Jim Sheridan

Born: February 6 1949
Where: Dublin, Ireland

The ex-cab driver and playwright-turned-director atrracted glowing reviews for his debut feature My Left Foot.

Daniel Day-Lewis, who starred as cerebral palsy vicim, the painter Christy Brown, won an best actor Oscar for his performance.

Despite offers from Hollywood, Sheridan chose to remain in Ireland and made The Field, starring Richard Harris as the farmer.

Sheridan continued to work in Ireland, writing the screenplay for Mike Newell's Into the West, a "fairy tale" about two gypsy children.

He reteamed with Day-Lewis for In the Name of the Father to tell the story of Gerry Conlon. thought to be the leader of the Guildford IRA bombers.

Despite courting controversy in Britain, the movie was nominated for seven Oscars, including another best actor for Day-Lewis.

Sheridan followed this up - again with Day-Lewis - with The Boxer about a former IRA man who wants to go straight.

Around the same time he also provided the screenplay for Some Mother's Son, starring Helen Mirren.

Recent work has included an executive producer's role for Bloody Sunday and a return to directing with Irish immigration drama In America in 2002.