Stephen Frears is one of the best British directors having brought some wonderful films to the big screen over the years. He is set to return with new film Philomena: a movie that sees him team up with Oscar winner Judi Dench and funny man Steve Coogan.
Philomena is set to be on of the British movies of the autumn, and will be screened at the BFI London Film Festival as part of the American Express Gala.
Frears made his feature film directorial debut back in 1971 when he helmed Gumshoe, since then he has moved back and forth between film and television projects, enjoying success in both mediums.
The movie that really helped put Frears on the map was My Beautiful Laundrette: a film that was set during the Margaret Thatcher years and tackles economic and political issues as well as ideas of race and sexuality.
My Beautiful Laundrette was a critical hit that helped kick off the careers of both Frears and Daniel Day Lewis - the movie went on to pick up Bafta and Oscar nominations.
Frears followed up this success with Prick Up Your Ears and Sammy and Rosie Get Laid before moving on to Dangerous Liaisons in 1988. The movie was based on the Christopher Hampton’s play Les liaisons dangereuses, and brought together a cast list that included Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Dangerous Liaisons was another big critical hit for Frears, as he continued to make a name for himself behind the camera. The movie went on to be nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
More recently, Frears has enjoyed success with movies such as The Queen - which was set during the death of Princess Diana. The film saw Frears work with Helen Mirren, who took on the role of Queen Elizabeth II: a role that she won a Best Actress Oscar for.
Since them Frears has brought movies such as Cheri, Tamara Drewe and Lay The Favourite to the big screen, and now he is back with Philomena.
Philomena sees him reunite with actress Judi Dench for the first time since Mrs Henderson Presents as they tell a remarkable and emotional real-life story.
Dench will take on the role of Philomena Lee, a woman who has spent her life searching for the son that she was forced to give up for adoption decades before.
Steve Coogan takes on the role of Martin Sixsmith, the journalist who helps Philomena in her search. The film is based on the book The Lost Child Of Philomena Lee by Sixsmith: the book has been adapted for the big screen by Coogan.
The movie has already proved to be a huge hit on the festival circuit in recent weeks, and it is set to be one of the British movies not to miss at the London Film Festival.
Dench’s central performance has been one of the major talking points of the most recent festivals, and she is being tipped as one of the early frontrunners for a Best Actress Oscar nomination at the beginning of this year: the Best Actress Oscar is something Dench is yet to get her hands on.
Frears is set to stay with the biopic film for his next project as he set to tell the story of Freddie Mercury. Peter Morgan has penned the screenplay for the film while Sacha Baron Cohen had been in line to take on the role of Mercury: he has since left the film.
The movie is set to follows the years of Queen, leading up to their iconic performance at Live Aid back in 1985.
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