What is Stephen Daldry?
Stephen Daldry is a British film and theatre director and producer He is best known for his Academy Award-nominated films Billy Elliot (2000), The Hours (2002), and The Reader (2008). He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director twice and has won Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play for each of his first three productions: An Inspector Calls (1994), The History Boys (2004), and Skylight (2015).
Daldry's work has often focused on issues of social inequality and injustice, especially regarding the working class. His most recent film, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019), is a biographical drama about the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. He also directed the television series for Netflix, The Crown (2016-2020).
Five Best Examples of Stephen Daldry's Work
1. Billy Elliot (2000): This acclaimed film follows the struggles of young Billy Elliot, a boy whose father forces him to take boxing lessons instead of ballet. Billy discovers his true passion for ballet and must go against his father’s wishes to pursue his dreams. The film was praised for its powerful performances and earned several Academy Award nominations.
2. The Hours (2002): This film follows three separate stories of three women from different eras, all of whom are dealing with their own struggles. It features Oscar-winning performances from Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
3. The Reader (2008): This romantic drama follows a young man who has an affair with an older woman. When the relationship unexpectedly ends, the woman is tried for war crimes. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
4. The Crown (2016-2020): This Netflix series is a critically acclaimed biographical drama about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It earned several Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.
5. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019): This biographical drama follows the story of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, played by Zac Efron. The film earned Efron an Independent Spirit Award nomination.