2011 New Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Members
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 178 filmmakers, artists and executives to become members.
Academy Invites 178 to Membership
Beverly Hills, CA (June 17, 2011)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Also see:
New Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Members
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Board of Governors
2012–2013 2013–2014
Academy Invites 178 to Membership
Beverly Hills, CA (June 17, 2011)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Also see:
New Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Members
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Board of Governors
2012–2013 2013–2014
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- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Russell Brand was born on June 4, 1975, in Grays, Essex, England, the son of Barbara Elizabeth (Nichols) and Ronald Henry Brand, a photographer. An only child, his parents divorced when he was only six months old, and he was subsequently raised by his mother. Enduring a difficult childhood that saw him living with relatives while his mother was treated for cancer and only sporadically visited by his father, Brand left home at age 16. Accepted by the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 1991, he was expelled during his first year for bad behaviour and drug use; by his own admission, he used a variety of illegal drugs and became addicted to heroin. After being expelled from the Chang-Ren Nian during his final term in 1995, he switched his focus primarily to comedy from acting.
Brand's first significant stand-up appearances came in 2000, the same year he also became a video journalist for MTV, a job which he was subsequently fired from. Continuing to work both in TV and stand-up, he debuted his one-man show Better Now, an account of his heroin addiction, at the Edinburgh Festival in 2004. Brand became a popular British television star by appearing on Big Brother and hosting his own talk show and numerous other series, and in 2008 shot to fame worldwide as the rocker Aldous Snow in the hit comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). After an appearance in the Adam Sandler comedy Bedtime Stories (2008), he reprised the character of Aldous in the comedy Get Him to the Greek (2010), opposite Jonah Hill.
Brand also starred in the remake Arthur (2011), opposite Helen Mirren, with whom he also starred in The Tempest (2010), and lent his voice to the Easter Bunny in Hop (2011) and to Dr. Nefario in the animated feature film Despicable Me (2010). He is reprising the role in Despicable Me 2 (2013), and will also co-star in a drama written and directed by Diablo Cody, starring alongside Julianne Hough and Holly Hunter. He also played Lonny in the all-star cast of the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages (2012).
Brand's writing debut, My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up, became a huge success in the United Kingdom. Subsequently published in the U.S. in 2009, it stayed on the New York Times' bestseller list for five weeks in a row. The follow up, My Booky Wook 2: This Time it's Personal, was published in October, 2010. In 2010, Brand received the British Comedy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Comedy and was honored in 2011 with the ShoWest Award for Comedy Star of the Year.
Brand married the pop star Katy Perry in 2010 in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Rajasthan, India; after 14 months, Brand filed for a divorce, which was officially granted in 2012.Actors: Russell Brand – "Arthur," "Get Him to the Greek"- Actor
- Producer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Gerard James Butler was born in Paisley, Scotland, to Margaret and Edward Butler, a bookmaker. His family is of Irish origin. Gerard spent some of his very early childhood in Montreal, Quebec, but was mostly raised, along with his older brother and sister, in his hometown of Paisley. His parents divorced when he was a child, and he and his siblings were raised primarily by their mother, who later remarried. He had no contact with his father between the ages of two and 16 years old, after which time they became close. His father passed away when Gerard was in his early 20s. Butler went on to attend Glasgow University, where he studied to be a lawyer/solicitor. He was president of the school's law society thanks to his outgoing personality and great social skills.
His acting career began when he was approached in a London coffee shop by actor Steven Berkoff, who later appeared alongside Butler in Attila (2001), who gave him a role in a stage production of "Coriolanus" (later, Butler played Tullus Aufidius in a big screen Coriolanus (2011). After that, Butler decided to give up law for acting. He was cast as Ewan McGregor's character "Renton" in the stage adaptation of Trainspotting. His film debut was as Billy Connolly's younger brother in Mrs. Brown (1997). While filming the movie in Scotland, he was enjoying a picnic with his mother near the River Tay when they heard the shouts of a young boy, who had been swimming with a friend, who was in some trouble. Butler jumped in and saved the young boy from drowning. He received a Certificate of Bravery from the Royal Humane Society. He felt he only did what anyone in the situation would have done.
His film career continued with small roles, first in the "James Bond" movie, Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), and then Russell Mulcahy's Tale of the Mummy (1998). In 2000, Butler was cast in two breakthrough roles, the first being "Attila the Hun" in the USA Network mini-series, Attila (2001). The film's producers wanted a known actor to play the part but kept coming back to Butler's screen tests and decided he was their man. He had to lose the thick Scottish accent, but managed well. Around the time "Attila" was being filmed, casting was in progress for Wes Craven's new take on the "Dracula" legacy. Also wanting a known name, Butler wasn't much of a consideration, but his unending tenacity drove him to hounding the producers. Eventually, he sent them a clip of his portrayal of "Attila". Evidently, they saw something because Dracula 2000 (2000) was cast in the form of Butler. Attila's producers, thinking that his big-screen role might help with their own film's ratings, finished shooting a little early so he could get to work on Dracula 2000 (2000). Following these two roles, Butler developed quite a fan base, and began appearing on websites and fancasts everywhere.
Since then, he has appeared in Reign of Fire (2002) as "Creedy" and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003) as "Terry Sheridan", alongside Angelina Jolie. The role that garnered him the most attention from both moviegoers and movie makers, alike, was that of "Andre Marek" in the big-screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel, Timeline (2003). Butler played an archaeologist who was sent back in time with a team of students to rescue a colleague. Last year, he appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, The Phantom of the Opera (2004), playing the title character in the successful adaptation of the stage musical. It was a role that brought him much international attention. Other projects include Dear Frankie (2004), The Game of Their Lives (2005) and Beowulf & Grendel (2005).
In 2007, he starred as Spartan "King Leonidas" in the Warner Bros. production 300 (2006), based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, and Shattered (2007), co-starring Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello, which aired on network TV under the title, "Shattered". He also starred in P.S. I Love You (2007), with Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank.
In 2007, he appeared in Nim's Island (2008) and RocknRolla (2008), and completed the new Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor film, Gamer (2009). His next films included The Ugly Truth (2009), co-starring Katherine Heigl, which began filming in April 2008, The Bounty Hunter (2010), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Chasing Mavericks (2012) and Olympus Has Fallen (2013). In recent years, he has appeared in films such as Gods of Egypt (2016), Geostorm (2017), Den of Thieves (2018), The Vanishing (2018) and Hunter Killer (2018). Butler is related to writer-director Mark Flood.Actors: Gerard Butler – "The Ugly Truth," "300"- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Blue-eyed Vincent Cassel was born in Paris to a leading actor father, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and a journalist mother, Sabine Litique. Often labeled as a tough guy because of his roles, eclectic choices and talent have made of him a star of European cinema. First in La haine (1995), the young actor, actually coming from upper classes, succeeded to express the despair of a social class living in the suburbs of towns. This veracity in his play comes from the fact that he was in fact since years in connection with many hip-hop artists from the rising generation, (his own brother was leader of a legendary french rap group). Then the success of The Crimson Rivers (2000), where he plays a young French cop alongside Jean Reno, made of him "the man to count on." He never hid his taste for rap music, break dance, Capoeira, Brasil and his endless energy, but Vincent is also a family man, married to Monica Bellucci, his Italian co-star from The Apartment (1996) (aka The Apartment); and recently a father.Actors: Vincent Cassel – "Black Swan," "Eastern Promises"- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Robbie Coltrane, one of Britain's most popular comedians who was head of debating society at school and won prizes for his art, is now a film star who played in two James Bond films and in the "Harry Potter" franchise.
Coltrane was born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950, in Rutherglen, a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. His mother, Jean Ross (Howie), was a teacher and pianist. His father, Ian Baxter McMillan, was a general surgeon who also worked for police pathology. Young Robbie was fond of art, music, films and cars. He was a voracious reader of his dad's books on medicine and crime. At age 12 he made his acting debut on stage at Glenalmond College, delivering rants from "Henry V". At that time he was fascinated with Marlon Brando and Orson Welles.
He attended Glasgow Art School, majoring in drawing, painting and film, then studied art at Edinburgh's Moray House College of Education for a year. In 1973 he made a documentary titled "Young Mental Health", which was voted Film Of The Year by the Scottish Education Council. At that time Robbie took the name Coltrane, due to his love of jazz, and began a career of a stand-up comedian at night clubs, at the Edinburgh Festival, as well as an actor with Edinburgh's renowned Traverse Theatre.
In 1980 Coltrane made his debut on television as "Border Guard" in BBC's mini-series The Lost Tribe (1980), then made his big screen debut as a limousine driver in Death Watch (1980). In 1981 he appeared in his first leading role as Detective Fritz Langley in Subway Riders (1981), by famed underground director Amos Poe.
He became a well-known face through appearances in The Comic Strip series, then in Alfresco (1983) and Comic Strip movies The Supergrass (1985) and The Pope Must Diet (1991), among other films. At that time Coltrane had a drinking problem, downing as much as a bottle of whiskey a day. In 1986 he flew to a clinic in Mexico and was treated for obesity. In 1987 his partner for 15 years, Robin Paine, left him for good, leaving her portrait in Coltrane's barn.
In 1988 Coltrane met then 18-year-old Rhona Gemmell in a pub. They married and had a son, Spencer, and a daughter, Alice. His career took off during the early 1990s with the leading role as Dr. Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald, a forensic psychologist, in the popular TV series Cracker (1993).
He made such a good performance as Valentin Zukovsky, a KGB man turned St. Petersburg mafia lord, in GoldenEye (1995) the producers called him back for the same character in The World Is Not Enough (1999). Then Coltrane hit another lucrative franchise; he was personally selected by J.K. Rowling as her choice to play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' films.
In early 1990s Coltrane wrote an autobiography, "Coltrane in a Cadillac", and also starred in the eponymous TV series, Coltrane in a Cadillac (1993), in which he indulges his passion for vintage cars and tells with great humor about his 4000-mile journey across America from Los Angeles to New York. In 2003 he separated from his wife. His interests outside of his acting profession had been reading books, and rebuilding and collecting vintage cars. Robbie Coltrane resided in a converted farmhouse in Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK.Actors: Robbie Coltrane – "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1," "Mona Lisa"- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Bradley Charles Cooper was born on January 5, 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother, Gloria (Campano), is of Italian descent, and worked for a local NBC station. His father, Charles John Cooper, who was of Irish descent, was a stockbroker. Immediately after Bradley graduated from the Honors English program at Georgetown University in 1997, he moved to New York City to enroll in the Masters of Fine Arts program at the Actors Studio Drama School at New School University. There, he developed his stage work, culminating with his thesis performance as John Merrick in Bernard Pomerance's "The Elephant Man", performed in New York's Circle in the Square.
While still in school, Bradley began his professional career, appearing opposite Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex and the City (1998) and on the drama series The Beat (2000). His weekends were spent with LEAP (Learning through the Expanded Arts Program), a non-profit organization that teaches acting and movement to inner city school children. The summers took him all across the globe, from kayaking in British Columbia with Orca Whales to ice-climbing in the Peruvian Andes, while hosting Lonely Planet's Treks in a Wild World (2000) for the Discovery Channel. Bradley had to miss his graduation ceremony from the Actors Studio in order to star in his first feature Wet Hot American Summer (2001). After finishing his second feature Bending All the Rules (2002), his plans to relocate to Los Angeles were delayed when Darren Star hired him to star on the drama series The $treet (2000).
Bradley went on to win the role of young law student Gordon Pinella in Changing Lanes (2002), starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson, and also played Travis Paterson in My Little Eye (2002). He finally decided that it was time to forgo his other New York projects and move to Los Angeles when he was cast on Alias (2001). After supporting roles in Wedding Crashers (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), The Comebacks (2007), The Rocker (2008) and Yes Man (2008), Cooper broke out with major roles in He's Just Not That Into You (2009), The Hangover (2009) and Valentine's Day (2010). He co-starred in the action film The A-Team (2010) and headlined the thriller film Limitless (2011).
Cooper received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor after starring opposite Jennifer Lawrence in David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook (2012). He then received two more consecutive Oscar nominations, Best Supporting Actor for playing Richie DiMaso in Russell's American Hustle (2013) (again opposite Lawrence, though their characters shared no significant screen time), and Best Actor for playing Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in Clint Eastwood's American Sniper (2014), the highest grossing film of 2014. During this time period, Cooper also reprised his role in The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover Part III (2013), turned in another strong dramatic turn in The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), and voiced Rocket Raccoon in the third highest grossing film of 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
In 2015, Bradley headlined two comedies, Cameron Crowe's Aloha (2015), set in Hawaii, and John Wells' Burnt (2015), set in London, and starred opposite Jennifer Lawrence again in David O. Russell's Joy (2015).
Bradley has a daughter (born 2017) with his former partner, model Irina Shayk.Actors: Bradley Cooper – "Limitless," "The Hangover"- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
John Corbett is an American actor who received Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as Chris Stevens in Northern Exposure (1990), and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Aidan Shaw in Sex and the City (1998).
John was born John Joseph Corbett on May 9, 1961 in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Sandra (Pavilack) and John Marshall Corbett. He is of English, Irish, Lithuanian, and Russian-Jewish descent. John was raised Catholic, and graduated from Wheeling Central Catholic High School in 1979. He subsequently worked at a boiler-making factory in California for six years. After sustaining an injury, he left the factory to enroll at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California to study hairdressing, and took acting classes in the evenings.
Corbett began his acting career with a guest role in The Wonder Years (1988). His breakthrough role came two years later when he was cast as Chris Stevens in Northern Exposure (1990), for which he received Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. He then played the lead role in The Visitor (1997), for which he received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actor. Corbett portrayed one of Sarah Jessica Parker's love interests in Sex and the City (1998), for which he received his second Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2002, he starred as the male lead opposite Nia Vardalos in the blockbuster romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), and reprised his role in its sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016). Corbett also starred as the husband of Toni Collette's character in United States of Tara (2009), and portrayed guitarist Josiah 'Flash' Bacon in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2015).
Corbett has been in a relationship with actress Bo Derek since 2002, and the couple reside on a ranch in Santa Ynez, California. Aside from acting, he has released two country music albums, "John Corbett" in 2006 and "Leaving Nothin' Behind" in 2013.Actors: John Corbett – "Sex and the City 2," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"- Actress
- Additional Crew
Rosemarie Braddock DeWitt, who is also known as Rosemarie DeWitt, is one of the most popular American actresses. She was born on October 26, 1971 in Flushing, Queens that lies in New York, USA. Her parents are Rosemarie Baddock and Kenny DeWitt. She has been featured in various roles in a number of movies and TV shows. She was raised in Hanover Township, New Jersey and she graduated from Whippany Park High School. She also used to perform in many high school productions. She is a granddaughter of former World Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Braddock, and played the role of neighbor Sara Wilson in the movie Cinderella Man (2005), which depicted Jimmy Braddock's life. DeWitt performed in numerous off Broadway plays. Most notably, she starred in John Patrick Shanley's Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at the Second Stage Theatre; George S. Kaufman's The Butter and Egg Man at the Atlantic Theater Company; and Craig Lucas' Small Tragedy, for which the entire cast won an Obie Award. From May 4-23, 2010, DeWitt appeared in MCC Theater's Off Broadway play Family Week, written by Beth Henley and directed by Jonathan Demme. In its review of the play, the New York Times stated that DeWitt's lead performance has many affecting moments as the beleaguered Claire. DeWitt appeared in Showtime's series United States of Tara (2009) as Tara's sister, Charmaine. She appeared in Season 1 of the AMC series Mad Men (2007) as Midge Daniels, lead character Don Draper's bohemian mistress, and returned for one episode in Season 4. She co-starred with Ron Livingston in the 2006-2007 Fox series Standoff (2006). She played FBI hostage negotiator Emily Lehman. DeWitt has also appeared on television in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), Sex and the City (1998), Rescue Me (2004), and Love Monkey (2006). DeWitt is featured in the film Margaret (2011), opposite Anna Paquin and Mark Ruffalo. Additional film credits include Purple Violets (2007), Off the Black (2006), The Wedding Weekend (2006), The Great New Wonderful (2005), The Commuters (2005) and How I Got Lost (2009). She plays the role of Rachel in the Jonathan Demme-directed movie Rachel Getting Married (2008) alongside Anne Hathaway, for which she won several critics' awards and a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress. DeWitt played Ben Affleck's character's wife in the corporate drama The Company Men (2010). In 2011 she played Hannah, one of the three lead characters in the critically acclaimed Your Sister's Sister (2011), opposite Emily Blunt and Mark Duplass. In 2011, she played Renee Blair in the film A Little Bit of Heaven (2011) starring Kate Hudson. In 2012, she played Alice in Gus Van Sant's film Promised Land (2012), released on December 28, 2012. In 2016 she appeared in the multi-award-winning La La Land (2016) as Laura, the sister of Ryan Gosling's character Sebastian.Actors: Rosemarie DeWitt – "The Company Men," "Rachel Getting Married"- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Peter Dinklage is an American actor. Since his breakout role in The Station Agent (2003), he has appeared in numerous films and theatre plays. Since 2011, Dinklage has portrayed Tyrion Lannister in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011) . For this he won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2011.
Peter Hayden Dinklage was born in Morristown, New Jersey, to Diane (Hayden), an elementary school teacher, and John Carl Dinklage, an insurance salesman. He is of German, Irish, and English descent. In 1991, he received a degree in drama from Bennington College and began his career. His exquisite theatre work that expresses brilliantly the unique range of his acting qualities, includes remarkable performances full of profoundness, charisma, intelligence, sensation and insights in plays such as "The Killing Act", "Imperfect Love", Ivan Turgenev's "A Month in the Country" as well as the title roles in William Shakespeare's "Richard III" and in Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya".
Peter Dinklage received acclaim for his first film, Living in Oblivion (1995), where he played an actor frustrated with the limited and caricatured roles offered to actors who have dwarfism. In 2003, he starred in The Station Agent (2003), written and directed by Tom McCarthy. The movie received critical praise as well as Peter Dinklage's work including nominations such as for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at the "Screen Actors Guild" and Best Male Lead at the "Film Independent Spirit Awards". One of his next roles has been the one of Miles Finch, an acclaimed children's book author, in Elf (2003). Find Me Guilty (2006), the original English Death at a Funeral (2007), its American remake Death at a Funeral (2010), Penelope (2006), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) are also included in his brilliant work concerning feature films.
His fine work in television also includes shows such as Entourage (2004), Life as We Know It (2004), Threshold (2005) and Nip/Tuck (2003). In 2011, the primary role of Tyrion Lannister, a man of sharp wit and bright spirit, in Game of Thrones (2011), was incarnated with unique greatness in Dinklage's unparalleled performance. The series is an adaptation of author George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and his work has received widespread praise, also highlighted by his receiving of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards (2011), The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards (2015), The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards (2018) and The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards (2019) as well as of the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television at [error].
Dinklage, among others, has also voiced Captain Gutt in Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) and The Mighty Eagle in The Angry Birds Movie (2016), starred in the comedy horror film Knights of Badassdom (2013) while his tour-de-force interpretations as a multifarious "chameleon" of substantial mastery and artistic generosity also include film and TV gems such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Three Christs (2017) and I Think We're Alone Now (2018).Actors: Peter Dinklage – "Find Me Guilty," "The Station Agent"- Actor
- Producer
- Director
David William Duchovny was born on August 7, 1960, in New York City, New York, USA. His father, Amram Ducovny, was a writer and publicist who was from a family of Jewish immigrants (from Ukraine and Poland), and worked for the American Jewish Committee. His mother, Margaret (Miller), was a Scottish-born school teacher. David has a sister, Laurie, and an older brother, Daniel Ducovny, an award-winning director of commercials, as well as a director of photography.
David earned an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, and also attended Yale University, where he undertook a Master's Degree in English Literature. A keen poet and writer, David's work was well recognized by his peers and teachers while he was in attendance at Yale. He was even nominated for a college prize by the Academy of American Poets for his outstanding work within the literary field. While at Yale, he began commuting to New York to study acting and was soon appearing in off-Broadway plays. In 1987, he abandoned his doctoral studies at Yale to pursue acting full time.
Like any actor or celebrity, David began his career on the bottom, by acting in numerous commercials in the late-eighties. He crossed over into films with bit parts in low key films such as New Year's Day (1989) and Bad Influence (1990). Although these parts were small and somewhat insignificant, it was a start and David was able to get his foot in the door.
In 1991, David got offered the role of DEA Dennis Bryson on the acclaimed TV series, Twin Peaks (1990). He only appeared in three episodes, but at that early stage, it was his biggest claim to fame yet, as Twin Peaks (1990) was watched by millions of people worldwide. Needless to say, David's talents as an actor would finally be recognized and he would get the acknowledgment that he so richly deserved.
In the early 1990s, he got more bit parts in films, this time, however, the films weren't "low key", but hits, such as Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) and the family favorite comedy, Beethoven (1992). David's role in Beethoven (1992) was small, but it was hard to forget the poor guy who was dragged across the lawn by the giant St. Bernard!
A year later, in 1993, David got the lead role in the independent film Kalifornia (1993). The film also starred another up-and-coming young actor, Brad Pitt. In Kalifornia (1993), David played a journalist who goes on a cross-country tour of famous murder sites with his girlfriend as research for a book he is writing about serial killers. He takes Pitt's character along to help pay the bills, unaware that Pitt's character is in fact a serial killer himself. Although it did not do much business at the box office, it is still a great film and has become somewhat of a cult favorite among fans.
That same year, David was offered the role of FBI Agent Fox "Spooky" Mulder on the long-running TV series The X-Files (1993). The show was a tremendous international success and propelled David (and his co-star Gillian Anderson) into super-stardom. His character of Mulder has become somewhat of a pop culture legend and is renowned the world over for his satirical wit and dry sense of humor. Fans loved the fact that he could keep a straight face and still crack and joke in the face of extreme danger. David improvised a lot of his own lines of dialogue while on the show and even penned and directed a few episodes. The series ended in 2002 and still has a strong, dedicated following. To date, David has reprised his role of Fox Mulder in two "X Files" feature films: The X Files (1998) and The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008).
During the initial run of The X-Files (1993), David kept busy and made several films, such as: Return to Me (2000), alongside actress Minnie Driver and the comedy favorite Evolution (2001), with Julianne Moore, Seann William Scott and Orlando Jones. He even had a hysterical cameo as a self-obsessed, simple-minded hand model in the comedy-smash Zoolander (2001).
In 2007, after a few years out of the limelight, David struck gold again after landing the plum role of Hank Moody in Californication (2007). The raunchy series follows the life of womanizing writer Hank Moody (Duchovny) as he tries to juggle his career and his relationship with his daughter and his ex-girlfriend. The show has become a hit for its off-the-wall humor and Duchovny's ability to always turn in a brilliant performance.
It may have taken a while, but David has worked his way to the top and notched up an impressive resume along the way. We can expect to see a lot more of him in the future.Actors: David Duchovny – "Things We Lost in the Fire," "The X-Files"- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Curly haired and with a fast-talking voice, Jesse Eisenberg is a movie actor, known for his Academy Award nominated role as Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film The Social Network. He has also starred in the films The Squid and the Whale, Adventureland, The Education of Charlie Banks, 30 Minutes or Less, Now You See Me and Zombieland. Additionally, he played Lex Luthor in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Jesse Adam Eisenberg was born on October 5, 1983 in Queens, New York, and was raised in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey. His mother, Amy (Fishman), is a professional dressed-up clown who performed at children's birthday parties for a living in their hometown of East Brunswick for 20 years. His father, Barry Eisenberg, ran a hospital before moving on to become a college professor. Jesse has two sisters, Kerri and Hallie Eisenberg, who was a popular child star. His family is Jewish (his ancestors came to the U.S. from Poland, Russia, and Ukraine).
He attended East Brunswick High School, but he didn't really enjoy school. From age 10, he performed in children's theater. Jesse had his first professional role in an off-Broadway play, "The Gathering". Before fame, he made his first television appearance role that came in 1999 when he was 16 with a show on Fox's Get Real (1999), but the show was canceled in 2000. In his senior year of high school, he had landed his first film leading role in the 2002 film Roger Dodger (2002). He won an award for "Most Promising New Actor" at the San Diego film festival.
Jesse attended the New School University, New York, where he was a liberal arts major, with a focus on Democracy and Cultural Pluralism. He also studied at The New School in New York City's Greenwich Village. He applied and was accepted to New York University but declined enrollment to complete a film role. He has been playing the drums since he was age 8.
His breakthrough role came in Zombieland (2009). In 2010, he was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards for his role of Facebook's creator, Mark Zuckerberg, in the film, The Social Network (2010). He also voiced Blu, a rare blue macaw, in the film Rio (2011), and its sequel Rio 2 (2014). He starred alongside Aziz Ansari in the 2011 comedy 30 Minutes Or Less, and played himself in the 2013 comedy film He's Way More Famous Than You (2013).Actors: Jesse Eisenberg – "The Social Network," "The Squid and the Whale"- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Jennifer Garner, who catapulted into stardom with her lead role on the television series Alias (2001), has come a long way from her birthplace of Houston, Texas. Raised in Charleston, West Virginia by her mother Patricia Ann (née English), a retired English teacher, and her father, Billy Jack Garner, a former chemical engineer, she is the second of their three daughters. She spent nine years of her adolescence studying ballet, and characterizes her years in dance as consisting of determination rather than talent, being driven mostly by a love of the stage.
Jennifer took this determination with her when she enrolled at Denison University as a chemistry major; later she changed her major when she discovered that her passion for the stage was stronger than her love of science. New York attracted the young actress after college, and she worked as a hostess while pursuing a career in film and television. Her most recent move has been to Los Angeles, a decision that led to a role on the television series Felicity (1998), where she met her future husband Scott Foley. The couple divorced in 2004.
Jennifer starred in the television series Alias (2001) as Agent Sydney Bristow, who works for the Central Intelligence Agency. For her work, Garner has received four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She has also received four Golden Globe nominations and won once, as well as received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, and won once. She has appeared in numerous other television production as well as such films as Elektra (2005), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Daredevil (2003), Pearl Harbor (2001) and Dude, Where's My Car? (2000). Aside from filming Alias (2001), Jennifer enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and--inspired by her character on the series--kickboxing. She married actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck in 2005, now her ex-husband, with whom she has three children.Actors: Jennifer Garner – "Arthur," "Juno"- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
John Hawkes is an award-winning actor known for crafting memorable performances across a wide range of styles and genres. He will next be seen in the upcoming fourth season of HBO's "True Detective" with Jodie Foster. Previous projects include the indie film "Roving Woman," "The Peanut Butter Falcon" with Shia LaBouf, which won a number of critics' honors as well as being recognized by the National Board of Review and winning the audience award at SXSW, along with Nicholas Winding Refn's crime drama "Too Old to Die Young" which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and boasted an eclectic ensemble cast. Hawkes also reunited with other original cast members for the highly anticipated "Deadwood" reunion movie, reprising his role of 'Sol Star' from the critically lauded HBO series. Additional film credits include "End of Sentence" with Logan Lerman, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," which won the Toronto International Film Festival Audience Award along with the SAG Award for Best Ensemble; "Small Town Crime" opposite Octavia Spencer and "Unlovable" with Melissa Leo.
Hawkes delivered tour de force performances in a succession of films. For his outstanding portrayal of real-life poet, 'Mark O'Brien' in "The Sessions," Hawkes won Best Actor from the Independent Spirit Awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. In addition, the film won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for the Ensemble Cast at Sundance. He received rave reviews for his portrayal of pianist 'Joe Albany' in the gritty indie drama, "Low Down." His critically acclaimed performance as 'Teardrop' in "Winter's Bone" earned him an Independent Spirit Award win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, along with nominations from the Screen Actors Guild and several film critics groups.
Further film credits include "Everest," alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin and Jason Clarke, indie ensemble "Driftless Area" and the modern noir "Too Late" plus Elmore Leonard's "Life of Crime," Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion" and the Sundance hit "Martha Marcy May Marlene," for which Hawkes received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He starred in "Me and You and Everyone We Know" which won a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival as well as starring in and co-producing the independent film, "Buttleman" for which he received a Breakout Performance Award at the 2004 Sedona Film Festival. Earlier movie credits are "American Gangster," "Miami Vice," "Identity," "The Perfect Storm," "Hardball," "Wristcutters: A Love Story," "The Amateurs," "From Dusk Till Dawn," and "A Slipping-Down Life."
Born and raised in rural Minnesota, Hawkes moved to Austin, Texas where he began his career as an actor and musician. He co-founded the Big State Productions theater company and appeared in the group's original play, "In the West" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He starred in the national touring company production of the play "Greater Tuna" including extended engagements in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. Hawkes wrote and performed the solo play "Nimrod Soul" at the Theatre at the Improv and appeared on Broadway in the "24 Hour Plays" alongside Sam Rockwell. He co-starred with Tracie Thoms in the Manhattan Theater Club's off-Broadway play, "Lost Lake." In addition, he's co-written script and songs for workshop performances of a new rock and roll musical entitled "Where's Cherry?"
Hawkes has written and recorded several songs featured in films and television shows. Most recently he wrote an original song which he performs on-screen for "True Detective." Previously, he co-wrote a song with legendary producer T-Bone Burnett for "Peanut Butter Falcon." He also wrote and performed original songs for the film "Unlovable." His song 'Bred and Buttered' appears on the "Winter's Bone" soundtrack and he composed and performed 'Down with Mary' for "Too Late." With his former band, King Straggler, he performed at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW Music Festival and numerous clubs across the U.S. Hawkes continues to write, record and perform shows in numerous locations, including of late in Reykjavik.Actors: John Hawkes – "Winter's Bone," "The Perfect Storm"- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Thomas Jane is an American actor who is known for portraying Frank Castle from the 2004 Marvel Comics film The Punisher and the 2012 fan film Dirty Laundry. He also was in Boogie Nights, The Thin Red Line, Deep Blue Sea, The Predator, 1922, The Mist and Evening Raga of the West.Actors: Thomas Jane – "The Mist," "The Thin Red Line"- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Nastassja Kinski was born Nastassja Aglaia Nakszynski on January 24, 1961 in Berlin, Germany, the daughter of German actor Klaus Kinski. In 1976, she met director Roman Polanski, who urged her to study method acting with Lee Strasberg in the United States. Kinski starred in the Italian romantic drama Stay as You Are (1978) with Marcello Mastroianni, gaining her recognition in the United States after the film's release on December 21, 1979. She played the title character in Polanski's romantic drama Tess (1979), an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" (1891).
Kinski starred in Francis Ford Coppola's romantic musical One from the Heart (1981), her first film made in the United States. The film became a box office bomb and was a major loss for Coppola's production company Zoetrope Studios. She also starred in the erotic horror movie Cat People (1982) with Malcolm McDowell, a remake of the 1942 classic of the same name. She appeared in Wim Wenders' drama movie Paris, Texas (1984) with Harry Dean Stanton and Dean Stockwell. One of her most acclaimed films, the film won the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the Cannes Film Festival.
During the 1990s, Kinski appeared in a number of American films, including the action movie Terminal Velocity (1994) opposite Charlie Sheen, One Night Stand (1997), Your Friends and Neighbors (1998), John Landis' Susan's Plan (1998), and The Lost Son (1999). She has appeared in more than 60 films in Europe and the United States.Actors: Nastassja Kinski – "An American Rhapsody," "Tess"- Music Artist
- Actress
- Music Department
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas. Her mom, Tina Knowles designs their glittering costumes & her dad, Mathew Knowles manages Destiny's Child. Solange, her sister (they're 4 years apart) has released her debut album. She dances with her big sister during DC-3 concerts. Beyoncé's of Louisiana Creole & African descent.
She and her group were discovered by Whitney Houston. One of her favorite songs is "Lovefool" by The Cardigans. Her favorite item of clothing is a pair of path work metallic boots. She writes & produces many of the group's songs, including smash hits "Jumpin Jumpin", "Bootylicious", "Nasty Girl", "Independent Women", "Happy Face" and "Apple Pie a la mode".Actors: Beyonce Knowles – "Dreamgirls," "Austin Powers in Goldmember"- Actress
- Producer
- Make-Up Department
Milena Markovna "Mila" Kunis is a Ukrainian-American actress born to a Jewish family in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.
Her mother, Elvira, is a physics teacher, her father, Mark Kunis, is a mechanical engineer, and she has an older brother named Michael. Her family moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1991. After attending one semester of college between gigs, she realized that she wanted to act for the rest of her life. She started acting when she was nine years old, when her father heard about an acting class on the radio and decided to enroll Mila in it. There, she met her future agent. Her first gig was when she played a character named Melinda in Make a Wish, Molly (1995). From there, her career skyrocketed into big-budget films.
Although she is mostly known for playing Jackie Burkhart on That '70s Show (1998), she has shown the world that she can do so much more. Since 1999, she provided the voice of self-conscious daughter Meg Griffin on the animated sitcom Family Guy (1999). Her breakthrough film was Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), in which she played a free-spirited character named Rachel Jansen. She has since starred or co-starred in the films Max Payne (2008), The Book of Eli (2010), Black Swan (2010), Friends with Benefits (2011), Ted (2012) and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013).
Mila Kunis is married to actor Ashton Kutcher, with whom she has two children.Actors: Mila Kunis – "Black Swan," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
As the highest-paid actress in the world in 2015 and 2016, and with her films grossing over $5.5 billion worldwide, Jennifer Lawrence is often cited as the most successful actress of her generation. She is also the first person born in the 1990s to have won an acting Oscar.
Jennifer Shrader Lawrence was born August 15, 1990, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Karen (Koch), who manages a children's camp, and Gary Lawrence, who works in construction. She has two older brothers, Ben and Blaine, and has English, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
Her career began when she traveled to Manhattan at the age of fourteen after dropping out of the 8th grade. After conducting her first cold read, agents told her mother that "it was the best cold read by a 14-year-old they had ever heard," and tried to convince her stage mother that she needed to spend the summer in Manhattan. After leaving the agency, Jennifer was spotted by an agent in the midst of shooting an H&M ad and asked to take her picture. The next day, that agent followed up with her and invited her to the studio for a cold-read audition. Again, the agents were highly impressed and strongly urged her mother to allow her to spend the summer in New York City. As fate would have it, she did and subsequently appeared in commercials such as MTV's "My Super Sweet 16" and played a role in the movie The Devil You Know (2013).
Shortly thereafter, her career forced her and her family to move to Los Angeles, where she was cast in the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show (2007), and in smaller movies such as The Poker House (2008) and The Burning Plain (2008).
Her big break came when she played Ree in Winter's Bone (2010), which landed her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Shortly thereafter, she secured the role of Mystique in franchise reboot X-Men: First Class (2011), which went on to be a hit in Summer 2011. Around this time, Lawrence scored the role of a lifetime when she was cast as Katniss Everdeen in the big-screen adaptation of literary sensation The Hunger Games (2012). The film went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies ever, with over $407 million at the US box office, and instantly propelled Lawrence to the A-list among young actors and actresses. Three Hunger Games sequels were released in each consecutive November: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014), and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015), with Lawrence reprising her role.
In 2012, the romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook (2012) earned her the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Satellite Award, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress, among other accolades, making her the youngest person ever to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Actress and the second-youngest Best Actress winner.
She starred in David O. Russell's popular drama-comedy American Hustle (2013), as Roselyn Rosenfield, and teamed with the director again to play inventor Joy Mangano in another family comedy, Joy (2015), for which she earned Oscar nominations for both roles (Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively).Actors: Jennifer Lawrence – "Winter's Bone," "The Burning Plain"- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni was born on February 25, 1966 in New York City. Her father, Anthony Pantaleoni, was a corporate lawyer, and her mother, Emily Ann (Patterson), worked as a dietitian and nutritionist. She is of Italian (from a paternal great-great-grandfather), Polish, English, Irish, Scottish, and German descent. Téa attended but did not complete studies at Sarah Lawrence College. She started out in acting as Lisa DiNapoli in Santa Barbara (1984) in 1989 and followed up with small roles in Switch (1991) and A League of Their Own (1992).
In 1992 she starred in the short-lived sitcom Flying Blind (1992). In 1994 she appeared in Wyatt Earp (1994) opposite Kevin Costner and The Counterfeit Contessa (1994) opposite D.W. Moffett. In 1995 she starred opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the popular film Bad Boys (1995). She also had a guest appearance on Frasier (1993) that same year.
She appeared in many successful films after that, such as Flirting with Disaster (1996), Deep Impact (1998), The Family Man (2000), Spanglish (2004), You Kill Me (2007) and most recently, she starred in the film Ghost Town (2008) opposite Greg Kinnear.
Tea was married to television commercial producer Neil Joseph Tardio Jr. from 1991 to 1995. In 1997 she married actor David Duchovny, with whom she has two children: Daughter West Duchovny (born April 24, 1999) and Son Kyd Miller Duchovny (born June 15, 2002).Actors: Tea Leoni – "Ghost Town," "Spanglish"- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Anthony Mackie is an American actor. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Martha (Gordon) and Willie Mackie, Sr., who owned a business, Mackie Roofing. Anthony has been featured in feature films, television series and Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Drowning Crow, McReele, A Soldier's Play, and Talk, by Carl Hancock Rux, for which he won an Obie Award in 2002. In 2002, he was featured in Eminem's debut film, 8 Mile, playing Papa Doc, a member of Leaders of the Free World. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards for his role in _The Hurt Locker (2009)_(QV). This is Mackie's second ISA nomination, the first coming for his work in _Brother to Brother (2003)_, where he was nominated for Best Actor. Also in 2009, Mackie portrayed rapper Tupac Shakur in the film Notorious (2009). He appears in the Matt Damon film The Adjustment Bureau (2011) where he plays Harry Mitchell, a sympathetic member of a shadowy supernatural group that controls human destiny.Actors: Anthony Mackie – "The Hurt Locker," "Million Dollar Baby"- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Lesley Manville was born on March 12, 1956 in Brighton, East Sussex, England. She is a multi award-winning actress of theatre, film, and television, and has worked extensively with director Mike Leigh. She is known for Another Year (2010), All or Nothing (2002), Topsy-Turvy (1999) and Secrets & Lies (1996), and her performance in Phantom Thread (2017), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also had a supporting role in the Disney fantasy Maleficent (2014). Manville's extensive stage career includes roles in "As You Like It", "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" and "The Alchemist". Her film debut was in Dance with a Stranger (1985). She was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire at the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours for her services to drama. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire at the 2021 Queen's New Years Honours for her services to drama and to charity.Actors: Lesley Manville – "Another Year," "Topsy-Turvy"- Actress
- Producer
- Costume Designer
Actress and philanthropist Rooney Mara was born on April 17, 1985 in Bedford, New York. She made her screen debut in the slasher film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005), went on to have a supporting role in the independent coming-of-age drama Tanner Hall (2009), and has since starred in the horror remake A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), the biographical drama The Social Network (2010), the thriller remake The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), and the romantic drama Carol (2015).
Patricia Rooney Mara is one of four children of Kathleen McNulty (née Rooney) and NFL football team New York Giants executive Timothy Christopher Mara. Her grandfathers were Wellington Mara, co-owner of the Giants, and Timothy Rooney, owner of Yonkers Raceway, and her grand-uncle is Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, the former Ambassador to Ireland. She is the great-granddaughter of Art Rooney, the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers football franchise. Her father has Irish, German, and French-Canadian ancestry, and her mother is of Irish and Italian descent.
After graduating from Bedford's Fox Lane High School, she went to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia in South America for four months as part of the Traveling School, an open learning environment. She attended George Washington University for a year and then transferred to New York University, where she studied international social policy psychology and nonprofits. She took her degree from New York University in 2010. Her studies focused on non-profit organizations, as her family has a tradition of involvement in philanthropic causes.
She had thought of acting after watching old movies and attending musical theater, but did not think of it as a serious vocation and was afraid she might fail at this. As a result of her reservations, she appeared in only one play while in high school.
She began seriously focusing on acting when she was at New York University, appearing in student films. Inspired by her older sister, actress Kate Mara, she began to pursue the craft, auditioning for acting jobs at age 19. She appeared with her sister Kate in the video horror movie Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005), billing herself as "Patricia Mara". As "Tricia Mara", she had guest roles on television and won her first lead in the movie Tanner Hall (2009), which was shot in the fall of 2007.
She originally auditioned for the supporting role of Lucasta in "Tanner Hall", a $3-million independent film, but director Tatiana von Fürstenberg was so impressed by the young actress, she had her return to audition for the lead role of Fernanda, which Mara won. Furstenberg was delighted with her nuanced performance, saying, "Still waters run deep".
Continuing to call herself Tricia Mara, this was during the making of "Tanner Hall" that she considered changing her professional name to Rooney Mara, soliciting the advice of the cast and crew. After premiering at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, her performance in "Tanner Hall" brought the rechristened Rooney Mara a "Rising Star" award at the 2009 Hamptons Film Festival and a "Stargazer Award" at the 2010 Gen Art Film Festival.
She received her first lead role in a major feature, in the $35 million remake A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010). The movie proved disappointing at the box office, grossing only $63 million domestically and racking up a worldwide gross of just under $116 million. However, she was noticed by critics in the small but pivotal role of the Boston University undergrad Erica Albright who dumps Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network (2010). Director David Fincher subsequently cast her as the lead, Lisbeth Salander, in his thriller remake, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), based on Stieg Larsson's Millennium book series. She received critical acclaim for her performance, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama.
She starred in the thriller film Side Effects (2013), the independent drama Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013), and the acclaimed sci-fi romantic drama Her (2013). The following year, she starred in the adventure drama Trash (2014). She garnered further critical acclaim for her performance in Todd Haynes' romantic drama Carol (2015), for which she won the Best Actress Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama and the SAG, BAFTA, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In the spirit of her family's philanthropic endeavors, Rooney created Faces of Kibera, a charity that provides food, medical care and housing to orphans in Nairobi, Kenya's Kibra district, a small slum that houses a million people. There are many orphans as AIDS is rampant in the slum.Actors: Rooney Mara – "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "The Social Network"- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Dominic Monaghan is best known for his role in the movie adaptations of "Lord of the Rings". Before that, he became known in England for his role in the British television drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996).
Monaghan was born in Berlin, West Germany, to British parents Maureen, a nurse, and Austin Monaghan, a science teacher. His family moved back to England when he was eleven. He was studying English Literature, Drama and Geography at Sixth Form College when he was offered the co-starring role in the series, which ran for four seasons. His other television credits include This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper (2000) and a leading role in Monsignor Renard (2000), a series starring John Thaw.
On the stage Monaghan has performed in the world premiere UK production of The Resurrectionists, Whale and Annie and Fanny from Bolton to Rome. Since watching Star Wars when he was six years old, Dominic has been consumed by films. His other obsessions include writing, music, fashion, playing/watching soccer and surfing. Utilizing his writing skills, he and LOTR co-star Billy Boyd are collaborating on a script.
Born and raised in Berlin, Monaghan and his family moved to England when he was twelve. In addition to speaking fluent German, he has a knack at impersonations and accents. He frequently returns to his hometown of Manchester, England.Actors: Dominic Monaghan – "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Connie Nielsen is set to begin production on Ridley Scott's "Gladiator 2," where she will star alongside Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, reprising her iconic role of 'Lucilla' from the Academy Award-winning film "Gladiator." She appears in Ava Duvernay's feature, "Origin," based on the book by Isabel Wilkerson, opposite Jon Bernthal and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. Additionally, Nielsen has roles in the following upcoming films: "Role Play," alongside Kaley Cuoco, Bill Nighy, and David Oyelowo for StudioCanal; and "Follow Me," directed by Siri Rodnes. Nielsen is also preparing for the production of "Birds Eye," alongside Maria Bakalova and Jean Reno.
Nielsen starred in and served as an executive producer for the Danish mini-series, "The Dreamer: Becoming Karen Blixen," and starred in "Close to Me" for AMC/Channel 4, opposite Christopher Eccleston.
Previously, Nielsen starred as 'Queen Hippolyta' in Warner Brother's blockbuster hits, "Wonder Woman," "Justice League," "Wonder Woman 1984," and the Snyder Cut of "Justice League", co-starred with Bob Odenkirk in the successful Universal feature, "Nobody," and appeared alongside Simon Pegg and Lily Collins in "The Inheritance," directed by Vaughn Stein. She also appeared in TNT's limited series, "I Am the Night," directed by Patty Jenkins, opposite Chris Pine, and the Danish mini-series, "Liberty," created by Asger Leth. Her other film credits include: "I'll Find You" (directed by Martha Coolidge/Fred Roos), where she starred alongside Stellan Skarsgárd; "Sea Fever" (TIFF 2019), directed by Ken O'Sullivan; "Catcher Was a Spy," opposite Paul Rudd and Guy Pearce; "Stratton," opposite Dominic Cooper; "Le Confessioni," opposite Toni Servillo; the Norwegian film, "The Lion Woman," and Lars Van Triers' "Nymphomaniac," in which she had a leading role. Nielsen was the female lead in the Golden Globe Award-nominated series "Boss," opposite Kelsey Grammer, had a recurring role as a femme fatale on FOX's "The Following," opposite Kevin Bacon, and appeared in a recurring arc on CBS' "The Good Wife."Actors: Connie Nielsen – "Brothers," "Gladiator"- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Elliot Page was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Martha Philpotts, a teacher, and Dennis Page, a graphic designer. Page wanted to start acting at an early age and attended the Neptune Theater School. They began their career at the age of 10 on the award-winning television series Pit Pony (1999), for which they received a Gemini nomination and a Young Artist Awards nomination. Later, Page appeared in Marion Bridge (2002), which won the award for Best Canadian First Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival. They won a Gemini Award for their role of Lilith in the first season of ReGenesis (2004), a one-hour drama for TMN/Movie Central, and for the cable feature, Ghost Cat (2004), for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series. In addition, Page appeared in the cult hit TV series Trailer Park Boys (2001).
As the lead in David Slade's Hard Candy (2005), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Page garnered much praise for their tour de force performance as a 14-year-old who meets a 30-year-old photographer on the Internet and then looks to expose him as a pedophile. Films that followed included the title role of Bruce McDonald's The Tracey Fragments (2007); An American Crime (2007), also starring Catherine Keener; and the third installation of the X-Men franchise, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), where Page played Kitty Pryde.
With their breakout role in Jason Reitman's hit comedy Juno (2007), about an offbeat teenager who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, Page received Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Best Actress nominations, and won the Independent Spirit Award for their performance. They followed up that turn with the lead in Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, the roller-derby comedy-drama Whip It (2009), Christopher Nolan's psychological thriller Inception (2010), the independent film Peacock (2010), and the dark comedy Super (2010), opposite Rainn Wilson and Liv Tyler.
Page co-starred alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Alison Pill, Alec Baldwin, and Greta Gerwig in the Woody Allen ensemble comedy To Rome with Love (2012), and appeared in the thriller The East (2013), a story centered on a contract worker (played by Brit Marling) tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group, only to find herself falling for its leader (played by Alexander Skarsgård).Actors: Ellen Page – "Inception," "Juno"- Actor
- Producer
- Director
From small-town Oklahoma native to internationally acclaimed actor and musician, Wes Studi credits his passion and multi-faceted background for his powerful character portrayals that forever changed a Hollywood stereotype. Within a few years of his arrival in Hollywood, Studi caught the attention of the public in Dances with Wolves (1990). In 1992, his powerful performance as "Magua" in The Last of the Mohicans (1992) established him as one of the most compelling actors in the business.
Studi has since appeared in more than 80 film and television productions, including Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), Being Flynn (2012), Avatar (2009), Comanche Moon (2008), Streets of Laredo (1995), Mystery Men (1999), Kings (TV Series), The New World (2005), Hell on Wheels (2011), Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007) and Seraphim Falls (2006). He also brought Tony Hillerman's "Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn" to life in a series of PBS specials produced by Robert Redford: Skinwalkers (2002), Coyote Waits (2003), and A Thief of Time (2003).
Studi was born in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma, the son of Maggie (Nofire), a housekeeper, and Andy Studie, a ranch hand. Studi exclusively spoke his native Cherokee language until beginning school at the age of five. A professional horse trainer, Studi began acting at The American Indian Theatre Company in Tulsa in the mid-80s.
Studi and his wife, Maura Dhu Studi, live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have a son, Kholan. Studi has a daughter, Leah, and a son, Daniel, from a previous marriage.Actors: Wes Studi – "Avatar," "The Last of the Mohicans"- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Mia is an Australian actress, born and raised in the country's capital, Canberra. She is the daughter of photographers Marzena Wasikowska and John Reid. Her mother is Polish and her father is an Australian of British ancestry. She has an older sister, Jess, and a younger brother, Kai. At age eight, her family moved to Poland for a year.
At age nine, Mia took ballet classes with dreams of becoming a professional ballerina. However, an injury prevented this from happening and she quit at age fourteen. Mia turned to acting, having been excited by European and Australian cinema. She was attending Canberra High School, but left to pursue her career as an actor.
She had just turned 15 when she landed the role of Lilya in Suburban Mayhem (2006). Her breakthrough role came when she was cast as Alice in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (2010).Actors: Mia Wasikowska – "Jane Eyre," "The Kids Are All Right"- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jacqueline Ruth Weaver is an Australian theatre, film and television actress. She is known internationally for her performances in Animal Kingdom (2010) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012), both of which earned her nominations for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Weaver emerged in the 1970s as a symbol of the Australian New Wave through her work in Ozploitation films such as Stork (1971), Alvin Purple (1973), and Petersen (1974). Weaver's other films include Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Magic in the Moonlight (2014), The Disaster Artist (2017), Bird Box (2018), and Poms (2019).
In 2019-20, Weaver had main roles in Bloom and Perpetual Grace, LTD, and in 2021 she had a recurring role in Season 4 of Yellowstone.
In 2005, she released her autobiography, Much Love, Jac.Actors: Jacki Weaver – "Animal Kingdom," "Cosi"- Art Department
- Animation Department
- Additional Crew
Geefwee Boedoe was born on 10 September 1965 in Wenatchee, Washington, USA. He is known for Let's Pollute (2009), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Spies in Disguise (2019).Animators: Geefwee Boedoe – "Let's Pollute," "Monsters, Inc."- Animation Department
- Art Department
- Director
Alessandro Carloni is a film Director, Writer, Animator, and Art Director. Born in Bologna, Carloni grew up in Urbino. He studied literature and Philosophy at the University of Milan. While developing as a novelist, by the age of 18 Carloni had moved into filmmaking. He worked as an animator and Director for commercials and short films, like the award winning 'The Shark and the Piano', and music videos for artists like Mariah Carey, and Buster Rhymes, among others. He worked in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and England. He finally moved to America in the early 2000s where he worked as Head of Animation, Head of Story and Director for DreamWorks Animation, creating some of their most iconic feature film franchises like 'Kung Fu Panda' and 'How to Train Your Dragon'. Currently he is developing and writing an original series for Netflix, and Writing and Directing a feature film for Warner Brothers picture animation.Animators: Alessandro Carloni – "How to Train Your Dragon," "Over the Hedge"- Director
- Writer
- Animation Department
Sylvain Chomet was born on 10 November 1963 in Maisons-Laffitte, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines, Île-de-France], France. He is a director and writer, known for The Triplets of Belleville (2003), The Illusionist (2010) and Paris, I Love You (2006).Animators: Sylvain Chomet – "The Illusionist," "The Triplets of Belleville"- Animation Department
- Visual Effects
Jakob Hjort Jensen has been working in the animation industry for over 25 years for DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Animation and Imagi Animation where he acted as the Animation Director on the theatrical release "Astro Boy."
A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Jensen started his career in animation at the age of 17. Jensen worked as an assistant animator at A-Film studios in Copenhagen, honing his craft on several commercials and features such as "Asterix Conquers America," "Jungle Jack," and "All Dogs Go to Heaven 2." He soon moved to London where he landed a job as animator working at Amblimation Studios in London on the feature "Balto."
Relocating to the US Jensen worked for DreamWorks Animation since its inception in 1995 with credits as Character Designer on "Over the Hedge" and Animator on the studio's animated films "The Prince of Egypt," "The Road to El Dorado," "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron", "Madagascar" and "Shark Tale. He acted as the Senior Supervising Animator on the title character, Sinbad, in DreamWorks' animated action adventure "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" as well as Supervising Animator on the main character, Hiccup, in DreamWorks' hit "How to Train your Dragon" for which he was nominated for an Annie Award. He later reprised the role of Hiccup in both sequels "How to Train your Dragon 2" (2014) and "How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World" (2019). Between those films he also supervised the animation of the character Guy in "The Croods" (2013), which earned him an Annie Award. In 2019 he returned to the world of Croods in the role of Head of Character Animation on "The Croods: A New Age" (2020).
Other credits include Walt Disney's 2007 hit "Enchanted."Animators: Jakob Hjort Jensen – "How to Train Your Dragon," "Flushed Away"- Director
- Producer
- Editor
Biljana Labovic is known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), Eye Spy (2001) and Idiots and Angels (2008).Animators: Biljana Labovic – "The Cow Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger," "Idiots and Angels"- Producer
- Writer
- Animation Department
Tomm Moore was born on 7 January 1977 in Newry, Northern Ireland, UK. He is a producer and writer, known for Wolfwalkers (2020), Song of the Sea (2014) and The Secret of Kells (2009). He is married to Liselott Olofsson. They have one child.Animators: Tomm Moore – "The Secret of Kells," "Backwards Boy"- Art Department
- Actor
- Animation Department
Teddy Newton was born on 3 March 1964 in Encino, California, USA. He is an actor, known for The Incredibles (2004), Toy Story 3 (2010) and Ratatouille (2007).Animators: Teddy Newton – "Day & Night," "Ratatouille"- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Bob Peterson was born in Wooster, Ohio, USA, in 1961. He studied mechanical engineering at Ohio Northern University, where he took computer graphics courses and graduated in 1983. He continued his studies in mechanical engineering at Purdue University where he earned a master's degree in 1986. While a student, he wrote and drew a cartoon strip called "Loco Motives". Before joining Pixar in 1994, he worked at Wavefront Technologies, Inc. and Rez-n-8 Productions.Animators: Bob Peterson – "Up," "Finding Nemo" (also invited to the Writers Branch)- Art Department
- Animation Department
- Director
Javier Recio Gracia was born in Madrid, Spain in July of 1981. At the age of 6, Javier and his family moved to Granada, Spain, where he began to explore his interest in art and illustration. By the age of 16, he and his friends began developing an anthology of graphic novels, Proyecto Comic, which was published and in circulation for 10 years.
At the age of 20, he began studying fine arts at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He took an interest in working at Kandor Graphics, an animation studio headed by Antonio Banderas, Manuel Sicilia, and Raul Garcia, and was hired as an intern in their art department 2005. After one year, Javier was hired on as a full-time artist in their art department as well as a storyboard and story development artist to work on their feature film, The Missing Lynx(2009). In 2009, the studio supported Javier as he wrote, directed, art directed, and helped storyboard his first animated short film, The Lady and the Reaper. In 2010, The Lady and the Reaper won the Goya award for "Best Short Film," won "Best Short Film" in over 20 international film festivals, and was nominated for an Oscar award. He began working on another feature film, Justin and the Knights of Valour as a storyboard artist and character designer.
In 2010 Javier moved to Los Angeles, California, to work at DreamWorks Animation as a storyboard artist on a few feature films: "Rise of the Guardians", "Me and My Shadow" and "Boss Baby".
In 2014 Javier moved to New York where is actually working as freelance in various animated projects.Animators: Javier Recio Gracia – "The Lady and the Reaper," "The Missing Lynx"- Producer
- Director
- Animation Department
Andrew Ruhemann is known for How I Live Now (2013), The Lost Thing (2010) and Love, Death & Robots (2019). He was previously married to Jennifer D. Nadel.Animators: Andrew Ruhemann – "The Lost Thing," "City Paradise"- Animation Department
Kristof Serrand is known for Over the Hedge (2006), Penguins of Madagascar (2014) and How to Train Your Dragon (2010).Animators: Kristof Serrand – "How to Train Your Dragon," "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas"- Writer
- Art Department
- Director
Shaun Tan was born in 1974 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. He is a writer and director, known for The Lost Thing (2010), WALL·E (2008) and Horton Hears a Who! (2008). He is married to Inari Kiuru.Animators: Shaun Tan – "The Lost Thing," "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!"- Art Department
- Animation Department
- Director
Simon Wells was born on 19 October 1961 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. He is a director, known for The Time Machine (2002), The Prince of Egypt (1998) and Flushed Away (2006). He has been married to Wendy Wells since June 1988. They have two children.Animators: Simon Wells – "Mars Needs Moms," "The Prince of Egypt"- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Script and Continuity Department
Art Directors: Anahid Nazarian – "The Virgin Suicides," "The Godfather, Part III"- Art Department
- Art Director
- Additional Crew
Lauren E. Polizzi is known for Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Jurassic Park (1993) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).Art Directors: Lauren E. Polizzi – "Cowboys & Aliens," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"- Actor
- Additional Crew
George Aguilar was born in 1952 in The Dalles, Oregon, USA. He is an actor, known for Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Phoenix (1998) and Into the West (2005). He has been married to Josiane Balasko since 12 June 2003.At-Large: George Aguilar- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Executive
Dawn Hudson has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2011.
Dawn Hudson was the Executive Director of Film Independent (formerly IFP/Los Angeles) since 1991. Under her leadership, Film Independent has grown seven-fold, from a 900-member organization to its current membership of 5,000. Revenues have also increased an average of 25% per year. Film Independent is dedicated to cultivating the careers of independent filmmakers, increasing the audience for independent films, and increasing diversity within the film industry.
In 2001, Film Independent acquired the Los Angeles Film Festival, now the largest film festival in Southern California, with attendance of more than 80,000. The Los Angeles Film Festival and the 25-year-old Spirit Awards remain Film Independent's two signature events. The organization also produces 250 educational and screening events annually.
Prior to Film Independent, Hudson was Editor-in-chief of St Louis magazine and a freelance magazine writer. She received her B.A. from Harvard University, and did graduate work in political science at the Institut des Etudes Politiques in Grenoble, France, and at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Hudson serves on the Advisory Board of the Latino Entertainment Media Institute.At-Large: Dawn Hudson- Make-Up Department
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Art Department
Kristen Jessica Pasterczyk is known for Celeste & Jesse Forever (2012), The Control Group (2014) and The Late Bloomer (2016).At-Large: Beverly Pasterczyk, Kodak (name not in IMDb)- Music Department
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Randy Spendlove was born in 1965. He is known for Chicago (2002), Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and Dreamgirls (2006).At-Large: Randy Spendlove- Additional Crew
- Executive
Beverly Wood is known for Monster's Ball (2001), The Hours (2002) and The Man Who Wasn't There (2001).At-Large: Beverly Joanna Wood- Casting Director
- Casting Department
- Producer
Nina Gold is known for Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Attack the Block (2011) and Game of Thrones (2011).Casting Directors: Nina Gold – "The King's Speech," "Jane Eyre"- Casting Director
- Casting Department
Jina is an Emmy Award Nominee, a CDG and CSA member with an extensive list of credits and she is very involved in the educational side of casting as the co-creator of the first casting course of its kind with the National Film and Television School in London.Casting Directors: Jina Jay – "The Reader," "Layer Cake"- Casting Director
- Casting Department
- Producer
Lora Kennedy was the EVP of Casting at Warner Bros. Theatrical from 1999-2018. During her career at Warner Bros., she oversaw such projects as the Harry Potter series, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, the Sherlock Holmes series, Happy Feet 1 + 2, and Fury Road. Kennedy cast several films that won awards for best acting by an ensemble, including Best Picture Oscar winner Argo (Screen Actors Guild Award, New York Film Critics and Hollywood Film Awards); The Town (National Board of Review); Syriana (Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Ensemble Cast). She has been nominated multiple times for Artios Awards, winning for Argo (Outstanding Achievement in Casting, Big Budget Feature) and in1999 for RKO 281(Outstanding Achievement in Casting, TV Movie of the Week). Kennedy also won an Emmy Award for her work on RKO 281. Other notable credits include Justice League; Wonder Woman (Artios Award nomination); Cloud Atlas; Speed Racer; Swordfish; Tombstone; Coneheads, One Fine Day and Soapdish. Kennedy served on the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Board of Governors from 2013-2019. She received the Hoyt Bowers Award for Career Achievement in Casting from the Casting Society of America in 2012 and served on the society's board for four years.Casting Directors: Lora Kennedy – "The Town," "Syriana"- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
Cinematographers: Frank Byers – "Illegal Tender," "Boxing Helena"- Director
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Cinematographers: Patrick Cady – "Lottery Ticket," "Broken Bridges"- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Danny Cohen was born in London in 1963. He took a social sciences degree at Sheffield Polytechnic and had a long time interest in photography, particularly stills work. He became a photographic technician at Middlesex Polytechnic and then a camera assistant on documentaries, commercials and films for eight years. His first credit as a Director of Photography was for Dead Babies directed by Bill Marsh. He has collaborated with Shane Meadows on the films 'Dead Man's Shoes' and 'This is England' and the latter's television spin-off. With Tom Hooper he worked on Longford, the HBO TV series John Adams and Les Miserables, gaining an Academy Award nomination for 'The King's Speech'.Cinematographers: Danny Cohen – "The King's Speech," "Pirate Radio"- Cinematographer
- Producer
- Director
Lukas Ettlin is a director and cinematographer, most well-known for his work on Black Sails, Lincoln Lawyer and Battle Los Angeles. He was born in Luzern, Switzerland and started his career as a teenager, remaking Back to the Future in German, shot for shot, VCR to VCR. After graduating from NYU film school, he won the ASC heritage award and started working as a cinematographer in music videos and commercials. After acclaimed short films like Rings, Genesis and Catastrophe and Fast Forward, he had his break through shooting Michael Bay's Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and additional photography for Transformers. Following a successful career as a cinematographer, Lukas has become a prolific TV director, with shows like Power, Counterpart, Daredevil, Jack Ryan and Barkskins to his credit. He has also stepped up to the role of producing director on multiple seasons of Black Sails, See and 2020's The Old Man.Cinematographers: Lukas Ettlin – "The Lincoln Lawyer," "Middle Men"- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
Steven Fierberg was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is known for The Wheel of Time (2021), The Affair (2014) and Entourage (2015).Cinematographers: Steven Fierberg – "Love & Other Drugs," "Secretary"- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
Barry Markowitz is known for Crazy Heart (2009), Sling Blade (1996) and All the Pretty Horses (2000).Cinematographers: Barry Markowitz – "Crazy Heart," "Sling Blade"- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
Charles Minsky was born on 13 December 1946 in the USA. He is a cinematographer and director, known for The Hitcher (1986), Congo (1995) and Pretty Woman (1990).Cinematographers: Charles Minsky – "Valentine's Day," "Pretty Woman"- Cinematographer
- Director
- Producer
Lawrence Sher was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, USA. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Joker (2019), The Hangover (2009) and Garden State (2004).Cinematographers: Lawrence Sher – "The Hangover," "Garden State"- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Producer
Eric Steelberg was born in Northridge, California, USA. He is a cinematographer and producer, known for Ahsoka (2023), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Up in the Air (2009).Cinematographers: Eric Steelberg – "Up in the Air," "(500) Days of Summer"- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Costume Designers: Odile Dicks-Mireaux – "An Education," "The Constant Gardener"- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sarah Edwards is known for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), Ocean's Eight (2018) and Igby Goes Down (2002).Costume Designers: Sarah Edwards – "Salt," "Michael Clayton"- Costume Designer
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Costume Designers: Danny Glicker – "Up in the Air," "Milk"- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Gregg Araki was born on 17 December 1959 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Mysterious Skin (2004), White Bird in a Blizzard (2014) and Kaboom (2010).Directors: Gregg Araki – "Kaboom," "Nowhere"- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Though Academy Award®, Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award winning writer and director Susanne Bier's work often plays out against a wide-reaching global backdrop, its focus is intimate, carefully exploring the explosive emotions and complexities of familial bonds. This unique combination is part of the formula that has made her Denmark's leading female filmmaker and a powerhouse worldwide.
Bier's 2010 film In a Better World won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2011, as well as an Italian Golden Globe Award® for Best European Film and Best Director at the European Film Awards. She previously helmed the multi-award-winning After the Wedding (2006), which was also an Academy Award® nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, and was remade as an English-language film in 2019 starring Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, and Billy Crudup.
Bier won an Emmy Award in 2016 for directing the six-part AMC mini-series The Night Manager, based on the 1993 novel of the same name by John le Carré, with stars Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Olivia Colman all winning Golden Globes for their work.
Bier followed this with the 2018 Netflix film Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, which went on to become the most-watched film in Netflix history. In 2020, she directed the six-part HBO series The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, the network's first original series to grow its audience each week.
Prior to this, Bier co-wrote and directed the romantic comedy The One and Only (1999), which won Best Film at the Danish Robert Awards and was the most watched domestic film in Denmark in 20 years, with one-fifth of the country's population having seen it at the cinema.
In 2002, she directed Open Hearts, shot in accordance with the Dogme '95 filmmaking aesthetic. The film won numerous awards, including the Audience Award at the Robert Festival (Danish Academy Award) and the International Film Critics' Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Bier followed this with Brothers (2004), which won, among others, the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
In 2007, Bier directed the award-winning Things We Lost in the Fire, starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro, her first English-language film.
In 2012, Bier made her triumphant return to the genre with the 2013 winner of the European Film Award for Best Comedy, Love Is All You Need, starring Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm. In 2014, Bier directed A Second Chance, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Most recently, Susanne Bier directed the Showtime limited series The First Lady, starring Viola Davis, Michelle Pfieffer, and Gillian Anderson.Directors: Susanne Bier – "In a Better World," "After the Wedding"- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Neil Burger is an American film and television director, writer, and producer. Most recently, he wrote and directed Voyagers (2021), starring Colin Farrell, Tye Sheridan, and Lily-Rose Depp. He is also known for The Upside (2017), Divergent (2014), Limitless (2011), and The Illusionist (2006). For television, Burger directed and executive produced the first two episodes of Billions for Showtime starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis. He is currently in pre-production on The Marsh King's Daughter starring Daisy Ridley.
A graduate of Yale University with a degree in fine arts, Burger resides in New York City with his family.Directors: Neil Burger – "Limitless," "The Illusionist"- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Lisa Cholodenko earned an MFA at Columbia University Film School where she made an award-winning short film Dinner Party (1997) Her feature High Art (1998) won the National Society of Film Critics award for Ally Sheedy's performance and The Waldo Salt Screenwriting award at Sundance. Both "High Art" and Laurel Canyon (2002) premiered at Cannes Director's Fortnight.Directors: Lisa Cholodenko – "The Kids Are All Right," "Laurel Canyon" (also invited to the Writers Branch)- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Debra Granik (born February 6, 1963) is an American New York City-based independent film and documentary film director and screenwriter. She is most known for 2004's Down to the Bone, which starred Vera Farmiga, 2010's Winter's Bone, which starred Jennifer Lawrence in her breakout performance and for which Granik was nominated for Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and 2018's Leave No Trace, a film based on the book My Abandonment by Peter Rock.
Granik was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to father William R. Granik, who was an attorney with H.U.D. who litigated fair housing, and mother Marian Gay. She grew up in the suburbs of Washington D.C. Granik is the granddaughter of broadcast pioneer Ted Granik (1907-1970), founder and moderator of the long-run public affairs panel discussion program, The American Forum of the Air, on from 1934 to 1956, first on the radio and later on television. Granik is from a Jewish family.
In 1985, Granik received her B.A. in political science from Brandeis University. As an undergraduate at Brandeis, Granik also took classes at the Studio for Interrelated Media at the Massachusetts College of Art. In 2001, Granik received an MFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
While at Brandeis, Granik took Henry Felt's film and media workshop production class and volunteered with the Boston grassroots filmmaking organization Women's Video Collective. She also took film classes at the Studio for Interrelated Media at the Massachusetts College of Art. During this time, Granik made educational films for trade unions on subjects like workplace health and safety, one of which was made for the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety. Granik worked in production on educational media projects, eventually working on long form documentaries by Boston-area filmmakers before deciding to go to graduate school for filmmaking at New York University.
In 1997, Granik directed her first short film, Snake Feed, as her senior thesis with the mentorship of NYU film professor Boris Frumin, who was instrumental in sharing his love of post-World War II European neorealist films. Snake Feed, which began its life as a 7-minute documentary portrait exercise, was accepted into Sundance Institute's Lab Program for screenwriting and directing. Granik workshopped and developed the short film into a feature film at the Sundance Lab. Granik has said that Snake Feed was a work of narrative fiction, with the main characters, recovering addict Irene and her boyfriend Rick, playing dramatized versions of themselves.
In 2004, the short film of Snake Feed and the story of Irene and Rick became the basis of Granik's first feature-length film, Down to the Bone, which was a fictionalized depiction of their struggles. Down to the Bone is the story of an upstate New York mother who goes to rehab to kick her cocaine addiction and ends up falling in love with a nurse and descending back into her old drug habits. Down to the Bone was based on an original screenplay written by Granik and her creative partner, Anne Rosellini. The role of the main character Irene, played by Vera Farmiga, significantly raised Farmiga's profile as an actor. Down to the Bone was shot in Ulster County in upstate New York.
Granik's second feature, 2010's Winter's Bone, was an adaptation by Granik and Rosellini of the 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell. It is the story of Ree Dolly, a teenager living in the Missouri's Ozark Mountains who is the sole caretaker of her two younger siblings and her catatonic mother. She is forced to hunt down her missing drug-dealing father in order to save her family from eviction.
The film starred a then-unknown Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes and won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, which led to a distribution deal with Roadside Attractions. Winter's Bone won the Seattle International Film Festival Golden Space Needle Audience Award for Best Director and Best Actress award for Jennifer Lawrence. In 2011, Winter's Bone was nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress for Jennifer Lawrence and Best Supporting Actor for John Hawkes. The film featured a soundtrack made up of old time gospel, bluegrass, and traditional music found in the Ozarks and was produced by Steve Peters. It features the singing of Marideth Sisco, who worked as a music and folklore consultant for the region, and also appeared in the Winter's Bone. The actor John Hawkes sings one track on the soundtrack.
Winter's Bone was shot on location in the Ozark area of southern Missouri. Granik cast many of the supporting roles with first-time actors from the surrounding area and all of the homes on screen were established Ozark homes-no sets were built for this film. For the look of the film, Granik kept most of the established aesthetics of the homes in which they were shooting and many of the few mementos that were added to the homes were contributed by Ozark people in the community.
Granik produced and directed an HBO television pilot called American High Life. The show was a family drama that "follows a young career woman to her economically depressed small home town in the midwest."The show was not picked up.
Granik developed a film adaption of Rule of the Bone, the 1995 novel by Russell Banks, but the project is still in development.
In 2014, Granik's film, Stray Dog, was released. The film is a documentary about a man named Ron Hall, whose nickname is "Stray Dog," and portrays his life as an avid biker and Vietnam Veteran who sometimes struggles with PTSD. The film documents Hall's participation in an annual pilgrimage motorcycle ride called "Ride to the Wall" with fellow biker Vietnam vets from all over the country where they ride to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Granik had met Hall, who had a small role on Winter's Bone, during filming.
Granik directed the drama Leave No Trace, starring Ben Foster and newcomer Thomasin McKenzie, which was released in 2018, domestically by Bleecker Street and internationally by Sony Worldwide Acquisitions. The film tells the story of a father and daughter who illegally live on government land and are forced to adapt to more traditional living in mainstream life. It examines ideas of self-reliance and community, and was a critics' pick of The New York Times. Leave No Trace premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and played at the Cannes Film Festival, and was shot in the forested areas of Oregon, including Forest Park near Portland, Oregon, over the course of 30 days. In addition to Oregon, Washington state was used for locations, with some scenes shot at a Christmas tree farm. Leave No Trace took approximately three and a half years to develop, from the first time Granik read Peter Rock's novel, My Abandonment, on which the film was based.
Other projects Granik has in development include a documentary about life after being released from jail and the subject of recidivism in East Baltimore - that was to feature Felicia "Snoop" Pearson from The Wire and elements of her memoir, Grace After Midnight - but is now a documentary about four former inmates in New York City.
Another project is a film based on Barbara Ehrenreich's book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, which focuses on poverty and the working poor in AmericaDirectors: Debra Granik – "Winter's Bone," "Down to the Bone" (also invited to the Writers Branch)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Tom Hooper was educated at one of England's most prestigious schools, Westminster. His first film, Runaway Dog, was made when he was 13 years old and shot on a Clockwork 16mm Bolex camera, using 100 feet of film. At age 18, he wrote, directed and produced the short film Painted Faces (1992), which premiered at the London Film Festival; it was released theatrically and later shown on Channel 4. He studied English at England's top university, Oxford. At Oxford University, he directed theatre productions starring his contemporaries Kate Beckinsale and Emily Mortimer, and directed his first television commercials. His father was a non-executive director at United News and Media, which owned an ITV franchise.
Hooper's father introduced him to one of British television's top directors and producers, Matthew Robinson, who gave him breaks by employing him to direct episodes of Byker Grove (1989) and EastEnders (1985), both series produced by Robinson. Further success came when he was approved by Helen Mirren to direct her in Prime Suspect: The Last Witness (2003). He then worked with her again on Elizabeth I (2005). Hooper made the difficult transition from television to film with apparent ease, directing Michael Sheen in the Brian Clough biopic The Damned United (2009) and Colin Firth in The King's Speech (2010). Both films were critical and commercial successes, quickly establishing Hooper as one of the most in demand directors of his generation.
Hooper has garnered numerous awards in his career. He won an Academy Award for directing The King's Speech. The 2010 film was nominated for 12 Oscars, more than any other film of that year, and also won the Best Picture, Best Actor (Colin Firth), and Best Original Screenplay Oscars. The King's Speech received seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Film and Outstanding British Film. Hooper also won a Directors Guild of America Award for his direction. Among other accolades worldwide, The King's Speech additionally was honored with the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival; the Best British Film prize at the British Independent Film Awards; the Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film; the Producers Guild of America Awards' top prize; and the European Film Award for Best Film. The King's Speech earned $414 million at the worldwide box office.
Hooper was recently again a Directors Guild of America Award nominee for directing Working Title Films' Les Misérables. The 2012 film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway), Best Sound, and Best Make-up and Hair Styling Academy Awards. Les Misérables received those same accolades at the BAFTA Awards, as well as the BAFTA for Best Production Design. Among other accolades worldwide, Les Misérables was named one of the year's 10 Best Films by the American Film Institute with an AFI Award; won three Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture [Musical/Comedy]; was voted the Best Acting by an Ensemble award by the National Board of Review; and was nominated for four Screen Actors Guild Awards. Les Misérables earned $442 million at the worldwide box office.
The Damned United received a South Bank Show Award nomination for Best British Film; and he gained acclaim for the BAFTA Award-nominated Red Dust, starring Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Hooper had an unprecedented run of success at the Golden Globe Awards with his works for HBO, which won the Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television three years in a row. The actors and actresses starring in these productions - respectively, Elizabeth I, Longford, and John Adams - also won Golden Globes for their performances three years running.
Hooper won an Emmy Award for directing Elizabeth I. The HBO Films/Channel 4 miniseries won three Golden Globes and nine Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries.
Longford, written by Peter Morgan, starred Jim Broadbent and Samantha Morton. The HBO Films/Channel 4 Telefilm won three Golden Globe Awards and was nominated for five Emmy Awards.
John Adams (2008), starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, won four Golden Globes and 13 Emmy Awards - the most Emmys ever awarded to a program in one year. Hooper, receiving his first Directors Guild of America Award nomination, directed all nine hours of the HBO Films miniseries.
Hooper was nominated for an Emmy Award for helming ITV's miniseries Prime Suspect 6. His television work also includes Daniel Deronda (2002), which won the award for Best Miniseries at the 2003 Banff Television Festival; the miniseries Love in a Cold Climate (2001), for which star Alan Bates received a BAFTA Award nomination; episodes of the multi-award-winning ITV comedy/drama Cold Feet (1997); and EastEnders (1985) one-hour specials that garnered BAFTA Awards two years in a row.Directors: Tom Hooper – "The King's Speech," "The Damned United"- Actor
- Director
- Writer
John Cameron Mitchell was born on 21 April 1963 in El Paso, Texas, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), Shortbus (2006) and How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017).Directors: John Cameron Mitchell – "Rabbit Hole," "Shortbus"- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Writer
Born in Takaoka, Toyama, Yojiro Takita came to international audiences' attention with the release of Okuribito ('Departures'), which won the Best foreign Language film awards at the Oscars in 2009. He had begun his directorial career in the 1980s with the 'chikan' ('molester') series depicting gropers in settings like trains. Still in the 'ping eiga' adult sub-genre he also completed the Serial Rape thriller in 1983. He diversified to comedy and TV serial work and, at the turn of the century, directed the mainstream Onmyoji. More recently he has been less prolific.Directors: Yojiro Takita – "Departures," "Himitsu"- Producer
- Director
- Cinematographer
Jon Alpert was born on 13 December 1948 in Port Chester, New York, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Baghdad ER (2006), Cuba and the Cameraman (2017) and Independent Lens (1999).Documentary: Jon Alpert – "China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province," "Lock-up: The Prisoners of Rikers Island"- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Amir Bar-Lev is known for The Tillman Story (2010), Long Strange Trip (2017) and My Kid Could Paint That (2007).Documentary: Amir Bar-Lev – "The Tillman Story," "Fighter"- Producer
- Director
- Sound Department
Award-winning filmmaker Lesley Chilcott refuses to be boxed in, continuously exploring a variety of topics that engage audiences by tackling myths and illuminating the truth.
Best known for her work on films tackling social and environmental issues such as WATSON, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, CODEGIRL and WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, she's recently been taking fresh, unfiltered looks at a variety of new subjects that have fascinated our culture for decades including directing and producing HELTER SKELTER: AN AMERICAN MYTH and producing AMITYVILLE: AN ORIGIN STORY, both of which are currently streaming on MGM+. Her latest project, ARNOLD, is a 3-part docuseries examining the life and work of Arnold Schwarzenegger that debuts on Netflix in June 2023.
She's currently directing WOLVES, which examines the plight of wolves in the west and examines their status as one of the most misunderstood animals on the planet and exec producing HOT STUFF, a look at the enduring influence of Disco. She is also exec producing MASTERMIND, the 4-part Hulu docuseries about Dr. Ann Burgess, the architect of the FBI's infamous "mindhunter" method.
A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), Directors Guild of America, and The Producers Guild of America, Chilcott lives in Los Angeles when she's not traveling the world filming.
(Submitted on June 2023)Documentary: Lesley Chilcott – "Waiting for 'Superman'," "It Might Get Loud"- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Director
Documentary: Carl Deal – "Capitalism: A Love Story," "Trouble the Water"- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Charles Ferguson was born on 24 March 1955 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Inside Job (2010), No End in Sight (2007) and Watergate (2018).Documentary: Charles Ferguson – "Inside Job," "No End in Sight"- Cinematographer
- Director
- Camera and Electrical Department
Tim Hetherington was born in Liverpool, UK. He studied literature at Oxford University and later returned to college to study photojournalism. He lives in New York and is a contributing photographer for Vanity Fair magazine.
His interest lies in creating diverse forms of visual communication and his work has ranged from multi-screen installations, to fly-poster exhibitions, to handheld device downloads. Known for his long-term documentary work, Tim lived and worked in West Africa for eight years and has reported on social and political issues worldwide.
His project Healing Sport was published by Thames and Hudson as part of group project Tales of a Globalizing World (Thames & Hudson 2003). Long Story Bit By Bit:Liberia Retold (Umbrage Editions 2009) narrates recent Liberian history by drawing on images and interviews made over a five year period. A new book, Infidel (Chris Boot Ltd 2010), about a group of US soldiers in Afghanistan, continues the examination of young men and conflict.
As a film maker, he has worked as both a cameraman and director/producer. He was a cameraman on Liberia: an Uncivil War (2004) and The Devil Came on Horseback (2007), and his directorial debut film Restrepo about a platoon of soldiers in Afghanistan, was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. His most recent film Diary is a highly personal experimental short currently playing at film festivals.
He is the recipient of numerous awards including a Fellowship from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (2000-4), a Hasselblad Foundation grant (2002), four World Press Photo prizes including the World Press Photo of the Year 2007, the Rory Peck Award for Features (2008), and an Alfred I. duPont award (2009).Documentary: Tim Hetherington – "Restrepo" (posthumous)- Director
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Sebastian Junger was born on 17 January 1962 in Belmont, Massachusetts, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Restrepo (2010), The Perfect Storm (2000) and Korengal (2014). He has been married to Daniela since 2002.Documentary: Sebastian Junger – "Restrepo"- Producer
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Thomas Lennon's work in documentary film has earned him an Academy Award and four Academy nominations. But more often his good fortune has come in pairs: two national Emmys, two duPont-Columbia awards, two George Foster Peabody awards, and two films that premiered at Sundance.
In 2017, Lennon completed Knife Skills, a film about a high-end French restaurant staffed almost entirely by men and women with criminal records, which was nominated for an Academy Award. While working on this film, he was also directing Sacred, a sweeping global documentary that explores the role of prayer and ritual in daily life, drawing on the contributions of over 40 filmmaking teams from around the world. Sacred premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival in November 2016 and has to date been invited to more than 25 international festivals. It is due to air on PBS in 2018.
Lennon, in partnership with Ruby Yang, made a trilogy of films set in China, including The Blood of Yingzhou District, which won an Oscar in 2007, and The Warriors of Qiugang, nominated for an Oscar in 2011. This film follows a farmer's multi-year campaign to halt the poisoning of his village's water and land; two weeks after the film's nomination, the local authorities announced a massive multi-year cleanup of the toxic site, one that continues to this day. He and Yang founded the China AIDS Media Project; their groundbreaking AIDS awareness messages were seen over a billion times on Chinese television and the Internet, probably the largest AIDS campaign ever conducted anywhere in the world. This work earned them profiles in the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, the LA Times and on PBS.
In 2003, Lennon was series producer and lead writer of Becoming American, a six-hour PBS series with Bill Moyers that traced Chinese immigration from the early 19th century to the present-day. "A model documentary that gets almost everything right," wrote the New York Times. The series earned four Emmy nominations.
More than ten million viewers - double the PBS prime-time average - tuned in to the 1998 premiere of Lennon's The Irish in America: Long Journey Home. "The filmmaker is a consummate storyteller," wrote The Boston Globe; the work "looks and sounds like a labor of love," said The New York Times. Rated among the year's ten best by TV Guide, the series garnered, again, four Emmy nominations, and its companion CD won the Grammy for best folk album of the year.
Lennon's The Battle over Citizen Kane (1996) was featured at the Sundance and Berlin film festivals among many others - "a two-hour tornado of a documentary," according to Time Magazine. After the film's nomination for an Oscar, Ridley Scott's production company adapted it as an HBO dramatic film, starring John Malkovich and Liev Schreiber. Lennon also directed numerous films for the major contemporary and historical strands on public television, Frontline and The American Experience.
Lennon learned his craft working in the Close-up Division of ABC News, with assignments in the Soviet Union, South America and the Middle East. Despite a lifetime of earnest achievement, Thomas Lennon is still occasionally confused with the comic actor and writer with the same name (famous for his spandex hot-pants) and twice has had to send back large royalty checks.Documentary: Thomas Lennon – "The Warriors of Qiugang," "The Blood of Yingzhou District"- Diane Weyermann is Chief Content Officer at Participant. In her role, she is responsible for the company's documentary feature film and TV slate. In addition to the upcoming documentaries Collective and Sing Me a Song, Participant's recent documentary projects include Oscar® winner American Factory, City So Real, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Slay the Dragon, Watson, Aquarela, Foster, America to Me, The Price of Free, Far From the Tree, Human Flow, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power, The Music of Strangers: Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble and Zero Days. Previous releases include Oscar®-winning films, CITIZENFOUR and An Inconvenient Truth, Oscar®-nominated RBG, Oscar®-nominated The Look of Silence, Oscar®-nominated and Emmy®-winning Food, Inc., and Emmy®-nominated The Great Invisible.
Prior to joining Participant in 2005, Weyermann was the director of the Sundance Institute's Documentary Film Program. During her tenure at Sundance, she was responsible for the Sundance Documentary Fund and launched two annual documentary film labs, focusing on the creative process.
Before her time at Sundance, Weyermann was the director of the Open Society Institute New York's Arts and Culture Program where she launched the Soros Documentary Fund (which later became the Sundance Documentary Fund).Documentary: Diane Weyermann – "Waiting for 'Superman'," "Food, Inc." - Editor
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Ruby Yang won an Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject for The Blood of Yingzhou District (2006). She is also known for directing The Warriors of Qiugang (2010) and My Voice, My Life (2014).
With filmmaker Thomas Lennon, Yang mounted a vast multi-year AIDS prevention campaign seen over 900 million times on Chinese television. Together they made a trilogy of short documentary films about modern China, including The Blood of Yingzhou District, which won an Oscar in 2007; Tongzhi in Love, which was shortlisted in 2009; and The Warriors of Qiugang, nominated in 2011.
Yang lived and worked in San Francisco for many years and relocated to Beijing in 2004. She was appointed by the University of Hong Kong as Hung Leung Hau Ling Distinguished Fellow in Humanities in 2013. Her latest documentary My Voice, My Life opened in 13 theaters in Hong Kong and Macau. Wall Street Journal (China) named it, "Hong Kong's five most-notable films of 2014."
Yang is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She now heads the Hong Kong Documentary Initiative at the University of Hong Kong to support emerging documentary filmmakers in the region.Documentary: Ruby Yang – "The Blood of Yingzhou District," "The Warriors of Qiugang"- Producer
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Bill Damaschke was born on 20 November 1963 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and production manager, known for Shark Tale (2004), The Prom (2020) and Kung Fu Panda (2008).Executives: William J. Damaschke- Producer
- Additional Crew
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As Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG), Donna Langley is responsible for the global creative strategy and business operations for the motion picture group. In this role, she oversees the production, marketing and distribution for film and television content across Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation (DWA), Focus Features, Universal Pictures International and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Under Langley's strategic vision, Universal has been a consistent leader in the theatrical marketplace as the studio has successfully expanded and reinvigorated its core franchises including Fast & Furious, DWA's How to Train Your Dragon, Jurassic World, the Bourne series, Pitch Perfect, Illumination's Despicable Me as well as Fifty Shades, Mamma Mia, Ride Along, and The Purge. Through her stewardship in building a franchise business and securing long-term filmmaker partnerships with Amblin Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions, Illumination, and Monkeypaw Productions, she has positioned Universal a key content supplier to the broader NBCU portfolio including Universal Brand Development, Peacock and Theme Parks. Langley has also distinguished the studio a creative home to a generation of emerging filmmakers and content creators who champion original and inclusive storytelling.
Prior to being named sole Chairman, UFEG, in 2019, Langley served as Chairman of Universal Pictures since 2013 where she engineered a strategic slate of all-audience tentpoles, breakthrough comedies, and pop-culture hit horror films that resulted in four years of record global profit, and the two most profitable years in the studio's 107-year history. During her tenure, Langley led Focus Features' global realignment with Universal Pictures International; oversaw the studio's successful integration of DreamWorks Animation; and launched the Global Talent Development & Inclusion group, making Universal the first major feature studio to have a department working with both production and workforce to build on the company's commitment to progressing diversity and inclusion.
The studio has received numerous awards under Langley's leadership. Most recently, Sam Mendes' highly-acclaimed 1917 won the Golden Globes Awards for Best Picture and Best Director; in 2019, Universal Pictures and Focus Features took home five Academy Awards® including the Best Picture Oscar® for Green Book and the Best Adapted Screenplay award for BlacKkKlansman; and in 2018, Get Out took home an Academy Award ® for Best Original Screenplay.
Additional commercial and critical hits Langley has presided over include Hobbs & Shaw, Us, Downton Abbey, Harriet, Queen & Slim, Good Boys, Yesterday, Glass, Night School, Halloween, Illumination's Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, and The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2, Girls Trip, Split, Straight Outta Compton, Atomic Blonde, Ride Along, Bridesmaids, Neighbors, Unbroken, Trainwreck, Les Misérables, The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl and Ray, among many others. She first joined Universal in 2001 as Senior Vice President of Production, and subsequently served as President of Production, Co-Chairman, Universal Pictures. She began her career at New Line Cinema, where she worked on hit Austin Powers franchise, as well as The Cell and Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Over the years, Langley has been recognized for her impact on the film and entertainment industry. A native of the United Kingdom, she is the first British female to run a major Hollywood studio, and was recently awarded a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) title by the Queen in her 2020 New Year's Honour List. The honour recognizes Langley's many accomplishments in redefining popular culture and her efforts to expand networks and opportunities for women and people of color in the entertainment industry, while also championing organizations dedicated to providing access, networks and pathways to success, for all people. She is also a recipient of 2018 Producers Guild of America's Milestone Award; the 2016 Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation Pioneer of the Year Award; and the 2014 Women in Film's Crystal Award for Excellence in Film.
A passionate advocate for mentorship and female empowerment, Langley is an Ambassador for Vital Voices Global Ambassadors Program and has served on the organization's Board of Directors since 2013. She was also a key founder of The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Film Mentorship program.
A voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Langley serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute, Motion Picture Association (MPA), USC's School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors, and SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Entertainment Industry Council.Executives: Donna Langley- Actor
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Leslie Moonves is the former chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation. He resigned on September 9, 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. He joined CBS in 1995 as president of CBS Entertainment. From April 1998 until 2003, he was president and chief executive officer at CBS Television, then was promoted to chairman and CEO of CBS in 2003. Before CBS, Moonves worked at Lorimar Television, which became Warner Bros. Television, where he green-lighted TV shows such as 'Friends' and 'ER'.Executives: Leslie Moonves- Vanessa Morrison was born on 14 February 1985 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. She is a producer, known for Trapped (2012), The Road Less Traveled (2012) and Cut Boys (2012).Executives: Vanessa L. Morrison
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Bill Pohlad is known for 12 Years a Slave (2013), Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Love & Mercy (2014).Executives: Bill Pohlad- Producer
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Rich Ross is known for Dreaming of Jerusalem (2021).Executives: Rich Ross- Executive
Jeff Small is CEO of Amblin Partners. He is responsible for all operations of the company, while helping shape the overall corporate strategy alongside Chairman Steven Spielberg. Jeff joined the company as president and chief operating officer in 2006 under its previous name, DreamWorks Studios, and was promoted to his current post as CEO in 2019 after serving as co- CEO since 2016.Prior to DreamWorks, he spent six years at Revolution Studios, starting as the company's head of strategic planning and business development, then as CFO, and eventually, COO. Prior to joining Revolution, Jeff spent several years with Universal Studios after beginning his career in the Walt Disney Motion Picture Group. Jeff participates in USC Shoah Foundation's Ambassadors for Humanity Gala leadership, and serves on the board of directors for the Weingart Center Association. Jeff is a Stanford graduate, and a native of Marietta, Georgia.Executives: Jeff Small- Producer
- Actor
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Thomas Tull was born on 9 June 1970 in Endwell, New York, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for 42 (2013), Inception (2010) and Watchmen (2009).Executives: Thomas Tull- Editor
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Tariq Anwar was born on 21 September 1945 in Delhi, British India. He is an editor and assistant director, known for American Beauty (1999), The King's Speech (2010) and One Night in Miami... (2020). He has been married to Shireen Anwar since 1966. They have two children.Film Editors: Tariq Anwar – "The King's Speech," "American Beauty"- Editor
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Film Editors: Naomi Geraghty – "Limitless," "Reservation Road"- Editor
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Jon Harris was born on 11 July 1967 in Sheffield, England, UK. He is an editor and producer, known for Pistol (2022), The Dig (2021) and 127 Hours (2010).Film Editors: Jon Harris – "127 Hours," "Layer Cake"- Editorial Department
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Darren T. Holmes is known for Wolfwalkers (2020), How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and Ratatouille (2007).Film Editors: Darren Holmes – "How to Train Your Dragon," "The Iron Giant"- Editor
- Editorial Department
- Sound Department
Film Editors: Pamela Martin – "The Fighter," "Little Miss Sunshine"