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Mike Leigh

Birth Name:
Mike Leigh
Birth Place:
Brocket Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Profession
Director, Writer, Actor
Mike Leigh

Fast Facts

  • Is a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association
  • Was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to film in 1993
  • Studied film production at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design
  • Began writing and directing his own plays in 1965, completing nine of them before creating "Bleak Moments," which would become the basis for his first film
  • Quote: "For me, that's the turn-on of the whole business of making these films; going on this journey, discovering for myself what it is that I'm after, with all its concomitant surprises․"
  • Quote: "I've long since stopped worrying about how I'm portrayed in the press because ultimately it's not that important․ Everyone who knows me knows I do what I do with the greatest integrity․"
  • Began his career as a director and playwright for numerous high profile stage productions before moving on to film and television in the 1970s
  • Known for his realism and gritty directing style, his most noted works include "Life is Sweet," "Naked," and "Vera Drake," among others
  • Admits that most of his best works never have formal scripts, as actors are given the authority to improvise their characters under his overall control

Awards

  • 1972Gold Hugo - Best Feature:Nominated
  • 1972Golden LeopardWinner
  • 1984Reader Jury of the "Zitty"Winner
  • 1984Gold Hugo - Best Feature:Nominated
  • 1987Best European Short Film - Best European Short Film:Winner
  • 1988BAFTA Film Award - Best Short Film:Nominated
  • 1988Outstanding Film of the Year - Outstanding Film of the Year:Nominated
  • 1988Panorama Short Film Award - Special MentionWinner
  • 1988Silver Medallion AwardNominated
  • 1988FIPRESCI Prize - Parallel Sections:Winner
  • 1989Jury Prize - Best Film:Nominated
  • 1989Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
  • 1990Peter Sellers Award for ComedyWinner
  • 1990Independent Spirit Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
  • 1991Golden CharybdisWinner
  • 1992Bodil - Best European Film (Bedste europæiske film):Winner
  • 1992Independent Spirit Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
  • 1992NSFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1993Palme d'OrNominated
  • 1993Best DirectorWinner
  • 1993Gold Hugo - Best Feature:Nominated
  • 1993Best International FilmWinner
  • 1993NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1993Metro Media AwardWinner
  • 1994Alexander Korda Award for Best British FilmNominated
  • 1994Independent Spirit Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
  • 1996ACCA - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 1996ACCA - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1996BSFC Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 1996Palme d'OrWinner
  • 1996Prize of the Ecumenical JuryWinner
  • 1996LAFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 1997ASECAN Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner
  • 1997Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1997Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:Nominated
  • 1997Honorable Mention - Best Foreign Film:Winner
  • 1997Alexander Korda Award for Best British FilmWinner
  • 1997BAFTA Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
  • 1997David Lean Award for DirectionNominated
  • 1997BAFTA Film Award - Best Screenplay - Original:Winner
  • 1997CFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1997Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1997César - Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger):Nominated
  • 1997DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
  • 1997Independent Spirit Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner
  • 1997Fotogramas de Plata - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
  • 1997Critics Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner
  • 1997Goya - Best European Film (Mejor Película Europea):Winner
  • 1997Guild Film Award - Silver - Foreign Film (Ausländischer Film):Winner
  • 1997Humanitas Prize - Feature Film Category:Winner
  • 1997Silver Ribbon - Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero):Winner
  • 1997ALFS Award - British Director of the Year:Winner
  • 1997Best Film - International Competition:Nominated
  • 1997NSFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1997Critics Award - Best Foreign Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro):Winner
  • 1997Audience Award - Best Foreign Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro):Winner
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1997Tokyo Grand PrixNominated
  • 1997Youth Jury Award - Special Mention - Competition:Winner
  • 1997Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
  • 1997Silver Spike - Best Film:Winner
  • 1997WGA Award (Screen) - Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:Nominated
  • 1998Silver Condor - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Nominated
  • 1998Readers' Choice Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Winner
  • 1998Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Winner
  • 1998Premio Guarani - Best Foreign Film:Winner
  • 1999NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 1999NYFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 1999Golden LionNominated
  • 1999VVFP Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 2000Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:Nominated
  • 2000Alexander Korda Award for Best British FilmNominated
  • 2000BAFTA Film Award - Best Screenplay - Original:Nominated
  • 2000British Independent Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2000CFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2000Independent Spirit Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
  • 2000NSFC Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 2000Panorama Jury PrizeWinner
  • 2001Evening Standard British Film Award - Best Film:Winner
  • 2001ALFS Award - British Director of the Year:Nominated
  • 2001ALFS Award - British Screenwriter of the Year:Nominated
  • 2002Palme d'OrNominated
  • 2002Gold Hugo - Best Feature:Nominated
  • 2002EFA People's Choice Award - Best European Director:Nominated
  • 2002European Film Award - European Director:Nominated
  • 2003ALFS Award - British Director of the Year:Nominated
  • 2003ALFS Award - British Screenwriter of the Year:Nominated
  • 2003Golden Satellite Award - Best Screenplay, Original:Nominated
  • 2004British Independent Film Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2004British Independent Film Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 2004SDFCS Award - Best Screenplay, Original:Winner
  • 2004Seattle Film Critics Award - Best Screenplay, Original:Nominated
  • 2004Golden LionWinner
  • 2005Oscar - Best Writing, Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2005Oscar - Best Achievement in Directing:Nominated
  • 2005Honorable Mention - Best Foreign Film:Winner
  • 2005Alexander Korda Award for Best British FilmNominated
  • 2005BAFTA Film Award - Best Screenplay - Original:Nominated
  • 2005David Lean Award for DirectionWinner
  • 2005Golden Kinnaree Award - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2005Chlotrudis Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2005David - Best European Film (Miglior Film dell'Unione Europea):Nominated
  • 2005DGGB Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in British Film:Nominated
  • 2005Evening Standard British Film Award - Best Film:Winner
  • 2005ALFS Award - British Director of the Year:Winner
  • 2005ALFS Award - British Screenwriter of the Year:Winner
  • 2006Bodil - Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke-amerikanske film):Nominated
  • 2006Robert - Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film):Nominated
  • 2008EDA Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2008EDA Award - Best Writing, Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2008Golden Berlin BearNominated
  • 2008BSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2008ICP Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2008ICP Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2008LAFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
  • 2008NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2008NYFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 2008Most Enjoyable Film (Theatre Owners)Winner
  • 2008International Competition - Best Director:Winner
  • 2008Sydney Film Prize - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2009Oscar - Best Writing, Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2009Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 2009Chlotrudis Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2009Gaudí Award - Best European Film (Millor Pel·lícula Europea):Nominated
  • 2009ICS Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2009INOCA - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2009INOCA - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2009ALFS Award - British Film of the Year:Nominated
  • 2009ALFS Award - British Director of the Year:Nominated
  • 2009NSFC Award - Best Director:Winner
  • 2009NSFC Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
  • 2010British Independent Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2010Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special MentionWinner
  • 2010Palme d'OrNominated
  • 2010CinEuphoria - Top Ten of the Year - Audience Award:Winner
  • 2010ICP Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2010WAFCA Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2011Felix - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2011Movies for Grownups Award - Best Screenwriter:Nominated
  • 2011Oscar - Best Writing, Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2011EDA Award - Best Writing, Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2011Amanda - Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm):Winner
  • 2011Alexander Korda Award for Best British FilmNominated
  • 2011Critics Choice Award - Best Screenplay, Original:Nominated
  • 2011David - Best European Film (Miglior Film dell'Unione Europea):Nominated
  • 2011Evening Standard British Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2011Critics Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner
  • 2011Gold Derby Film Award - Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2011ICS Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2011ICS Award - Best Original Screenplay:Winner
  • 2011INOCA - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2011Silver Ribbon - Best European Director (Regista del Miglior Film Europeo):Nominated
  • 2011ALFS Award - British Director of the Year:Nominated
  • 2012Bodil - Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke-amerikanske film):Nominated
  • 2012Chlotrudis Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2012Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2012Robert - Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film):Nominated
  • 2012Gopo Award - Best European Film:Nominated
  • 2014Britannia Award - John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing:Winner
  • 2014British Independent Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2014Palme d'OrNominated
  • 2014EuroCinema Hawai'i Award - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2014SFFCC Award - Best Screenplay, Original:Nominated
  • 2014SFFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2014Best DirectorWinner
  • 2014Asecan Award - Special Mention:Winner
  • 2015La Cabina Award - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2015ALFS Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
  • 2015NSFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2016Eagle - Best European Film (Najlepszy Film Europejski):Nominated
  • 2017Felix - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2017Felix - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2018Human Rights Film Network Award - Special MentionWinner
  • 2018Golden Lion - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2019Educacine AwardWinner
  • 2019Silvestre Award - Best Feature Film:Nominated
  • 2019ARRI/OSRAM Award - Best International Film:Nominated
  • 2024Gotham Independent Film Award - Best International Feature:Nominated
  • 2024NBR Award - Best Original Screenplay:Winner
  • 2024SFBAFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2024SFBAFCC Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2024Golden Seashell - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2024SLFCA Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2025EDA Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
  • 2025BAFTA Film Award - Outstanding British Film of the Year:Nominated
  • 2025Black Reel - Outstanding Independent Film:Nominated
  • 2025Independent Spirit Award - Best International Film:Nominated
  • 2025Girls on Film Award - Girls on Film Ally Award sponsored by IMDb:Winner
  • 2025ICS Award - Best Original Screenplay:Winner
  • 2025ARRI/OSRAM Award - Best International Film:Nominated
  • 2025Satellite Award - Best Screenplay, Original:Nominated
  • 2025Aurora AwardNominated
  • 2026Golden Seashell - Best Film:Nominated
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