Anecdotes

He has directed three films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Les Liaisons dangereuses (1988), The Queen (2006) and Philomena (2013).

Has directed seven Oscar nominated performances: Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer, Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench and Meryl Streep. Mirren won for The Queen (2006).

He's a fan of Breaking Bad (2008).

Father of actor Sam Frears and stage director Will Frears from his first marriage, and Frankie Frears and Lola Frears from his second.

Studied Law at Cambridge University.

President of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 60th Cannes International Film Festival in 2007.

One of his uncles was a baker in Leicester, while another was head of Frears Biscuits, a nationally-known brand until the company was taken over.

He was hired to direct the canceled film "Jinx", the spin-off of Halle Berry's character from Meurs un autre jour (2002).

Was an assistant to director Lindsay Anderson and actor Albert Finney at London's Royal Court Theatre.

Has directed three Emmy Award-winning performances: Ben Whishaw in A Very English Scandal (2018): Season 1, Rosamund Pike in State of the Union (2019): Season 1 and Chris O'Dowd in State of the Union (2019): Season 1.

Made his cinema debut in the drama The Hit in 1984.

He lives in Notting Hill Gate.

He was educated at a public school and at \ Cambridge where he read law and got a degree.

Has 2 children born in 1985 and 1986.

His father was a doctor.

Made his film debut in Gumshoe.

Went into the theatre starting in repertory at Farnham.

Holds the "David Lean Chair in Fiction Direction" from the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, England.

Ranked #63 on the 2008 Telegraph's list "the 100 most powerful people in British culture".

Was originally scheduled to direct Les Liasons Dangereuses.

Won the The Empire Inspiration Award at the Sony Ericsson Empire Awards 2006

Was in rep at Farnham.

He was awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours List for his services to Film and Television in London, England. He is a director and producer.