---
name: "Mike Leigh"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mike-leigh"
fi1m_id: "mike-leigh"
imdb_id: "nm0005139"
tmdb_id: 65452
wikidata_id: "Q315756"
roles: ["Director","Writer"]
born: "20 February 1943"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 85
average_as: "director"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-01T23:06:57.514187+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Mike Leigh

## Identity

Mike Leigh

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/mike-leigh
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** mike-leigh
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005139
- **TMDB ID:** 65452
- **Wikidata ID:** Q315756
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Leigh, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315756, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005139/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/65452

Director and writer. Born 20 February 1943 in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer
- **Born:** 20 February 1943, Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK
- **Active:** 1970–present
- **Also known as:** 마이크 리, Michael Leigh
- **Frequently works with:** [Simon Channing-Williams](https://film.one/person/simon-channing-williams.md), [Timothy Spall](https://film.one/person/timothy-spall.md), [Georgina Lowe](https://film.one/person/georgina-lowe.md), [Jim Broadbent](https://film.one/person/jim-broadbent.md), [Lesley Manville](https://film.one/person/lesley-manville.md), [Claire Skinner](https://film.one/person/claire-skinner.md), [Eddie Marsan](https://film.one/person/eddie-marsan.md), [Marianne Jean-Baptiste](https://film.one/person/marianne-jean-baptiste.md)
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 85, as director, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 86 (4), 2000s 84 (2), 2010s 86 (2), 2020s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 85 to 82 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 9 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Comedy 6, History 2, Music 1
- **Screen time:** 19 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $98m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Leigh, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315756, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005139/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/65452

## Coming up

- *Tender Loving Care* (2026-12-04), Director

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Topsy-Turvy*](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md) (88), [*Secrets & Lies*](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md) (88)
- **The Criterion Channel:** [*Naked*](https://film.one/film/naked.md) (84), [*Life Is Sweet*](https://film.one/film/life-is-sweet.md) (84)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Another Year*](https://film.one/film/another-year.md) (87)
- **Hulu:** [*Hard Truths*](https://film.one/film/hard-truths.md) (84)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Vera Drake*](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Mike Leigh

> Mike Leigh makes ordinary complaints funny, then stays long enough for the hurt to become clear. We rate him highly for the people his actors create, though he sometimes explains feelings they have already made plain.

Pansy wakes screaming in *Hard Truths* (2024), and soon she is finding fault with a baby’s pockets and a dog’s grin. Marianne Jean-Baptiste gives each complaint a logic, however exhausting the company. We laughed at her complaints, then stopped when Leigh showed her back in bed with the duvet pulled to her chin. His patience with people we might otherwise avoid is why we value his films.

That attention to ordinary lives runs from his first feature, *Bleak Moments* (1971), through the television plays of the 1970s and 1980s. A return to cinema with *High Hopes* (1988) led to *Life Is Sweet* (1990), *Naked* (1993) and *Secrets & Lies* (1996). With *Topsy-Turvy* (1999) and *Mr. Turner* (2014), he took his interest in character into historical settings.

Leigh develops characters through extended improvisation with actors who do not know the full story. With regular cinematographer Dick Pope, Leigh generally keeps the camera unobtrusive, allowing us to watch the actors. In *Secrets & Lies*, Brenda Blethyn’s nervous, fussing Cynthia can be unreasonable without losing our sympathy. Claire Rushbrook gives Cynthia’s daughter Roxanne enough resistance to keep her mother’s complaints from becoming our only account of the family.

Editor Jon Gregory gives the difficult conversations in *Secrets & Lies* time to develop, which is essential to their credibility. Leigh occasionally lets them run too long, and Andrew Dickson’s tender music sometimes encourages a feeling Blethyn has already made clear. Even then, the film remains funny and deeply moving because its people can be loving and irritating in the same conversation.

The limitation in *Hard Truths* is different: David Webber’s Curtley and Tuwaine Barrett’s Moses have so little to say that we learn too little about them. Jean-Baptiste remains reason enough to see it, giving Pansy an intelligence that makes her hostility harder to dismiss. Start with *Secrets & Lies*, and give its awkward conversations an uninterrupted evening.

## Biography

Mike Leigh is an English film and theatre director, writer and former actor. Born on 20 February 1943 in Salford, Greater Manchester, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Camberwell School of Art, the Central School of Art and Design and the London School of Film Technique. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid-1960s before making films and television plays.

His films include *Bleak Moments* (1971), *Life Is Sweet* (1990), *Naked* (1993), *Secrets & Lies* (1996), *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), *Vera Drake* (2004), *Happy-Go-Lucky* (2008), *Another Year* (2010), *Mr. Turner* (2014) and *Hard Truths* (2024), on which he is credited as director and writer. He has received awards including prizes at Cannes, Berlin and Venice film festivals, BAFTA Awards and an OBE.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, screenonline.org.uk.*

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Hard Truths* (2024), Fi1m 84, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/hard-truths.md)
- *Mr. Turner* (2014), Fi1m 84, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-turner.md)
- *Another Year* (2010), Fi1m 87, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/another-year.md)
- *Happy-Go-Lucky* (2008), Fi1m 83, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/happy-go-lucky.md)
- *Vera Drake* (2004), Fi1m 84, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), Fi1m 88, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md)
- *Secrets & Lies* (1996), Fi1m 88, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md)
- *Naked* (1993), Fi1m 84, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/naked.md)
- *Life Is Sweet* (1991), Fi1m 84, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/life-is-sweet.md)

## Complete filmography (50)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Tender Loving Care* (2026), Director, Writer
- *Hard Truths* (2024), Director, Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/hard-truths.md)
- *Peterloo* (2018), Writer, Director
- *The Pirates of Penzance* (2015), Production Director
- *Mr. Turner* (2014), Director, Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-turner.md)
- *A Running Jump* (2012), Director, Writer
- *Another Year* (2010), Director, Writer — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/another-year.md)
- *The Party* (2009), Writer
- *Happy-Go-Lucky* (2008), Director, Writer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/happy-go-lucky.md)
- *British Film Forever* (2007), series, Actor
- *Vera Drake* (2004), Writer, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *Cinema16: British Short Films* (2003), Director
- *All or Nothing* (2002), Director, Writer
- *Welcome to Hollywood* (2000), as Mike Leigh
- *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), Writer, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md)
- *Career Girls* (1997), Writer, Director
- *Secrets & Lies* (1996), Writer, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md)
- *Naked* (1993), Director, Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/naked.md)
- *Two Mikes Don't Make a Wright* (1993), Director
- *A Sense of History* (1992), Director
- *Life Is Sweet* (1991), Director, Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/life-is-sweet.md)
- *High Hopes* (1989), Director, Writer
- *The Short & Curlies* (1987), Director, Writer
- *Four Days in July* (1984), Director, Writer
- *Meantime* (1983), Writer, Director
- *Afternoon* (1982), Director, Writer
- *A Light Snack* (1982), Director, Writer
- *Probation* (1982), Director, Writer
- *Old Chums* (1982), Director, Writer
- *The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final* (1982), Director, Writer
- *Five-Minute Films* (1982), series, Director, Writer, Creator
- *Home Sweet Home* (1982), Director, Writer
- *Grown-Ups* (1980), Director, Writer
- *Who's Who* (1979), Director, Writer
- *Abigail's Party* (1977), Director, Writer
- *The Kiss of Death* (1977), Director, Writer
- *Shuttlecock* (1976), Title Designer
- *Fast Hands* (1976), Title Designer
- *Nuts in May* (1976), Writer, Director
- *The Permissive Society* (1975), Director, Writer
- *Playhouse* (1974), series, Director, Writer
- *Second City Firsts* (1973), series, Director, Writer
- *Hard Labour* (1973), Director, Writer
- *A Mug's Game?* (1973), Writer, Director
- *Bleak Moments* (1972), Director, Writer
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, Director, Writer
- *West 11* (1963), Actor
- *Two Left Feet* (1963), as Jim
- *Maigret* (1960), series, Actor
- *Untitled 13*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Mike Leigh](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-8ec5cbd1252d.jpg) Mike Leigh — John Sears, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Marianne_Jean-Baptiste_and_Mike_Leigh_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped_II%29.jpg/1280px-Marianne_Jean-Baptiste_and_Mike_Leigh_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped_II%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Mike Leigh, actor and director of 'Hard Truths', respectively, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-dab5add6bfc0.jpg) Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Mike Leigh, actor and director of 'Hard Truths', respectively, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival — John Sears, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Marianne_Jean-Baptiste_and_Mike_Leigh_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Marianne_Jean-Baptiste_and_Mike_Leigh_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mike Leigh Presents Abigail's Party - BFI Southbank - Sunday 14th November 2021](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-795c84f73dd2.jpg) Mike Leigh Presents Abigail's Party - BFI Southbank - Sunday 14th November 2021 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/MikeLeighAbBFI141121_%284_of_9%29_%2851681648066%29.jpg/1280px-MikeLeighAbBFI141121_%284_of_9%29_%2851681648066%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mike Leigh Presents Abigail's Party - BFI Southbank - Sunday 14th November 2021](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-d33573c240d0.jpg) Mike Leigh Presents Abigail's Party - BFI Southbank - Sunday 14th November 2021 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/MikeLeighAbBFI141121_%285_of_9%29_%2851680853447%29.jpg/1280px-MikeLeighAbBFI141121_%285_of_9%29_%2851680853447%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mike Leigh](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-cd49160f3307.jpg) Mike Leigh — Image via TMDB
- ![Mike Leigh](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-6b5a5ed6ab3b.jpg) Mike Leigh — Image via TMDB
- ![Mike Leigh](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-5016a2c3d379.jpg) Mike Leigh — Image via TMDB
- ![Mike Leigh Presents Abigail's Party - BFI Southbank - Sunday 14th November 2021](https://film.one/media/person/10006/gallery-eb2c8c02a4a2.jpg) Mike Leigh Presents Abigail's Party - BFI Southbank - Sunday 14th November 2021 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/MikeLeighAbBFI141121_%283_of_9%29_%2851680853622%29.jpg/1280px-MikeLeighAbBFI141121_%283_of_9%29_%2851680853622%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 7 nominated

- 2011: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Another Year*
- 2009: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Happy-Go-Lucky*
- 2005: Best Director (nominated), for *Vera Drake*
- 2005: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Vera Drake*
- 2000: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Topsy-Turvy*
- 1997: Best Director (nominated), for *Secrets & Lies*
- 1997: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Secrets & Lies*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 2005: Best Direction (won), for *Vera Drake*

### Other awards — 2 won, 6 nominated

- Annual award ACFK 2018: Annual award ACFK (won)
- European Film Award for Best Film 2008: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Happy-Go-Lucky*
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature 2008: Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (won)
- European Film Award for Best Film 2004: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Vera Drake*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2002: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *All or Nothing*
- European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director 2002: European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director (nominated), for *All or Nothing*
- European Film Award for Best Film 1996: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Secrets & Lies*
- European Film Award for Best Film 1989: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *High Hopes*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/mike-leigh