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Stephen Frears

Directing

Stephen Frears

Born
(age 85)
Birthplace
Leicester, England, UK
Credits
130 titles

Biography

Stephen Arthur Frears (born 20 June 1941) is an English director and producer. He has directed numerous acclaimed films since the early 1980s, including My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), The Grifters (1990), High Fidelity (2000), The Queen (2006), Philomena (2013), Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), and Victoria & Abdul (2017). He has received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director.

Frears is also known for his work on various television programs, including Fail Safe (2000), The Deal (2003), Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013), A Very English Scandal (2018), State of the Union (2019), and Quiz (2020). He has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, with one win.

In 2008, The Daily Telegraph named Frears among the 100 most influential people in British culture.

Latest project Best work, ranked IMDb

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 48

YearTitleRole
2026 Angela Allen: The Woman Who Saw Everything Film
2025 Innes Lloyd: The Producer Film Self (archive footage)
2024 Alec Guinness: A Class Act Film self
2024 A Look Through His Lens Film Self
2023 The Rise of the Comic Strip Film Self
2022 Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel Film Self
2022 Reel Britannia TV Self (4 ep)
2021 Back to Barrytown TV Self (2 ep)
2020 In The Tracks Of - Alexandre Desplat Film Self
2019 Revisiting The Man in the White Suit Film
2019 Memories of Lindsay Anderson Film Self
2018 Who Killed British Cinema? Film Self
2018 Seduction. Betrayal. Murder: The Making of The Grifters Film
2018 She's French Film
2017 Il était une fois... « The Queen » Film Self
2016 Alan Clarke: Out of His Own Light Film Self
2015 Reflecting on My Beautiful Laundrette: A Conversation between Stephen Frears and Colin MacCabe Film
2015 French Cinema Mon Amour Film Self
2014 Henri Langlois vu par... Film Self
2012 30 Years of Comic Strip Film
2012 My Friend Sam: Living for the Moment Film
2011 Hans Zimmer: The Sound of Hollywood Film Self
2010 Heavy Rain Film Himself
2009 Once Upon a Time... 'Notorious' Film Self
2009 Great Directors Film Self
2009 Chéri Film Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
2007 Here’s Looking at You, Boy Film Self
2007 The Making of 'The Queen' Film Self
2006 Great British Menu TV Self - Guest Judge (1 ep)
2005 Michael Powell Film
2004 Lindsay Anderson: Lucky Man? Film Self (Archival)
2004 Kulturplatz TV Self (1 ep)
2004 Cast & Crew: If.... Film Self - Interviewee
2003 100 Greatest Sexy Moments Film Self
2002 Forever Ealing Film Self
2002 Robert Altman in England Film Self
2001 All About Desire: The Passionate Cinema of Pedro Almodovar Film Narrator
2000 Alan Clarke: His Own Man Film Self
1997 Howard Hawks: American Artist Film Narrator
1995 Typically British: A Personal History of British Cinema Film
1993 Hollywood U.K.: British Cinema in the Sixties TV Self (1 ep)
1991 Director: Alan Clarke Film
1986 Hooray For Holyrood Film Self
1985 Shooting from the Heart: Chris Menges, Cameraman Film Self
1978 Long Shot Film Biscuit Man
1978 The South Bank Show TV (1 ep)
1971 Incident Film Man
1967 Omnibus TV (1 ep)

Crew credits 85

YearTitleJob
TBA Wilder & Me Film Director
2025 Brian and Maggie TV Executive Producer, Director (2 ep)
2024 The Regime TV Executive Producer, Director (6 ep)
2022 The Lost King Film Director
2021 Short Cuts: Dangerous Liaisons Film Original Film Writer
2020 Quiz TV Executive Producer, Director (3 ep)
2019 The Loudest Voice TV Director (1 ep)
2019 State of the Union TV Executive Producer, Director (20 ep)
2018 A Very English Scandal TV Director, Executive Producer (3 ep)
2017 Victoria & Abdul Film Director
2016 Florence Foster Jenkins Film Writer, Director
2015 The Program Film Director
2014 Henri Langlois vu par... Film Director
2014 Night Will Fall Film Executive Producer
2013 Philomena Film Director
2013 Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight Film Director
2012 Lay the Favorite Film Director
2010 Tamara Drewe Film Director
2009 Jean Charles Film Executive Producer
2009 Chéri Film Director
2006 The Queen Film Director
2005 Le court des grands Film Director
2005 Mrs. Henderson Presents Film Director
2005 Eletrodoméstica Film Thanks
2004 The Route V50 Film Director
2003 The Deal Film Director
2002 Dirty Pretty Things Film Director
2001 Liam Film Director
2000 Fail Safe Film Director
2000 High Fidelity Film Director
1998 The Hi-Lo Country Film Director
1997 Beyond Fear Film Executive Producer
1996 The Van Film Director
1996 Mary Reilly Film Director
1995 Typically British: A Personal History of British Cinema Film Director
1993 The Snapper Film Director
1992 Hero Film Director
1990 The Grifters Film Director
1988 Dangerous Liaisons Film Director
1988 Mr Jolly Lives Next Door Film Director
1987 Sammy and Rosie Get Laid Film Director
1987 Prick Up Your Ears Film Director
1986 Song of Experience Film Director
1986 Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders) Film Director of Photography
1985 My Beautiful Laundrette Film Director
1985 Screen Two TV Director (2 ep)
1984 December Flower Film Director
1984 The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel Film Director
1984 The Hit Film Director
1983 Saigon: Year of the Cat Film Director
1983 Walter and June Film Director
1982 Walter Film Director
1982 The Comic Strip Presents... TV Director (2 ep)
1982 The Tractor Factor Film Director
1981 Going Gently Film Director
1980 Bloody Kids Film Director
1979 Long Distance Information Film Director
1979 One Fine Day Film Director, Producer
1979 Afternoon Off Film Director, Producer
1978 Doris and Doreen Film Producer, Director
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