP Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009IFC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2009Silver Ribbon-Best European Director (Regista del Miglior Film Europeo): winner
  • 2009ALFS Award-Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2009ALFS Award-British Director of the Year: winner
  • 2009NSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009NTFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2009OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009OFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2009Outstanding Director of the Year Award-: winner
  • 2009VFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2010ACCA-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
  • 2010ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2010Cinema Brazil Grand Prize-Best Foreign-Language Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): nominated
  • 2010César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): nominated
  • 2010DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010Robert-Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film): winner
  • 2010DFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2010Gaudí Award-Best European Film (Millor Pel·lícula Europea): nominated
  • 2010Golden Eagle-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 2010Goya-Best European Film (Mejor Película Europea): winner
  • 2010HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010IGN Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010Sierra Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010Mill Valley Film Festival Award-Best Narrative Feature: winner
  • 2010PFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010SDFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010SLFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2010Audience Choice Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2010UFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010WAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2010WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2011Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 2011EDA Award-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011David Lean Award for Direction-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay (Adapted): nominated
  • 2011Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: nominated
  • 2011COFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011Critics Choice Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2011Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2011Gold Derby Film Award-Director: nominated
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2011Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: nominated
  • 2011IFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011ALFS Award-British Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011OFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2011OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 2011USC Scripter Award-: nominated
  • 2011WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best Film Screenplay: winner
  • 2016IFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017Felix-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017BAFTA Scotland Award-Best Director (Fiction): winner
  • 2017BAFTA Scotland Award-Best Feature Film: winner
  • 2019Audience Award-Feature Film: winner
  • 2019Audience Award-World Cinema: winner
  • 2020Goya-Best European Film (Mejor Película Europea): nominated
  • 2022Golden Frog-TV Series Competition: nominated
  • 2025Astra Midseason Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2025Chainsaw Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2026BAFTA Film Award-Outstanding British Film of the Year: nominated
  • 2026Windie-Best Studio Film: nominated