Ridley Scott

WHO IS HE?

Born November 1937, in South Shields, Ridley Scott has helmed some of the most visually stunning and memorable films to come out of Hollywood in recent years, including Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma And Louise and Gladiator.

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Following the success of his first series of features, Ridley suffered a duo of critical and box office misses (White Squall, GI Jane) and turned to producing, but stormed back with a vengeance in 2000 with Gladiator and an Oscar for best film. From the beginning of his career Scott combined directing talent with commercial nous, aside from his famously successful advertising company he and his brother have made a great success of Shepperton Studio and The Mill, a state-of-the-art post-production house in London.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

Scott is probably the British director most respected by Hollywood and the film-going public today. He's had some misses but two of his hits have become undisputed Science Fiction masterpieces. Alien launched the career of Sigourney Weaver and 'spawned' a series of sequels while Blade Runner makes every 'best film of all time' list going. In 2002 he was knighted for his services to film, an award he humbly accepted on behalf of himself and 'in recognition of the British film industry'.