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Danny Boyle (born 20 October, 1956) is a film director and film producer born in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, England to Irish Catholic emigrant parents.
He directed the cult films Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996), A Life Less Ordinary (1997), The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), and Millions (2004).
Early life and career
He studied at Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton, and at the University of Wales, Bangor. He began work in the theatre first with the Joint Stock Theatre Company and then with the Royal Court Theatre, where he was Artistic Director from 1982 until 1985 and Deputy Director between 1985 and 1987. His productions during this period included Howard Brenton's Victory and The Genius and Edward Bond's Saved, which won the Time Out Award. Boyle also directed five productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company *.
In 1980, Boyle started working in television as a producer for BBC Northern Ireland, where he produced, amongst other TV films, Alan Dark's controversial Elephant before becoming a director on shows such as 'Arise And Go Now', 'Not Even God Is Wise Enough', 'For The Greater Good', 'Scout' and episodes of Inspector Morse. He was also responsible for the highly acclaimed BBC2 series, Mr. Wroe's Virgins *.
Road to Success
He made his feature directorial debut with the film Shallow Grave. It was an instant success and was widely praised by film critics. Next came the film Trainspotting, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh. Critically and financially successful, it is considered among the most influential and iconic British films of the 1990s *.
Previously known to work with writer John Hodge, producer Andrew Macdonald and actor Ewan McGregor, after the international attention gained by Trainspotting Boyle relocated to Hollywood to seek a production deal with a major US studio. He declined an offer to direct the fourth film of the Alien franchise, instead making A Life Less Ordinary using British finance.
Boyle's next project was an adaptation of the cult novel The Beach. He then collaborated with author Alex Garland on the post-apocalyptic zombie film 28 Days Later.
In between the two theatrical productions of The Beach and 28 Days Later, Boyle directed two TV movies for the BBC in 2001 - Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise and Strumpet. He also directed a short film Alien Love Triangle starring Kenneth Branagh that was meant to be part of a feature film with two other shorts but the project was cancelled after the two other shorts were made into feature films. They became Mimic starring Mira Sorvino and Imposter starring Gary Sinise.
In 2004, Boyle returned to moviemaking when he directed theFrank Cottrell Boyce scripted Millions. He is currently working on Sunshine, a science-fiction film starring 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy. It is set for release in 2006.
Trivia
- At one point Boyle seriously contemplated the priesthood and attended religious school as a teenager *.
- His father, Frank, still lives in Radcliffe, and Boyle continues to watch Bury football team with him at the Gigg Lane football ground on a regular basis *.
Quotes
- On being discouraged from becoming a priest "I don't know if he was trying to save me or the priesthood". He took the priest's advice and eventually took up drama at the University of Wales, Bangor *
- "Once you've had anything like a hit in the movie business it's so easy to get lost. All these people are scuttling around trying to get you to make things, suggesting things and offering deals. The pressure of what to do next is horrible" *
External links
1956 births | Living people | British film directors | British film producers | British television directors | People of Irish descent in Great Britain | Roman Catholics | University of Wales, Bangor Alumni
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