Phillip Noyce

Born: 29th April 1950
Where: New South Wales, Australia

The onetime documentary-maker has enjoyed a string of successes ranging from the thriller Dead Calm to the assured remake of The Quiet American.

After moving to Sydney at the age of 12, he began experimenting with independent short films (he charged his friends to appear as actor in his early shorts).

After attending the University of Sydney's law school he quit to play amateur rugby only to re-enroll in the college's arts department.

In 1973, he was selected to attend the Australian National Film School where he made the 50-minute documentaries Pollux and Castor.

His first professional film was a docu-drama in 1975 called God Knows Why, But It Works.

This helped pave the way for his first feature Backroads in 1977, which led to his success of Newsfront, landing him top honours, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Original screenplay at the Australian Film Institute awards.

It was the first Australian film to travel all the way to the Big Apple and screen in The New York Film Festival.

The director's first international success was the melodrama Dead Calm, starring Nicole Kidman, which gained him entry into Hollywood, and his first US directing credit on Blind Fury.

But it was the spy thriller Patriot Games that proved to be one of his greatest commercial successes for Noyce, so much so that he went on to make the sequel Clear and present danger.

Next came 1999 murder mystery The Bone Collector starring superstars Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie and Queen Latifa.

Gaining several best director honours, next came two international films released almost simultaneously, The Quiet American (also nominated for a best performance) and Rabbit Proof Fence. (also winning best film at Australian Institute Awards).

His television credits include segments of Australian mini-series, The Dismissal and The Cowra Breakout, and the more recent American series Tru Calling and Brotherhood.

In 2006, Noyce was honoured by the Australian Screen Directors Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The same year he helmed the political thriller Catch A Fire, starring Derek Luke as a black worker radicalised into joining the ANC.

Next on the agenda is feature project Dirt Music, based on the Australian author Tim Winton's novel.