52-438: Prick Up Your Ears is a 1987 British film, directed by Stephen Frears , about the playwright Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell . The screenplay was written by Alan Bennett , based on the 1978 biography by John Lahr . The film stars Gary Oldman as Orton, Alfred Molina as Halliwell, Wallace Shawn as Lahr, and Vanessa Redgrave as Peggy Ramsay . Islington , 9 August 1967. Literary agent Peggy Ramsay knocks on
104-540: A Golden Globe Award nomination, and 17 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award nominations (three wins). In 1990, Frears earned his first Academy Award nomination for directing the film The Grifters . In 2006, he earned his second nomination for The Queen . At the Primetime Emmy Awards , he was nominated for Fail Safe (2000), Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013), and A Very English Scandal (2019), before winning for State of
156-833: A Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards . In 2008, The Daily Telegraph named Frears among the 100 most influential people in British culture . In 2009, he received the Commandeur de l' Ordre des Arts et des Lettres . He received a knighthood in 2023 for his contributions to the film and television industries. Born in Leicester and educated at Gresham's School and Trinity College, Cambridge , Frears started his career working as an assistant director in theatre and film while directing many television plays. Frears directed his debut feature film Gumshoe in 1971 and received critical acclaim for his films in
208-550: A BAFTA Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was also nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 1987 Independent Spirit Awards and won the award for Best Artistic Contribution at that year's Cannes Film Festival . Stephen Frears Sir Stephen Arthur Frears (born 20 June 1941) is a British director and producer of film and television, often depicting real life stories as well as projects that explore social class through sharply-drawn characters. He has received numerous accolades including three BAFTA Awards , and
260-406: A different kind of movie. It comes out of the tradition of those rat-a-tat Preston Sturges comedies of the 1940s." While the film was met with generally positive critical reviews, it was not a box office success. Columbia Pictures lost $ 25.6 million. Frears has also directed two films adapted from novels by Roddy Doyle , The Snapper (1993) and The Van (1996). Frears's other films include
312-466: A film about two immigrants living in London. The film starred Audrey Tautou , and Chiwetel Ejiofor . The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay . It won a British Independent Film Award for Best Independent British Film in 2003. For his performance as Okwe, Chiwetel Ejiofor won the 2003 British Independent Film Award for Best Actor. In 2003, Frears was attached to direct
364-452: A film in which John Cusack reads my book". The film received positive reviews from critics and has a score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes , based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The critical consensus states: "The deft hand of director Stephen Frears and strong performances by the ensemble cast combine to tell an entertaining story with a rock-solid soundtrack." In 2002, Frears directed social thriller, Dirty Pretty Things ,
416-589: A stage and film director. Early in his career, Frears made a programme featuring the band the Scaffold . He is name-checked ("Mr Frears had sticky-out ears...") in their hit song " Lily the Pink ". As of 2002 Frears lived in London with Anne Rothenstein and their two children. Frears was knighted in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to film and television. A convinced republican , in April 2015, Frears
468-488: The James Bond spin-off Jinx , featuring Halle Berry as her character from Die Another Day (2002) co-starring with Michael Madsen and Javier Bardem . Neal Purvis and Robert Wade were scheduled to return to write the screenplay, and Wade described it as "a very atmospheric, Euro thriller, a Bourne -type movie". Producer Barbara Broccoli described it as the beginning of a " Winter Olympics "-style alternative to
520-483: The Jeremy Thorpe BBC One biographical miniseries A Very English Scandal (2018), for which he earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Frears was born on 20 June 1941 in Leicester , England. His mother, Ruth M. ( née Danziger), was a social worker, and his father, Russell E. Frears, was a general practitioner and accountant. Frears was brought up Anglican . He did not learn that his mother
572-535: The Joe Orton biopic Prick Up Your Ears (1987), a collaboration with playwright Alan Bennett . His second film adapted from a Kureishi screenplay was Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987). In 1988, Frears directed Dangerous Liaisons to widespread critical acclaim. The film was shot in France, with a cast that included Americans Glenn Close , John Malkovich , and Michelle Pfeiffer , and Uma Thurman . Based on
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#1732779513866624-526: The Labour Party in 1994. Michael Sheen portrayed Tony Blair to great acclaim. In 2005, Frears directed the British theatre comedy Mrs Henderson Presents starring Judi Dench , Bob Hoskins . The film was praised for its performances by Dench and Hoskins, with Dench receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress . Frears’s next film project was The Queen (2006), a film that depicts
676-754: The United States Supreme Court deliberation over banning Muhammad Ali from boxing for refusing to serve in the US Army during the Vietnam War . Frears directed a biopic of cycling champion Lance Armstrong , The Program , starring Ben Foster , which premiered in the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival . Many of Frears's films are based on stories of living persons, but he has never sought to meet any of his subjects. National Life Stories conducted an oral history interview (C1316/07) with Stephen Frears in 2008 for its The Legacy of
728-761: The death of Princess Diana on 31 August 1997, and the reaction of members of the monarchy and the public. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival , where Mirren won Best Actress and Peter Morgan won Best Screenplay. Frears was nominated for the Golden Lion . When released within the United States, the film achieved box-office success and awards. At the Academy Awards , Frears received his second Academy Award nomination for best direction. Helen Mirren won numerous awards for playing
780-669: The flagship Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square in London, before being held at the Royal Opera House from 2007 to 2016. From 2017 to 2022, the ceremony was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London before moving to the Royal Festival Hall for the 2023 ceremony. The statue awarded to recipients depicts a theatrical mask. The first BAFTA Awards ceremony was held in 1949, and the ceremony
832-417: The late 18th-century French novel of romantic game-playing and adapted by Christopher Hampton , the film received seven Academy Award nominations. These included for Best Picture and Best Actress for Glenn Close and Best Supporting Actress for Michelle Pfeiffer . The film also received ten British Academy Film Award nominations, including for Frears for Best Direction . In 1990, Frears directed
884-756: The title role , including the Academy Award for Best Actress . Frears holds the " David Lean Chair in Fiction Direction" at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield , where he teaches. In 2013, Frears directed the drama, Philomena (2013), which was based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee (2009) by journalist Martin Sixsmith . This explored the story of Philomena Lee 's 50-year search for her son, who
936-434: The 1980s such as My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), Prick Up Your Ears (1987), and Dangerous Liaisons (1988). He also received two Academy Award nominations for directing The Grifters (1990) and The Queen (2006). Frears is also known for his work on various television programmes, including the television films Fail Safe (2000), The Deal (2003), and Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013). He directed
988-781: The 75th Awards in 2022, were held at the Royal Albert Hall. For the 76th British Academy Film Awards in 2023, it was announced that the ceremony would be moved to the Royal Festival Hall as part of a new multi-year deal between BAFTA and the Southbank Centre , bringing the Film Awards in-line with the British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Games Awards , which were already held there. Until 2012,
1040-483: The British film industry. In 1958, the Academy merged with The Guild of Television Producers and Directors to form The Society of Film and Television, which eventually became The British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1976. The stated charitable purpose of BAFTA is to "support, develop and promote the art forms of the moving image, by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners, and benefiting
1092-583: The English Stage Company collection held by the British Library . In 2016, Frears directed the film, Florence Foster Jenkins , starring Meryl Streep . The title character is a New York heiress known as an aspiring opera singer despite her poor singing abilities. Hugh Grant plays her manager and long-time companion, St. Clair Bayfield . Other cast members include Simon Helberg , Rebecca Ferguson , and Nina Arianda . The film
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#17327795138661144-654: The Guild of Television Producers in 1955. The ceremony previously took place in April or May, but since 2001 it has been held in February in order to precede the Academy Awards . Most of the awards are open to all nationalities, though there are awards for Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Producer or Director. Only UK films are eligible for the categories of The British Short Film and British Short Animation awards. During each annual ceremony, BAFTA pauses in memoriam to pay tribute to those in
1196-564: The People's Choice Award Runner-Up prize at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival . The film was nominated for four Oscars at the 86th Academy Awards : Best Picture , Best Adapted Screenplay , Best Actress (for Dench), and Best Original Score . It was also nominated for four British Academy Film Awards and three Golden Globe Awards . The same year, HBO released Frears's television drama Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight , starring Christopher Plummer and Frank Langella . It explores
1248-685: The US it is broadcast on BBC America . In 2023, the BAFTA Film Awards included a live telecast for its major award categories during the culmination of the ceremony. The award ceremony is held in London . From 2000 to 2007, the ceremonies took place at the flagship Odeon Leicester cinema in Leicester Square . Between 2008 and 2016, the ceremonies took place at the Royal Opera House. The 70th Awards in 2017, and subsequent ceremonies up to
1300-664: The Union (2019). He has also been acknowledged by the Cannes , Berlin , Venice , and Toronto film festivals. Honors include: BAFTA Awards The British Academy Film Awards , more commonly known as the BAFTA Awards , is an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to film. The ceremonies were initially held at
1352-654: The United Kingdom and the United States. On Rotten Tomatoes , the series holds an approval rating of 97% based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 9.05/10. Rotten Tomatoes's critical consensus reads, "Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw impress in A Very English Scandal , an equally absorbing and appalling look at British politics and society". Grant received Primetime Emmy Award , Screen Actors Guild Award , Golden Globe Award , British Academy Television Award , and Critics Choice Award nominations for his performance while Whishaw earned an Emmy, and BAFTA win. In 2022, it
1404-456: The comedy drama Hero , released in the United Kingdom as Accidental Hero . The film starred Dustin Hoffman , Geena Davis , Andy Garcia , and Joan Cusack . Many critics compared the film to those of Preston Sturges and Frank Capra , as did Roger Ebert , who wrote, "It [the film] has all the ingredients for a terrific entertainment, but it lingers over the kinds of details that belong in
1456-404: The conventional Bond films. However, the project was cancelled due to "creative differences" between Eon Productions and MGM , and in order to focus on the reboot of the series with Casino Royale (2006). In 2003, Frears returned to directing for television with The Deal (2003), which depicts an alleged deal between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown over which of them should become leader of
1508-479: The depiction of the lovers' life in their flat suitably claustrophobic." Vincent Canby was less enthused, writing: "The film covers the main events of the Orton life in a manner that is nothing less than distracted. One has little understanding of the fatal intensity – and need – that kept Orton and Halliwell together." He nevertheless had praise for the film's acting. Similarly, Pauline Kael lauded Redgrave but said
1560-483: The door of playwright Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell, but nobody opens. She calls the police. They find the corpses of the two men. A decade later theatre critic John Lahr visits Peggy Ramsay because he wants to write Orton's biography. They find Orton's diaries, and Peggy tells Lahr about Orton's life. Orton and Halliwell's relationship began at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts . Orton started out as
1612-543: The film I really regretted not having done it." Maggie Smith turned down the role of Ramsay, saying that she did not want to perturb her sons by starring in a film that featured homosexual promiscuity and murder. Keith Allen was in talks to play Orton before Oldman was cast. Prick Up Your Ear s has a 92% rating at review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes , based on 39 reviews, with an average score of 7.7/10. Roger Ebert awarded Prick Up Your Ears four stars out of four, describing Redgrave's performance as "superb", and praising
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1664-493: The film helped launch the careers of both Frears and actor Daniel Day-Lewis . Frears worked with Adrian Edmondson on Mr Jolly Lives Next Door , a 45-minute programme starring Peter Cook in The Comic Strip Presents television comedy series that aired on Channel Four in 1988. In 1985, Frears had also directed a Comic Strip parody of Daphne Du Maurier 's 1938 novel Rebecca . Frears next directed
1716-618: The horror film Mary Reilly and the Western The Hi-Lo Country (1998). In 2000, Frears directed High Fidelity starring John Cusack , Jack Black , Lisa Bonet , and Joan Cusack . The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby . It is set in Chicago rather than London, and the name of the lead character was changed. After seeing the film, Hornby expressed his happiness with Cusack's performance, saying that "at times, it appears to be
1768-470: The industry who have died over the past 12 months, showcasing a montage of images accompanied by music. The Awards ceremony has been historically delayed broadcast on British television the same evening, and across the world. The first broadcast was on the BBC in 1956, with Vivien Leigh (who would present an award to her husband Sir Laurence Olivier ) as the host. It has been broadcast in colour since 1970. In
1820-519: The limited series with A Very English Scandal , which premiered on BBC One and later on Amazon Prime . The project is a three-part 2018 British television comedy-drama miniseries based on John Preston 's 2016 book of the same name . It is a dramatisation of the 1976–1979 Jeremy Thorpe scandal and more than 15 years of events leading up to it. The series stars Hugh Grant as the politician Jeremy Thorpe , and Ben Whishaw as his lover Norman Scott . The limited series gained great acclaim in both
1872-530: The male relationship was unconvincing and suffused with "modern-style psychosexual moralizing", and that "unlike Orton, it [the script] takes no real delight in misbehaving." Oldman earned a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actor; Redgrave received BAFTA and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Redgrave won Best Supporting Actress at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards . Alan Bennett earned
1924-508: The mobile telephone network Orange sponsored the awards. Orange's parent company, EE , took over the sponsorship of the event from 2013. Note: Dench and Hoffman's tally of wins and nominations includes those received in the Most Promising Newcomer category. Nine actors have received dual nominations in the same category in a single year at the BAFTA Film Awards. The only director to receive dual nominations in
1976-672: The neo-noir crime thriller The Grifters , starring John Cusack , Anjelica Huston , and Annette Bening . Martin Scorsese served as a producer on the film. The film won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film , and was declared one of the Top 10 films of 1990 by The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures . Frears was also nominated for the US Academy Award for Best Director . In 1992, Frears directed
2028-416: The public". In addition to high-profile awards ceremonies, BAFTA runs a year-round programme of educational events, including film screenings and tribute evenings. BAFTA is supported by a membership of about 6,000 people from the film, television, and video game industries. The Academy's awards are in the form of a theatrical mask designed by American sculptor Mitzi Cunliffe , in response to a commission from
2080-471: The real-life relationship between Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her Indian Muslim servant Abdul Karim . The film also stars Ali Fazal , Michael Gambon , Eddie Izzard , Tim Pigott-Smith (in his final film role), and Adeel Akhtar . The film had its world premiere at the 74th Venice Film Festival , and was theatrically released on 15 September 2017 in the United Kingdom. It has grossed more than $ 65 million worldwide. In 2018, Frears returned to
2132-414: The uneducated youth to Halliwell's older faux-sophisticate. As the relationship progressed, however, Orton grew increasingly confident in his talent while Halliwell's writing stagnated. They fell into a parody of a traditional married couple, with Orton as the "husband" and Halliwell as the long-suffering and increasingly-ignored "wife" (a situation exacerbated at a time when being a sexually active homosexual
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2184-498: The university, Frears worked as an assistant director on the films Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966), directed by Karel Reisz , and if.... (1968), directed by Lindsay Anderson . Frears also worked with Albert Finney on Charlie Bubbles (1968). With Finney's company Memorial Productions, Frears made The Burning , a 31-minute adaptation of a short story by Roland Starke. Although set in South Africa, it
2236-407: The work of Oldman and Molina: "The great performances in the movie are, of course, at its center. Gary Oldman plays Orton, and Alfred Molina plays Halliwell, and these are two of the best performances of the year... [Oldman] is the best young British actor around". Variety noted: "The script is witty, the direction fluid, with one of the homosexual orgy scenes in a public toilet almost balletic, and
2288-612: Was Jewish until he was in his late 20s. From 1954 to 1959, Frears was educated at Gresham's School , an independent boarding school for boys (now co-educational) in the market town of Holt in Norfolk . This was followed by Trinity College, Cambridge , where he earned a BA Law. At the University of Cambridge, Frears was assistant stage manager for the 1963 footlights Revue, which starred Tim Brooke-Taylor , John Cleese , Bill Oddie and David Hatch . After graduating from
2340-466: Was a critical and commercial success, with many praising Streep and Grant for their performances. At the 89th Academy Awards , it was nominated for Best Costume Design and earned Streep her 20th nomination for Best Actress . It received four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture in a Comedy or Musical. In 2017, Frears reunited with Judi Dench , this time in Victoria & Abdul , about
2392-574: Was filmed in Tangier . It was released theatrically attached to François Truffaut 's The Bride Wore Black . Frears spent most of his early directing career in television, mainly for the BBC but also for the commercial sector. He contributed to several anthology series, such as the BBC's Play for Today . He also produced a series of Alan Bennett 's plays for LWT , including The Old Crowd (1979, director: Lindsay Anderson). His directorial film debut
2444-473: Was first broadcast on the BBC in 1956 with Vivien Leigh as the host. The ceremony was initially held in April or May; since 2001, it typically takes place in February. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) was founded in 1947 as The British Film Academy, by David Lean , Alexander Korda , Carol Reed , Charles Laughton , Roger Manvell , Laurence Olivier , Emeric Pressburger , Michael Powell , Michael Balcon , and other major figures of
2496-571: Was illegal). Orton was commissioned to write a screenplay for the Beatles . Halliwell got carried away in preparing for a meeting with the "Fab Four", but Orton was taken away for a meeting on his own. Finally, in August 1967, a despondent Halliwell kills Orton and commits suicide . Ian McKellen was originally envisioned as Halliwell. McKellen explained: "I needed a holiday – I'd been working so hard – so I just kept saying 'no, no, no', but when I saw
2548-559: Was one of several celebrities who endorsed the parliamentary candidacy of Caroline Lucas at the 2015 general election , but not other Green Party candidates. In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, Frears signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn 's leadership in the 2019 general election . TV movies TV series Miniseries Over his career, Frears has amassed numerous awards and nominations, including two Academy Award nominations, four Primetime Emmy Award nominations (one win),
2600-429: Was reported that Frears would be directing a film about Billy Wilder titled Wilder & Me . An adaptation by Christopher Hampton of the novel Mr Wilder and Me (2020) by Jonathan Coe , the film is scheduled to begin shooting in early 2025, produced by Jeremy Thomas . In 1968, Frears married Mary-Kay Wilmers , with whom he had two sons, Sam and Will. The couple divorced in the early 1970s. Will Frears became
2652-410: Was taken from her when she was a young unwed mother at a Catholic convent, and adopted by an American family. It also recounted Sixsmith's efforts to help her find the son. The film starred Judi Dench and Steve Coogan . The film premiered at the 70th Venice International Film Festival to great acclaim and writers Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan won the best screenplay award for the film. The film won
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#17327795138662704-401: Was the noir detective spoof Gumshoe (1971). In the late 1980s, Frears came to international attention as a director of feature films. In 1985, Frears found widespread acclaim with My Beautiful Laundrette . Based on Hanif Kureishi 's screenplay, the film focuses on an interracial gay romance. It received an Academy Award nomination and two nominations for BAFTA Awards. The success of
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