Mike Figgis

b. 28 February 1948, Carlisle, Cumbria, England. From infancy until the age of eight Figgis was raised in Nairobi, Kenya. On his return to England, he studied classical guitar and also became adept on piano and trumpet. In the mid-60s he was a member of the R&B band Gas Board, whose lead singer was future Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry. Figgis was also involved with the People Show, an experimental theatre group. He then worked in the theatre in various capacities before making a mark as director of The House on television. This one-hour film for Channel 4, starring Stephen Rea and Nigel Hawthorne, was well received and brought him his first feature film assignment as director. This was Stormy Monday (1988) and this led in turn to his first Hollywood project, directing Internal Affairs (1990). More than almost any other director, Figgis is deeply involved in other aspects of his films, including the role of producer, writer and composer; and he has also sometimes been his own cinematographer. In all five capacities, he made Timecode (2000) and Hotel (2001); as director, producer, writer and composer he made One Night Stand (1997) and The Loss Of Sexual Innocence (1999); as director, writer and composer Stormy Monday, Liebestraum (1991) and Leaving Las Vegas (1995), also playing trumpet and keyboards on the soundtrack of the latter; as director and producer Miss Julie (1999) and Cold Creek Manor (2003); as director and composer Internal Affairs, on which he also played on the soundtrack; as director only Mr. Jones (1993), The Browning Version (1994), Flamenco Women (1997) and The Battle Of Orgeave (2001). Figgis appeared on-screen in bit parts in Internal Affairs, Leaving Las Vegas and One Night Stand. He received Oscar nominations as Best Director and for Best Adapted Screenplay for Leaving Las Vegas. He has also worked on television series including The Sopranos and The Blues. Figgis’ deep interest in technological developments in film-making, resulted in the DVD of Timecode being interactive, allowing choice of any of four individual soundtracks. Strikingly talented and deeply committed, Figgis brings to all his films an intensely personal vision.
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