Mike Figgis

Mike Figgis (born February 28, 1948) is an English film director, writer, and composer. Figgis was born in Carlisle and grew up in Africa. His early interest was in music and he played keyboards for Bryan Ferry's first band. After working in theatre (he was a musician and performer in the experimental group The People Show) he made his feature film debut with the low budget Stormy Monday in 1988.

Figgis was born in Carlisle and grew up in Africa. His early interest was in music and he played keyboards for Bryan Ferry's first band. After working in theatre (he was a musician and performer in the experimental group The People Show) he made his feature film debut with the low budget Stormy Monday in 1988. The film earned him attention as a Director who could get interesting performances from established Hollywood actors. He initially made a splash in America in the 1990s with the gritty thriller Internal Affairs that helped to revive the career of Richard Gere. His next Hollywood feature Mr. Jones was misunderstood by the studio who attempted to market the downbeat story as a feelgood movie resulting in a box office flop. Figgis poured his disenchantment with the film industry into Leaving Las Vegas, creating star turns for Nicholas Cage and Elisabeth Shue which earned Figgis Academy Award nominations for Best Directing and Best Screenplay.