Mark Herman

Born: UK

Herman's breakthrough movie was Brassed Off, the story of a group of miners overcoming the odds to win a brass band competition.

Starring Pete Postlewaite, Ewan McGregor and Tara Fitzgerald, it opened the 1996 Sundance Festival and became a box office hit.

Prior to that his feature debut was Blame It On The Bellboy, starring Dudley Moore, Patsy Kensit and Allison Steadman.

Subsequent successes included Little Voice, which starred Jane Horrocks and Michael Caine and garnered a best supporting actress Oscar for Brenda Blethyn.

Next came Purely Belter, which Herman wrote and directed, and Hope Springs, starring Colin Firth, Heather Graham and Minnie Driver.