Happy 79th Birthday, Stephen Frears! Born today in 1941 as Stephen Arthur Frears, this English film and television director has been established in making numerous films since the 1980s.
At the beginning of his career, Frears worked as an assistant director on British feature film, theatre and documentary director and film critic Lindsay Anderson's 1968 British black and white/Eastmancolor crime drama film 'if....'.
Of the 1980s, Frears is known for directing the 1985 British comedy-drama film 'My Beautiful Laundrette', and the 1988 American period romantic drama film 'Dangerous Liaisons'.
In the 1990s, Frears directed the 1990 American neo-noir crime drama film 'The Grifters'.
The following year, Frears received his first nomination for Best Director. This occurred at the 63rd Academy awards in late March 1991. However, he didn't win.
Of the early 2000s, Frears is known for directing the 2000 American romantic comedy-drama film 'High Fidelity', the 2002 British social drama/thriller film 'Dirty Pretty Things' and the 2006 British biographical drama/historical drama film 'The Queen'.
Of the 2010s, Frears is known for directing the 2013 British-French drama/comedy film 'Philomena' and the 2016 British/French biographical drama/comedy film 'Florence Foster Jenkins'.
Among his credits, Frears is best known for directing 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'The Queen'.
The former film is set in the 18th century. It tells of the Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) and the Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich), who both display the petty jealousies and jaded insouciance of life in France's royal court.
They casually ruin the lives of de Merteuil's young romantic rival Cecile (Uma Thurman) and the music teacher Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny (Keanu Reeves), for whom she secretly pines. Lastly, this includes the upstanding Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer).
However, when actual romantic feelings begin to surface, the games of de Merteuil and de Valmont take on a more treacherous air.
The film had been based on British playwright, screenwriter, translator and film director Christopher Hampton’s 1985 play Les liaisons dangereues.
However, the play itself was adapted from the eponymous 1782 French fiction novel by French novelist, official, freemason and army general Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.
The following year, 'Dangerous Liaisons' won two BAFTA Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay (Christopher Hampton) and Best Actress in a. Supporting Role (Michelle Pfeiffer). This occurred at the 42nd British Academy Film Awards in mid-March 1989.
Later that same month, the film won three Oscars for Best Production Design (Stuart Craig, Gérard James), Best Costume Design (James Acheson) and Best Writing Adapted Screenplay (Christopher Hampton). This occurred at the 61st Academy Awards in late March 1989.
The former film tells of how, in the wake of a national tragedy, Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) and royal family find themselves quietly at odds.
The initial reluctance of Buckingham Palace to mourn Diana is seen by the public as a sign of cool emotional distance, but Blair, perceiving a potential public-relations disaster in the making, takes it upon himself to persuade Queen Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) to pay tribute to the dead princess.
The following year, 'The Queen' won two Golden Globe Awards. This was for Best Adapted Screenplay - Motion Picture (Peter Morgan) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Helen Mirren). This occurred at the 64th Golden Globe Awards in mid-January 2007.
One month later, the film won two BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Helen Mirren) and Best Film (Tracey Seaward, Christine Langan and Andy Harris). This occurred at the 60th British Academy Film Awards in mid-February 2007.
The following month, 'The Queen' won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Helen Mirren). This occurred at the 79th Academy Awards in late March 2007.
It was here where Frears received his second nomination for Best Director. However, he didn't win again.
In 2008, The Daily Telegraph named Frears among the 100 most influential people in British culture.
In 2019, Frears also received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including a win for the British comedy television series State of the Union.
The series was broadcast for only one season. It ran from May 6–27, 2018.
It is Frears' most notable features that deal with outsiders on the margins of society, exhibiting insight and compassion rather than easy sentiment.
Frears is known for making provocative, stylized, and tightly budgeted films about people living on society's social and/or sexual fringes.
He is renowned as one of his country's most vibrant and recognizable filmmakers, regarding his tendency to make films that branch into unfamiliar territory.
Fortunately for the British film industry, Frears shows no signs of wanting to migrate to Hollywood.
Frears has been active from 1968–present.
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