Stephen Arthur Frears began his career as assistant stage manager and then was assistant-director for films ‘Morgan-A Suitable Case for Treatment’ (1966), ‘If…’ (1968), short-film ‘The Burning’ (1968). He directed few episodes of TV-series ‘Parkin’s Patch’ (1969), ‘Tom Grattan’s War’ (1970) and others.
Frears directed his first feature-film, black-comedy ‘Gumshoe’ in 1971. For the next 12 years he worked mainly on TV projects including TV-series ‘Follyfoot’ (1971-1973), ‘Second City Firsts’ (1974) and more. He directed play-series such as ‘ITV Playhouse’ (1977-1978), ‘BBC2 Play of the Week’ (1977-1978), ‘Play for Today’ (1975-1979) amongst others.
During this period, Frears directed many TV-movies including ‘A Day Out’ (1972), ‘The Cricket Match’ (1973), ‘Three Men in a Boat’ (1975), ‘Black Christmas’ (1977), ‘Doris & Doreen’ (1978), ‘Afternoon Off’ (1979), ‘One Fine Day’ (1979), ‘Bloody Kids’ (1980), ‘Walter’ (1982), and others.
Frears directed second feature, road-crime film ‘The Hit’ (1984), and then comedy-drama film about multiethnic gay love-story, ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’ (1985) fetching Oscar and BAFTA nominations. He directed TV-film ‘December Flower’ (1984) and TV comedy-series ‘The Comic Strip Presents’ (1984-1988).
In 1987, Frears directed ‘Prick up Your Ears’ based on playwright Joe Orton’s biography, and ‘Sammy and Rosie Get Laid.’ His next directorial was period-romantic drama-film ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (1988) winning 7 Oscar nominations and many more.
Frears received his first Oscar nomination for Best Direction (and several accolades) for neo-noir crime-thriller film ‘The Grifters’ (1990). He directed comedy-drama film ‘Hero’ (1992), Irish TV-film ‘The Snapper’ (1993), ‘The Van’ (1996), gothic-horror film ‘Mary Reilly’ (1996), Western-film ‘The Hi-Lo Country’ (1998).
Next, Frears earned rave reviews for romantic-comedy drama-film ‘High Fidelity’ (2000), then directed ‘Liam’ (2000), TV-film ‘Fail Safe’ (2000). His social-thriller film ‘Dirty Pretty Things’ (2002) that brought acclaim, was followed by TV-film about alleged Blair-Brown deal, ‘The Deal’ (2003). After directing biographical-musical film ‘Mrs. Henderson Presents’ (2005), he directed ‘The Queen’ (2006) dealing with reactions to Princess Diana’s death, earning second Oscar nomination.
Frears’ further films were TV-movie ‘Skip Tracer’ (2008), romantic-comedies ‘Cheri’ (2009), ‘Tamara Drewe’ (2010), comedy-drama ‘Lay the Favorite’ (2012) & TV-film ‘Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight’ (2013). Next he earned accolades for tragi-comedy ‘Philomena’ (2013), biopics ‘The Program’ (2015) and ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ (2016).
Frears won acclaim for historical-drama film ‘Victoria & Abdul’ (2017) and comedy-drama miniseries ‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018). He produced-directed drama-miniseries ‘Quiz’ (2020) and directed comedy-series ‘State of the Union’ (2019-2022).
Based on Martin Sixsmith’s 2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, this film is a moving story of an Irish teenager, Philomena, whose toddler son Anthony, born out of marriage, is given up for adoption by the convent nuns. For the next five decades, Philomena’s efforts to find her son fails but then she meets Martin Sixsmith, a journalist, and the two together begin a journey to locate Anthony.
In Paris, the Marquise de Merteui plans revenge against her ex-lover the Comte de Bastide, by planning to seduce and dishonor his virgin fiancée Cécile de Volanges. Merteui enlists the help of the disreputable Vicomte de Valmont, who is planning his own seduction of the religious Madame de Tourvel. Meanwhile, Cécile falls in love with Chevalier Raphael Danceny.
Rob Gordon, a struggling vinyl record store owner and compulsive list-maker, is yet again ditched by his current girlfriend Laura for refusing to commit. He decides to make a list of his top five breakups and seeks out his previous partners in an attempt to understand his failures in making those relationships work.
The multiple awards-winning film deals with the reactions of the people, the Royal family, and the British Prime Minister after the death of Princess Diana. While the Queen considers Diana’s death as a private matter, the people expect a public expression of grief towards the death of the ‘People’s Princess’. PM Tony Blair tries to convince the Queen to pay a tribute.
Okwe is a kind hearted Nigerian doctor, who is living illegally in London. His life takes a turn when he finds a human heart one day, all of a sudden, in the hotel where he resides with other immigrants.
This biographical film revolves around the story of Joe Orton, British playwright. The film shows how he befriended the older Kenneth, and begins a relationship with him. Although both aspire to become writers, it is only Orton who is able to receive fame and success. Over time, his success begins to take him further away from his friend and lover.
Mrs Henderson Presents is a comedy drama film about Laura Henderson, who is an eccentric 70 year old widow who purchases a cinema and remodels it to create the Windmill Theater in London. She even starts adding female nudity to her shows, to bring more audiences.
The Hit is a crime thriller film which tells the story of Willie Parker, a mobster in London, who decides to give evidence against his partners, to the police, after they give him a generous offer. However, years later, the kingpin whom he helped put away, hires a hitman to kidnap him and bring him to Paris for his execution.
The Grifters is a crime drama thriller film which tells the story of Roy Dillon, a conman, whose life gets complicated when his estranged mother returns home, and doesn’t seem to like his girlfriend. Soon both women seem to battle for Roy’s attention.
This biographical romantic drama film tells the story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress, who wants to become an opera singer, despite the fact that her singing voice is not good.
This historical drama film tells the story of Abdul Karim, a young prison clerk from India, who travels to meet Queen Victoria, to give her a present. Soon an unlikely friendship sparks between the two.
This 1985 British comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frear explores the complex relationship between members of the Pakistani and English communities. The film also showcases the romance between Omar, a young Pakistani man living in London, and his childhood friend, Johnny.
Eddie Ginley, a bingo caller at a nightclub, aspires to become a private detective. He advertises in a newspaper and soon enough receives a strange call and few items. Before he can figure things out, he gets enmeshed in a case involving drug and gun smuggling. Ginley must now solve the case and simultaneously protect his own family.
Hero is a comedy drama film which tells the story of Bernie, a wanted thief, who rescues passengers from a burning airliner, but is shocked to see that another man is taking the credit for his heroic actions.
The Program is biographical sports drama film which revolves around a sports journalist who is convinced that Lance Armstrong had used banned substances, which is why he was able to perform amazingly at the Tour de France. He begins to look for evidence that will expose Armstrong.
Retired courtesan Charlotte asks Lea, a former colleague, to educate her son, Cheri, in the ways of love. However, this results in a passionate affair between the two. Charlotte wants them to end their relationship as she wants Cheri to marry a younger woman. Lea flies to southern France, but as fate would have it, the two lovers cross path one more time.
Made to explore racial tensions in South Africa in the Apartheid era, this short drama film tells the story of a wealthy woman who insists on taking a vacation to the countryside along with her family, despite getting urgent warnings that an uprising is underway.
Mary Reilly, an Irish girl, comes to the house of a reputed and rich doctor named Dr Henry Jekyll, to start working as a maid. Things start to change when she starts developing feelings for the doctor. Soon it seems that Dr Henry also has a dark and mysterious counterpart named Mr Edward Hyde.
A lap dancer, Beth, leaves Florida in order to fulfill her dream of becoming a cocktail waitress. Destiny brings her to work for Dink, a sports gambler who hires her. Cupid strikes and she falls in love with him. Much to the ire of Tulip, Dink's wife, Beth also proves to be something of a gambling prodigy.
Retired courtesan Charlotte asks Lea, a former colleague, to educate her son, Cheri, in the ways of love. However, this results in a passionate affair between the two. Charlotte wants them to end their relationship as she wants Cheri to marry a younger woman. Lea flies to southern France, but as fate would have it, the two lovers cross path one more time.
Retired courtesan Charlotte asks Lea, a former colleague, to educate her son, Cheri, in the ways of love. However, this results in a passionate affair between the two. Charlotte wants them to end their relationship as she wants Cheri to marry a younger woman. Lea flies to southern France, but as fate would have it, the two lovers cross path one more time.
Stephen Frears Awards
| State of the Union | Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | 2019 |
| The Deal | Best Single Drama | 2004 |
| BBC2 Playhouse | Best Single Play | 1982 |
| A Very English Scandal | Best Director: Fiction | 2019 |
