Antonia Bird
Encyclopedia
Antonia Bird is an English
television drama and feature film director
.
. She began her career at the Royal Court Theatre before moving to television in the mid 1980s, directing episodes of EastEnders
(1985–1986), Casualty
(1986–1987), and drama serials like Thin Air (1988) and The Men's Room (1991). In 1993, Antonia Bird won a Best First Feature award at the Edinburgh International Television Festival
and a BAFTA award for the Best Single Drama for Safe. Her first cinema release came with Priest (1994), which was criticized by the Catholic Church.
Bird later directed several films, including Mad Love
(1995), Face
(1997), Ravenous
(1999), and Care (2000).
While noted for her realistic, socially-aware films (she is a great admirer of Ken Loach), Bird's largest-scale movie to date is 1999's Ravenous
. Starring her frequent collaborator Robert Carlyle, the film started shooting with another director, Milcho Manchevski. When Manchevski suddenly left the production, and was replaced by another director who also left early, Carlyle requested that Bird be hired to get the film made.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
television drama and feature film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Life and career
Bird was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She began her career at the Royal Court Theatre before moving to television in the mid 1980s, directing episodes of EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
(1985–1986), Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
(1986–1987), and drama serials like Thin Air (1988) and The Men's Room (1991). In 1993, Antonia Bird won a Best First Feature award at the Edinburgh International Television Festival
Edinburgh International Television Festival
The Edinburgh International Television Festival, founded in 1976, is held annually over the British August bank holiday weekend at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre....
and a BAFTA award for the Best Single Drama for Safe. Her first cinema release came with Priest (1994), which was criticized by the Catholic Church.
Bird later directed several films, including Mad Love
Mad Love (1995 film)
Mad Love is a 1995 romantic drama film directed by Antonia Bird and starring Chris O'Donnell, Drew Barrymore and Matthew Lillard. The screenplay was written by Paula Milne. The original music score is composed by Andy Roberts.- Synopsis :...
(1995), Face
Face (1997 film)
Face is a British crime drama directed by Antonia Bird and written by Ronan Bennett. It stars Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone and features the acting debut of rock singer Damon Albarn.-Plot Summary:...
(1997), Ravenous
Ravenous
Ravenous is a 1999 horror film directed by Antonia Bird and starring Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle and Jeffrey Jones. The film revolves around cannibalism in 1840s California and some elements bear similarities to the story of the Donner Party and that of Alferd Packer...
(1999), and Care (2000).
While noted for her realistic, socially-aware films (she is a great admirer of Ken Loach), Bird's largest-scale movie to date is 1999's Ravenous
Ravenous
Ravenous is a 1999 horror film directed by Antonia Bird and starring Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle and Jeffrey Jones. The film revolves around cannibalism in 1840s California and some elements bear similarities to the story of the Donner Party and that of Alferd Packer...
. Starring her frequent collaborator Robert Carlyle, the film started shooting with another director, Milcho Manchevski. When Manchevski suddenly left the production, and was replaced by another director who also left early, Carlyle requested that Bird be hired to get the film made.
Television
- EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
(1985–1986) - CasualtyCasualty (TV series)Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
(1986–1987) - Thin Air (1988)
- The Men's Room (1991)
- The Hamburg Cell (2004)
Film
- Priest (1994)
- Mad LoveMad Love (1995 film)Mad Love is a 1995 romantic drama film directed by Antonia Bird and starring Chris O'Donnell, Drew Barrymore and Matthew Lillard. The screenplay was written by Paula Milne. The original music score is composed by Andy Roberts.- Synopsis :...
(1995) - FaceFace (1997 film)Face is a British crime drama directed by Antonia Bird and written by Ronan Bennett. It stars Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone and features the acting debut of rock singer Damon Albarn.-Plot Summary:...
(1997) - RavenousRavenousRavenous is a 1999 horror film directed by Antonia Bird and starring Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle and Jeffrey Jones. The film revolves around cannibalism in 1840s California and some elements bear similarities to the story of the Donner Party and that of Alferd Packer...
(1999) - Care (2000)
- Rehab (2003)