Peter Webber

The documentary-maker and director attracted critical acclaim for his glimpse into the world of Dutch painter Vermeer - Girl With A Pearl Earring.

Webber's feature debut, it starred Scarlet Johansson as the maid Griet and Colin Firth as the Delft artist who uses her as his model.

After making the short The Zebra Man after finishing film school, the director worked as a film editor with producers Andy Paterson and Anand Tucker.

He spend ten years working on factual programmes, with subjects ranging from cookery to Wagner to crash test dummies.

Moving back into drama, he directed Simon Russell Beale as Schubert and explored the counter-culture of tunnel-dwelling road protesters in Underground.

The Channel 4 series Men Only controversially charted the decline into debauchery of a five-a-side soccer team and he redressed the sexual balance with The Stretford Wives.

After Girl With A Pearl Earring, upcoming projects include a look at the gritty world of young pickpockets working central London.