Mike Leigh - Biography

Last Editor: quegatote				Mike Leigh Biography -   Name : Mike Leigh Date of Birth : 20 February 1943 Place of Birth : Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK Height : 5' 7 Nationality : American Profession : Film Director

Mike Leigh Trivia -

Most of Mike Leigh's work in theatre and film is done without any initial script. He and the actors improvise their characters and the scenes under his overall control. Was made an OBE in 1993. His play, Abigail's Party performed at the New Ambassador's Theatre, was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Revival of 2002. Became an Associate Member of RADA. Graduated from RADA.

Mike Leigh Detailed Biography -

Provocative and highly original filmmaker whose kitchen-sink films capture working class English life better than anyone of his generation. Leigh develops a script by collaborating with his actors (including his wife, the extraordinary, chameleonlike Alison Steadman) in an improvisational atmosphere; then he sets the dialogue and it remains intact. Concerned with the everyday lot of ordinary people, as well as the eccentrics of the world, Leigh has created works that are individual and yet, of a piece. With the exception of his feature debut, Bleak Moments (1971), his first decade's output was made for television and barely seen outside of England, except for a handful of film festivals. Fortunately, such rich, seriocomic works as Hard Labour (1973), Nuts in May (1976), Abigail's Party (1977), Grown Ups (1980), Meantime (1983), Four Days in July (1985), and The Short & Curlies (1990) are now available on video. With the theatrical release of his anti-Thatcher comedy High Hopes (1988) and the skewed family portrait Life Is Sweet (1991), a growing number of Americans joined the ranks of his admirers. Although Leigh's works are resolutely unpredictable, the disturbing Naked (1993) was certainly his most unusual film to date; it won him a Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. Active in theater as well as film, Leigh is still midstream in an exceptional career.