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Stephen Frears

Director, Writer, Producer, Actor

June 20, 1941 (85 years)
Stephen Arthur Frears (born 20 June 1941) is an English director and producer. He has directed numerous acclaimed films since the early 1980s, including My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), The Grifters (1990), High Fidelity (2000), The Queen (2006), Philomena (2013), Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), and Victoria & Abdul (2017). He has received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director.

Frears is also known for his work on various television programs, including Fail Safe (2000), The Deal (2003), Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013), A Very English Scandal (2018), State of the Union (2019), and Quiz (2020). He has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, with one win.

In 2008, The Daily Telegraph named Frears among the 100 most influential people in British culture.

FreeMovies & Shows on Plex

  • Philomena
    Philomena
  • The Hit
    The Hit

Known For

  • Philomena
    Free
    Philomena
  • The Queen
    The Queen
  • High Fidelity
    High Fidelity
  • Dangerous Liaisons
    Dangerous Liaisons
  • Dirty Pretty Things
    Dirty Pretty Things
  • Florence Foster Jenkins
    Florence Foster Jenkins
  • Victoria & Abdul
    Victoria & Abdul
  • The Grifters
    The Grifters
  • A Very English Scandal
    A Very English Scandal
    3 Episodes
  • Hero
    Hero
  • Tamara Drewe
    Tamara Drewe
  • The Program
    The Program
  • Mary Reilly
    Mary Reilly
  • My Beautiful Laundrette
    My Beautiful Laundrette
  • Mrs. Henderson Presents
    Mrs. Henderson Presents
  • Chéri
    Chéri
  • Lay the Favorite
    Lay the Favorite
  • The Hit
    Free
    The Hit
  • State of the Union
    State of the Union
    2 Seasons
  • Prick Up Your Ears
    Prick Up Your Ears

Featured Videos

  • Stephen Frears On The Filming Process (US)
    Philomena • Stephen Frears On The Filming Process (US)Released February 9, 2022
  • Victoria And Abdul: Stephen Frears On Casting Judi Dench
    Victoria & Abdul • Victoria And Abdul: Stephen Frears On Casting Judi DenchReleased September 8, 2017
  • Stephen Frears On The Screenplay (US)
    Florence Foster Jenkins • Stephen Frears On The Screenplay (US)Released August 4, 2016

Filmography

2025
Brian and Maggie
2024
The Regime
2022
The Lost King
2020
Quiz
2019
The Loudest Voice
2019
State of the Union
2018
A Very English Scandal
2017
Victoria & Abdul
2016
Florence Foster Jenkins
2015
The Program
2013
PhilomenaOn Plex
2013
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
2012
Lay the Favorite
2010
Tamara Drewe
2009
Chéri
2008
Skip Tracer
2006
The Queen
2005
Mrs. Henderson Presents
2003
The Deal
2002
Dirty Pretty Things
2000
Liam
2000
Fail Safe
2000
High Fidelity
1998
The Hi-Lo Country
1996
The Van
1996
Mary Reilly
1995
Typically British: A Personal History of British Cinema
1995
The Century of Cinema
1993
The Snapper
1993
The Snapper
1992
Hero
1990
The Grifters
1988
Dangerous Liaisons
1988
Mr Jolly Lives Next Door
1987
Sammy and Rosie Get Laid
1987
Prick Up Your Ears
1985
My Beautiful Laundrette
1984
Screen Two
1984
The HitOn Plex
1983
Saigon: Year of the Cat
1983
Walter & June
1982
Walter
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
1980
Bloody Kids
1979
One Fine Day
1979
Afternoon Off
1978
Doris and Doreen
1978
Me! I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
1975
Three Men in a Boat
1973
Playhouse
1973
Second City Firsts
1972
A Day Out
1971
Gumshoe
1971
Follyfoot
1970
Play for Today
1969
St. Ann's
1968
Tom Grattan's War
1968
The Burning
1967
ITV Playhouse

2016
Florence Foster Jenkins
1995
The Century of Cinema

2025
Brian and Maggie · as Executive Producer
2024
The Regime · as Executive Producer
2020
Quiz · as Executive Producer
2019
State of the Union · as Executive Producer
2018
A Very English Scandal · as Executive Producer
2014
Night Will Fall · as Executive Producer
2009
Jean Charles · as Executive Producer
1997
Beyond Fear · as Executive Producer
1979
All Day on the Sands
1979
One Fine Day
1979
Afternoon Off
1979
The Old Crowd
1978
Doris and Doreen
1978
Me! I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf
1968
The Burning
1967
ITV Playhouse

2025
Innes Lloyd: The Producer · as Self (archive Footage)
2024
Alec Guinness: A Class Act · as Self
2022
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel · as Self
2022
The Divine Judi Dench Our National Treasure · as Self
2022
Reel Britannia · as Self
2022
Cinéma par Laurent Lafitte · as Self
2020
In The Tracks Of - Alexandre Desplat · as Self
2019
Hugh Grant: A Life on Screen · as Self
2018
A Very English Scandal: Scandalous Times · as Self
2018
A Very English Scandal: Hugh's Transformation · as Self
2018
A Very English Scandal: A Dog's Life · as Self
2017
The 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards 2017 · as Self - Audience Member
2016
Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage · as Self
2016
CineKino · as Self
2016
The Program: Making Of · as Self
2016
The Program: Behind the Scenes · as Self - Director
2016
The Program: Becoming Lance · as Self - Director
2014
The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee
2014
2014 EE British Academy Film Awards · as Self - Nominee
2014
Face to Face · as Self
2014
The British Film Industry: Elitist, Deluded or Dormant? · as Self - Filmmaker
2013
Dave Allen: God's Own Comedian · as Self - Director, 'one Fine Day'
2012
CBS Mornings · as Self - Guest
2011
Hans Zimmer - Der Sound für Hollywood · as Self
2010
Norman Wisdom: His Story · as Self - Film Director
2010
Chicas · as Self
2010
Janela Indiscreta · as Self
2009
Great Directors · as Self
2008
Oscar, que empiece el espectáculo · as Self
2007
British Film Forever · as Self
2007
The 79th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee
2007
Up Close with Carrie Keagan · as Self - Guest
2007
Here's Looking at You, Boy · as Self
2007
Cómo conseguir un papel en Hollywood · as Self
2006
Great British Menu · as Self - Guest JudgeOn Plex
2006
Mrs Henderson Presents: Making Of · as Self
2005
Made In Hollywood · as Self
2005
Sunday Morning · as Self - Guest
2004
Kulturplatz · as Self
2004
At the Movies (2004) · as Self
2004
ArtWorks Scotland · as Self - Interviewee
2003
100 Greatest Sexy Moments · as Self
2003
Once Upon a Time... · as Self
2003
The 100 Greatest Movie Stars · as Self
2003
This Week (2003) · as Self
2002
Forever Ealing · as Self
2001
I Love the '80s (UK) · as Self
2000
BBC Breakfast · as Self - Director
1995
The Century of Cinema · as Self
1993
Hollywood U.K. (1993) · as Self
1991
Movie Days · as Self - Interviewee
1991
Charlie Rose · as Self - Guest
1991
The 63rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee
1990
SRF Dok · as Self
1987
NPA · as Self
1982
Cinéma cinémas · as Self
1980
Newsnight · as Self
1976
César Awards · as Self - Winner
1971
Film · as Self
1955
This is Your Life (UK) · as Self
1952
Today · as Self - Guest

2018
Seduction. Betrayal. Murder: The making of the Grifters
2017
She's French
2015
In Their Own Words (2015) · as Director, The Queen
2012
30 Years of Comic Strip
2009
Hollywood's Best Film Directors · as Film Director
2009
Chéri · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
2008
Freezing · as Stephen
2001
All About Desire: The Passionate Cinema of Pedro Almodovar · as Narrator
1997
Howard Hawks: American Artist · as Narrator
1995
Typically British: A Personal History of British Cinema
1978
Long Shot · as Biscuit Man
1978
The South Bank Show
1967
Omnibus (1967)

1966
Morgan! · as Assistant Director