Sandra Goldbacher

Born: 13 July 1960
Where: Hampstead, London

Sandra Goldbacher grew up in London's Hampstead Garden Suburb, the daughter of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. Her mother converted to Judaism, giving Sandra a Jewish upbringing.

She went to Sussex University near Brighton to studying French Literature, and then to Middlesex University to study film, with the dream of becoming a director.

She soon landed commissions to direct documentaries for British TV and then moved to commercials, directing spots for big names such as Bailey's, Evian and Philips.

Sandra went on to secure an £80,000 grant to film the series Short And Curlies but she wanted more creative goals so began saving cash to make a short film.

Her film, Seventeen, was well-received by the independent film world and won the Silver Plaque at the International Chicago Film Festival.

At the time, Sandra began writing what would become Me Without You. She spent seven years developing the story of an intensifying female friendship.

However, she first received financing to make the The Governess. Based on journals written from the vantage point of a 19th century Jewish girl. The film starred Minnie Driver and helped the director get international attention.

Her second feature, Me Without You, was eventually financed with Michelle Williams and Anna Friel as the leads, growing up with one another throughout the 1970s and 80s.

It premiered at the London Film Festival in 2001 and received a considerable amount of buzz, labelled as a "delicious bittersweet comedy."

After that success, Goldbacher quickly set out to begin working on two new projects, an adaptation of Emile Zola's novel Nana, set in 19th century Paris and an untitled film about witchcraft.

Despite getting noticed by Hollywood, Sandra remains staunchly loyal to her roots: "I've had a few offers to go to America abut I'd rather have a mansion in Primrose Hill than Hollywood."