Douglas McGrath

Born: 1958

The actor-turned-writer and director was Oscar-nominated for co-writing Bullets Over Broadway with Woody Allen.

McGrath began his film career writing episodes of LA Law and the 1993 Melanie Griffith comedy Born Yesterday.

The following year he made his big screen acting debut in Quiz Show and joined forces with Allen for Bullets over Broadway.

In 1996 he made his directorial debut with Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, which he also adapted from the Jane Austen novel.

Acting roles followed in Todd Solondz's controversial Happiness, Woody Allen's Celebrity and Michael Mann's thriller The Insider.

In 2000 he wrote and directed the story about a plot to overthrow Castro Company Man as well as taking a supporting role in Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks.

Recent work includes his adaptation of Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby with Jim Broadbent and Jamie Bell.