Mike Leigh

Mike Leigh is a British writer and director whose films examine family life, work and social relationships through closely developed characters. His method involves extensive preparation and improvisation with actors, which shapes the characters and situations before filming.

His films include Naked (1993), Secrets & Lies (1996) and Vera Drake (2004). Secrets & Lies won the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Across television and cinema, his work combines humour and emotional conflict, often focusing on people and circumstances rarely placed at the centre of mainstream films.