Born in England, Stephen Frears studies law before working in the theatre. He begins his career in the film industry as assistant director to Karel Reisz. In 1970, he directs his first feature Gumshoe before working for the BBC. In 1985, My Beautiful Laundrette, initially intended for television, is released and becomes an international hit. Prick Up Your Ears is selected by the Festival de Cannes in 1987 and wins the Best Artistic Contribution award. In 1988, Stephen Frears shoots Dangerous Liaisons starring an international cast which proves a worldwide success. Next, he directs in the United States, The Grifters and Hero before returning to London for two legs of Roddy Doyle's social trilogy: The Snapper and The Van, in selection in Cannes in 1993 and 1996. In 2000, he adapts Nick Hornby's best-seller, High Fidelity and shoots Dirty Pretty Things starring Audrey Tautou. Stephen Frears, an audacious and deliberately provocative filmmaker, is nowadays one of the top directors in the world. After Mrs Henderson Presents (2005), he helms in 2006 the Oscar-nominated The Queen, which proves his biggest success yet in Great Britain.