Biography
Willy Russell is an English playwright, screenwriter, lyricist and composer. Born on 23 August 1947 in Whiston, Merseyside, he left school at 15 and worked as a women's hairdresser before training as a teacher at St Katharine's College in Liverpool.
He began writing drama in the early 1970s. His breakthrough came with the musical John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert (1974). Russell is best known for the plays Educating Rita (1980) and Shirley Valentine (1986), both of which he adapted into films released in 1983 and 1989 respectively. Other notable works include the musical Blood Brothers and the television play Our Day Out.
Russell received an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy for Educating Rita and has been nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay of the film adaptation.
