Mike Leigh

Career Overview

Mike Leigh has 99 screen credits in a career dating back to 1953. Their work is anchored in the Mike Leigh's Play For Today universe with 4 titles. Signature works include Hard Truths, Mr. Turner, Happy-Go-Lucky. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Directing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 99
Birth Date: 1943-02-20
Birth Place: Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Known For

Associated Universes

Mike Leigh's Play For Today (4 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Peter Wight (4 collaborations)
Michele Austin (3 collaborations)
Lesley Manville (3 collaborations)
Ruth Sheen (3 collaborations)
Karina Fernandez (3 collaborations)
Oliver Maltman (3 collaborations)
Elizabeth Berrington (3 collaborations)
Angela Curran (3 collaborations)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste (2 collaborations)
Alice Bailey Johnson (2 collaborations)

Credits

writing (35 credits)
- Tender Loving Care
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
- Hard Truths
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2024
- Peterloo
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2018
- Mr. Turner
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2014
- A Running Jump
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2012
- Another Year
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2010
- The Party
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2009
- Happy-Go-Lucky
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2008
- Vera Drake
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2004
- Topsy-Turvy
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1999
- Career Girls
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1997
- Secrets & Lies
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1996
- Naked
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1993
- Life Is Sweet
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1991
- High Hopes
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1989
- The Short & Curlies
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1987
- Four Days in July
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1984
- Meantime
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1983
- Afternoon
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1982
- A Light Snack
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1982
- Probation
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1982
- Old Chums
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1982
- The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1982
- Home Sweet Home
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1982
- Grown-Ups
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1980
- Who's Who
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1979
- Abigail's Party
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1977
- The Kiss of Death
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1977
- Nuts in May
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1976
- The Permissive Society
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1975
- Playhouse
  
  - Grown-Ups (1980) ... writer writing
  
  1974
- Hard Labour
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1973
- A Mug's Game?
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1973
- Bleak Moments
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1972
- Play for Today
  
  - Home Sweet Home (1982) ... writer writing
  
  - Who's Who (1979) ... writer writing
  
  - Abigail's Party (1977) ... writer writing
  
  - The Kiss of Death (1977) ... writer writing
  
  - Nuts in May (1976) ... writer writing
  
  1970
directing (37 credits)
- Tender Loving Care
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Hard Truths
  director
  
  directing
  
  2024
- Peterloo
  director
  
  directing
  
  2018
- Mr. Turner
  director
  
  directing
  
  2014
- A Running Jump
  director
  
  directing
  
  2012
- Another Year
  director
  
  directing
  
  2010
- Happy-Go-Lucky
  director
  
  directing
  
  2008
- Vera Drake
  director
  
  directing
  
  2004
- Cinema16: British Short Films
  director
  
  directing
  
  2003
- Topsy-Turvy
  director
  
  directing
  
  1999
- Career Girls
  director
  
  directing
  
  1997
- Secrets & Lies
  director
  
  directing
  
  1996
- Naked
  director
  
  directing
  
  1993
- Two Mikes Don't Make a Wright
  director
  
  directing
  
  1993
- A Sense of History
  director
  
  directing
  
  1992
- Life Is Sweet
  director
  
  directing
  
  1991
- High Hopes
  director
  
  directing
  
  1989
- The Short & Curlies
  director
  
  directing
  
  1987
- Four Days in July
  director
  
  directing
  
  1984
- Meantime
  director
  
  directing
  
  1983
- Afternoon
  director
  
  directing
  
  1982
- A Light Snack
  director
  
  directing
  
  1982
- Probation
  director
  
  directing
  
  1982
- Old Chums
  director
  
  directing
  
  1982
- The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final
  director
  
  directing
  
  1982
- Home Sweet Home
  director
  
  directing
  
  1982
- Grown-Ups
  director
  
  directing
  
  1980
- Who's Who
  director
  
  directing
  
  1979
- Abigail's Party
  director
  
  directing
  
  1977
- The Kiss of Death
  director
  
  directing
  
  1977
- Nuts in May
  director
  
  directing
  
  1976
- The Permissive Society
  director
  
  directing
  
  1975
- Playhouse
  
  - Grown-Ups (1980) ... director directing
  
  1974
- Hard Labour
  director
  
  directing
  
  1973
- A Mug's Game?
  director
  
  directing
  
  1973
- Bleak Moments
  director
  
  directing
  
  1972
- Play for Today
  
  - Home Sweet Home (1982) ... director directing
  
  - Who's Who (1979) ... director directing
  
  - Abigail's Party (1977) ... director directing
  
  - The Kiss of Death (1977) ... director directing
  
  - Nuts in May (1976) ... director directing
  
  1970
actors (24 credits)
- Untitled 13
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Humphrey Jennings: The Man Who Listened to Britain
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Citizen B
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Her Name Was Moviola
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- Cannes Uncut
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2023
- Why Are We (Not) Creative?
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Drama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today
  Self – Filmmaker
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Scenes from A Separation
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Alan Clarke: Out of His Own Light
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- The One and Only Mike Leigh
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- What Is Cinema?
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Vittorio D.
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Looking for Truffaut
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- All About 'Abigail's Party'
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The One Show
  
  - 23/01/2025 (2025) ... Self actor actors
  
  - October 19, 2010 (2010) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  2006
- Le Cercle
  
  - Mike Leigh (2025) ... actor actors
  
  2005
- Cinema16: British Short Films
  Self - Commentary, The Short & Curlies (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2003
- Welcome to Hollywood
  Mike Leigh
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Mike Leigh: The Conversation
  Self - Interviewee
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Inside the Golden Statue
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Mike Leigh: Making Plays
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- West 11
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- Two Left Feet
  Jim
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- The Oscars
  
  - The 69th Annual Academy Awards (1997) ... Self actor actors
  
  1953
production (1 credits)
- The Pirates of Penzance
  production director
  
  production
  
  2015
art (2 credits)
- Shuttlecock
  title designer
  
  art
  
  1976
- Fast Hands
  title designer
  
  art
  
  1976