Sir Ridley Scott Biography

After completing his education, he became a set designer for the BBC in the early 1960s, and was eventually promoted to director of such popular BBC series as the police adventure, 'Z Cars'.

With the establishment of his own company, Ridley Scott Associates, he was involved in some of the most inventive European TV adverts of the 1970s and, over a period of ten years, he directed more than 2,000 adverts, marking him as one of the most prolific ad makers.

Having tackled those challenges, he made the transition to the big screen, when he directed 1977's 'The Duellists', which won the Jury Prize for Best First Feature at the Cannes Film Festival.

Further success followed with 'Alien', which proved a box-office hit and spawned three sequels, as well as establishing Sir Ridley as an important director.

In 1982, the director found himself at the centre of a storm around his production of 'Blade Runner', which resulted in Sir Ridley having to change the ending. It wasn't until 1993 that the director's cut was finally released on video, and the film was recognised as a sci-fi masterpiece.

Between 1985 and 1989, Sir Ridley continued working his magic on movies including the fantasy 'Legend', starring a young Tom Cruise, 'Someone to Watch Over Me' with Tom Berenger in the lead role, and 1989 action thriller 'Black Rain'. Starring Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia, the latter was a runaway success at the box office and received two Academy Award nominations.

He went on to encounter more critical and commercial triumph with 'Thelma and Louise' (1991) - the film was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Director for Sir Ridley, and won one for Best Original Screenplay. Following the success of the movie, he turned his attention to producing, rolling out films such as '1492: Conquest of Paradise', which featured French star Gerard Depardieu and Sigourney Weaver. Other projects included 'Elephant', 'Monkey Trouble' and 'The Browning Version'.

He returned to the director's chair in 1996 with 'White Squall', which featured Jeff Bridges in a lead role, and followed this up with action movie 'G.I. Jane', which was a box office success worldwide. The film featured Demi Moore and Viggo Mortensen.

In 2000, he directed the epic 'Gladiator', starring Russell Crowe. The film received 12 Oscar nominations, including one for Sir Ridley as Best Director. Towards the end of 2001, Sir Ridley and brother Tony Scott's production company, Scott Free Prods. signed a three year production deal with Fox.

The same year also saw Sir Ridley's psychological thriller 'Hannibal', starring a frightening Antony Hopkins, and war movie 'Black Hawk Down', hit the big screen. The latter, which depicts the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, won two Oscars. He went on to direct hits including 'Matchstick Men', 'Kingdom of Heaven', crime film 'American Gangster' and spy movie 'Body of Lies'.

In 2010, Sir Ridley's movie 'Robin Hood', starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, was chosen to open the annual Cannes Film Festival. Sir Ridley is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.