Mike Leigh

Mike Leigh was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire and grew up in Salford, Lancashire. His father, Alfred, was a doctor and a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corp at the time of Leigh’s birth. He is of Russian-Jewish heritage and the family name Ljeberman was changed to Leigh in 1939. Leigh attended Salford Grammar School before moving to London to take up a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was a huge cinema fan as a child and showed great artistic talent. However, his father disapproved of his creative interests and was opposed to Leigh’s ambitions to become an artist or an actor.

In 1973, Leigh married Alison Steadman, an actress with whom he worked on stage and on film. The couple have two sons, Toby and Leo. They separated in 1995 and divorced in 2001. Leigh currently lives with the actress Marion Bailey, with whom he has also worked on stage and on film.

Key Dates & Events

• 1965 - Leigh sees Peter Brook’s production of Marat/Sade, which has a profound impact upon him.
• 1965 - Leigh begins his career as resident assistant director at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham.
• 1966-1967 - Leigh works as an assistant director with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
• 1973 - Leigh marries actress Alison Steadman.
• 1977 - Abigail’s Party premieres, featuring Leigh’s wife, Alison Steadman, as Beverley.
• 1993 - Leigh is appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the film industry.
• 1996 - Leigh’s movie Secrets and Lies receives five Academy Award nominations including Best Director.
• 2014 - Leigh is awarded a BAFTA Fellowship.