Stephen Arthur Frears (born 20 June 1941) is an two-time Oscar-nominated English film director.
One of his uncles was a baker in Leicester, while another was head of Frears Biscuits, a nationally-known brand until the company was taken over.
He was hired to direct the canceled film "Jinx", the spin-off of Halle Berry's character from Die Another Day (2002).
Father of stage director Will Frears
Won the The Empire Inspiration Award at the Sony Ericsson Empire Awards 2006
Has directed six women to acting Oscar nominations: Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer (Dangerous Liaisons (1988)), Anjelica Huston and Annette Bening (Grifters, The (1990)), Helen Mirren (Queen, The (2006)) and Judi Dench. (Mrs Henderson Presents (2005)). Mirren won for Queen, The (2006).
Studied Law at Cambridge University.
Was an assistant to director Lindsay Anderson (I) and actor Albert Finney at London's Royal Court Theatre.
Holds the "David Lean Chair in Fiction Direction" from the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, England.
The president of the Cannes competition jury in 2007.
