Danny Boyle

Danny Boyle (born 20.10.1956)

Danny Boyle is an Oscar-winning British film director. He launched his career with the film Trainspotting, an adaptation of an Irvine Welsh novel and in 2009, won the Best Director Academy Award for his work on Slumdog Millionaire.

Danny Boyle: Childhood

Danny Boyle was born in Radcliffe, Lancashire and his family was Irish Catholic. At the age of 14, Boyle asked to transfer from his regular school to a seminary but it has been reported that his priest warned him against joining the priesthood.

When he had completed his education at Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton, Danny Boyle attended Bangor University, where he dated the actress Frances Barber.

Danny Boyle: Theatrical Career

Danny Boyle started working in the theatre with the Joint Stock Theatre Company. He later worked as Artistic Director for the Royal Court Theatre from 1982-5, progressing to the role of Deputy Director from 1985-7. Among his notable productions throughout his time at Royal Court were versions of Saved by Edward Bond and The Genius by Howard Brenton. Danny Boyle has also directed a number of productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Danny Boyle: Television Career

Danny Boyle started working in television in 1980 in Northern Ireland. He landed a job producing TV films such as Alan Clarke's Elephant. He later became a director on shows such as Not Even God Is Wise Enough, Inspector Morse and Mr. Wroe's Virgins.

In 2001, Danny Boyle took a break from film-making to direct two TV movies, Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise and Strumpet.

Danny Boyle: Film Career

Danny Boyle's feature film debut came in 1994 with Shallow Grave. The film starred Ewan McGregor, Keith Allen and Christopher Ecclestone and became a cult success. This was followed by the hugely successful Trainspotting, released in 1996. The film starred Ewan McGregor, Ewan Bremner and Kelly McDonald and, helped by a soundtrack featuring Iggy Pop, Blur and Primal Scream, became a global hit.

Spurred on by the success of the film, Boyle sought a studio deal in Hollywood. He turned down an offer to direct the fourth film in the Alien series and instead opted to make the film A Life Less Ordinary - starring Cameron Diaz - with British funding.

Returning to novel adaptations, Boyle filmed a version of The Beach by Alex Garland, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film was a moderate success, though the production team were heavily criticised for allegedly altering the natural landscape of the filming location, Ko Phi Phi Leh in Thailand.

Garland and Boyle went on to work together again, this time on the horror film 28 Days Later. The film starred Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris and spawned a sequel, 28 Weeks Later, though Boyle did not direct the follow-up.

In 2004, Danny Boyle directed Millions.

In 2007, Sunshine was released and marked another of Boyle's adaptations of an Alex Garland novel. The film was directed by Danny Boyle and starred Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne and Cliff Curtis.

2008 saw Boyle direct Slumdog Millionaire, which earned him his first Oscar. The film is set in Mumbai and focuses on a central character, played by Dev Patel who competes in the Indian version of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?