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Mike Leigh

Film Director / Actor / Playwright / Theatre Director / Screenwriter / Writer / Television Director | * 02/20/1943 (81) | Salford, Greater Manchester, England (United Kingdom (UK))
Mike Leigh (born 20 February 1943) is an English writer-director with a career spanning film, theatre and television. He has received numerous accolades, including prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, the Venice International Film Festival, three BAFTA Awards, and nominations for seven Academy Awards. He also received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2014, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1993 Birthday Honours for services to the film industry. Leigh studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), the Camberwell School of Art, the Central School of Art and Design and the London School of Film Technique. His short-lived acting career included the role of a mute in the 1963 Maigret episode "The Flemish Shop". He began working as a theatre director and playwright in the mid-1960s, before transitioning to making televised plays and films for BBC Television in the 1970s and '80s. Leigh is known for his lengthy rehearsal and improvisation techniques with actors to build characters and narrative for his films. His purpose is to capture reality and present "emotional, subjective, intuitive, instinctive, vulnerable films". Leigh's early fil... ()
Photo of Mike Leigh
Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Comedies | Documentaries

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Mike Leigh

Officer of The Order of The British Empire Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature BAFTA Award for Best Direction Critics' Circle Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts 2x Academy Award for Best Director 5x Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay 4x European Film Award for Best Film European Film Award for Best Director European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director
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Movies with Mike Leigh as Actor(13)

as himself2013 What Is Cinema?
as himself2009 Vittorio D.
as himself2009 Looking for Truffaut
as Self - Commentary, The Short & Curlies (voice)2003 Cinema16: British Short Films
as Interviewee2000 Mike Leigh: The Conversation
as himself1998 Welcome to Hollywood
as Jim1965 Two Left Feet

TV Shows/Series with Mike Leigh as Actor(4)

as himself2022 Reel Britannia
as Self - Guest2006 The One Show
as himself2004 The Culture Show
1960 Maigret

Movies with Mike Leigh as Crew(70)

Directing/Director2023 Untitled Mike Leigh Project
Writing/Writer2023 Untitled Mike Leigh Project
Directing/Director2018 Peterloo
Writing/Writer2018 Peterloo
Directing/Director2014 Mr. Turner
Writing/Writer2014 Mr. Turner
Directing/Director2012 A Running Jump
Writing/Writer2012 A Running Jump
Directing/Director2010 Another Year
Writing/Writer2010 Another Year
Directing/Director2008 Happy-Go-Lucky
Writing/Screenplay2008 Happy-Go-Lucky
Directing/Director2004 Vera Drake
Writing/Writer2004 Vera Drake
Directing/Director2003 Cinema16: British Short Films
Directing/Director2002 All or Nothing
Writing/Writer2002 All or Nothing
Directing/Director1999 Topsy-Turvy
Writing/Writer1999 Topsy-Turvy
Directing/Director1997 Career Girls
Writing/Writer1997 Career Girls
Directing/Director1996 Secrets & Lies
Writing/Writer1996 Secrets & Lies
Directing/Director1993 Two Mikes Don't Make a Wright
Directing/Director1993 Naked
Writing/Writer1993 Naked
Directing/Director1992 A Sense of History
Directing/Director1990 Life Is Sweet
Writing/Writer1990 Life Is Sweet
Directing/Director1989 High Hopes
Writing/Writer1989 High Hopes
Directing/Director1988 The Short & Curlies
Writing/Writer1988 The Short & Curlies
Directing/Director1984 Four Days in July
Writing/Writer1984 Four Days in July
Directing/Director1983 Meantime
Writing/Writer1983 Meantime
Directing/Director1982 Old Chums
Writing/Writer1982 Old Chums
Directing/Director1982 Home Sweet Home
Writing/Writer1982 Home Sweet Home
Directing/Director1982 Probation
Writing/Writer1982 Probation
Directing/Director1982 A Light Snack
Writing/Writer1982 A Light Snack
Directing/Director1982 Afternoon
Writing/Writer1982 Afternoon
Directing/Director1980 Grown-Ups
Writing/Writer1980 Grown-Ups
Directing/Director1979 Who's Who
Writing/Writer1979 Who's Who
Directing/Director1977 Abigail's Party
Writing/Writer1977 Abigail's Party
Directing/Director1977 The Kiss of Death
Writing/Writer1977 The Kiss of Death
Directing/Director1976 Nuts in May
Writing/Writer1976 Nuts in May
Directing/Director1976 Knock for Knock
Writing/Writer1976 Knock for Knock
Directing/Director1975 The Permissive Society
Writing/Writer1975 The Permissive Society
Directing/Director1973 Hard Labour
Writing/Writer1973 Hard Labour
Directing/Director1973 A Mug's Game?
Writing/Writer1973 A Mug's Game?
Directing/Director1971 Bleak Moments
Writing/Writer1971 Bleak Moments

TV Shows/Series with Mike Leigh as Crew(2)

Directing/Director1970 Play for Today
Writing/Writer1970 Play for Today

Full Name: Mike Leigh
Citizenship: United Kingdom (UK)
Born: Saturday, 02/20 1943 (February) in Salford, Greater Manchester, England (United Kingdom (UK)) (current age: 81 years + 38 days)
Zodiac sign: Pisces (Chinese zodiac sign: Goat)
Languages: English (EN)
Educated at: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Central School of Art and Design, Camberwell College of Arts, Buile Hill High School, London Film School
Member of: American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Royal Society of Literature
Spouses (current/former): Alison Steadman
Mike Leigh frequently works together with these people:
Dick Pope (20x, Crew)
Christine Blundell (16x, Crew)
Heather Storr (11x, Crew)
Jim Broadbent (10x, Actor)
Lesley Manville (10x, Actress)
Alison Steadman (10x, Actress)
Georgina Lowe (10x, Crew)
Jon Gregory (10x, Crew)
Sam Kelly (8x, Actor)
Andrew Neil (4x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:65763, Added: 05/23/2018, Last updated: 03/22/2024