- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- February 20, 1943
- Place of Birth
- Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK
Mike Leigh
Michael "Mike" Leigh, OBE (born 20 February 1943) is a British writer and director of film and theatre. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied further at the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s his career moved between work for the theatre and making films for BBC Television, many of which were characterized by a gritty "kitchen sink realism" style. His well-known films include Life is Sweet (1990), the comedy-drama Career Girls (1997), the Gilbert and Sullivan biopic Topsy Turvy (1999), and the bleak working-class drama All or Nothing (2002). His most notable works are arguably Naked (1993) for which he won the Best Director Award at Cannes, the BAFTA-winning (and Oscar-nominated) Palme d'Or winner Secrets & Lies (1996) and Golden Lion winne…
Filmography
movieHumphrey Jennings: The Man Who Listened to Britain
2025 · Self
movieCitizen B
2025 · Self
movieHard Truths
2024 · Director, Writer
movieHer Name Was Moviola
2024 · Self
movieCannes Uncut
2023 · Self
tvRemembers…
2022 · Self
tvReel Britannia
2022 · Self
movieWhy Are We (Not) Creative?
2021 · Self
movieDrama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today
2020 · Self – Filmmaker
moviePeterloo
2018 · Director, Writer
movieScenes from A Separation
2018 · Self
movieAlan Clarke: Out of His Own Light
2016 · Self
movieThe Pirates of Penzance
2015 · Production Director
The One and Only Mike Leigh
movieThe One and Only Mike Leigh
2014 · Self
movieMr. Turner
2014 · Director, Writer
movieWhat Is Cinema?
2013 · Self
movieA Running Jump
2012 · Director, Writer
tvSquare
2012 · Self
movieAnother Year
2010 · Director, Writer
In Confidence
tvIn Confidence
2010
movieVittorio D.
2009 · Self
movieThe Party
2009 · Writer
Looking for Truffaut
movieLooking for Truffaut
2009 · Self
movieHappy-Go-Lucky
2008 · Director, Writer
movieAll About 'Abigail's Party'
2007 · Self
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
tvThe Alan Titchmarsh Show
2007 · Self
tvBritish Film Forever
2007
tvThe One Show
2006 · Self - Guest
tvLe Cercle
2005
tvThe Culture Show
2004 · Self
movieVera Drake
2004 · Director, Writer
movieCinema16: British Short Films
2003 · Self - Commentary, The Short & Curlies (voice), Director
movieAll or Nothing
2002 · Writer, Director
movieWelcome to Hollywood
2000 · Mike Leigh
Mike Leigh: The Conversation
movieMike Leigh: The Conversation
2000 · Self - Interviewee
movieTopsy-Turvy
1999 · Director, Writer
movieInside the Golden Statue
1998 · Self
movieCareer Girls
1997 · Director, Writer
movieSecrets & Lies
1996 · Writer, Director
movieNaked
1993 · Director, Writer
movieTwo Mikes Don't Make a Wright
1993 · Director
movieA Sense of History
1992 · Director
movieLife Is Sweet
1991 · Director, Writer
movieHigh Hopes
1989 · Director, Writer
movieThe Short & Curlies
1987 · Director, Writer
movieFour Days in July
1984 · Director, Writer
movieMeantime
1983 · Director, Writer
movieAfternoon
1982 · Director, Writer
A Light Snack
movieA Light Snack
1982 · Director, Writer
movieProbation
1982 · Director, Writer
movieOld Chums
1982 · Director, Writer
movieThe Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final
1982 · Director, Writer
tvFive-Minute Films
1982 · Director, Writer, Creator
movieMike Leigh: Making Plays
1982 · Self
movieHome Sweet Home
1982 · Director, Writer
movieGrown-Ups
1980 · Director, Writer
movieWho's Who
1979 · Director, Writer
movieAbigail's Party
1977 · Director, Writer
movieThe Kiss of Death
1977 · Director, Writer
movieShuttlecock
1976 · Title Designer
movieFast Hands
1976 · Title Designer
movieNuts in May
1976 · Director, Writer
movieThe Permissive Society
1975 · Director, Writer
tvPlayhouse
1974 · Director, Writer
Second City Firsts
tvSecond City Firsts
1973 · Director, Writer
movieHard Labour
1973 · Director, Writer
movieA Mug's Game?
1973 · Director, Writer
movieBleak Moments
1971 · Director, Writer
tvPlay for Today
1970 · Director, Writer
tvOmnibus
1967 · Self
movieWest 11
1963
movieTwo Left Feet
1963 · Jim
tvMaigret
1960
tvThe Oscars
1953 · Self
movieUntitled 13
—
Tender Loving Care
movieTender Loving Care
— · Director, Writer