Phillip Noyce was born in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia, and moved to Sydney with his family at the age of 12. As a teenager, he was introduced to underground films and mainstream American movies, which had a significant impact on his future career.
Noyce attended the Australian National Film School in 1973, where he made his first professional film, God Knows Why, But It Works, a 50-minute docudrama. This led to his first feature film, Backroads, which starred Australian Aboriginal activist Gary Foley and iconic Australian actor Bill Hunter.
In 1978, Noyce directed and co-wrote Newsfront, which won numerous awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay at the Australian Film Awards. The film's success opened the London Film Festival and made it the first Australian film to screen at the New York Film Festival.
Noyce's international breakthrough came with the Australian produced Dead Calm, which brought him to Hollywood. He went on to direct six films over the next decade, including Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, both starring Harrison Ford.
In 2002, Noyce returned to Australia and released two films, The Quiet American and Rabbit-Proof Fence, both of which received critical acclaim and numerous awards. The Quiet American starred Michael Caine and appeared on over 20 top ten lists for 2002, including the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
Noyce continued to work in Hollywood, directing films such as Salt, starring Angelina Jolie, and The Giver, starring Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep. He also worked in television, directing pilots for the ABC series Revenge and the NBC pilot Crisis.
In recent years, Noyce has directed the pilot and first episode of the Fox Network's medical show The Resident, and the feature Above Suspicion, starring Emilia Clarke and Jack Huston. He has also directed the pilot and first episode of the Netflix series What/If, starring Renée Zellweger.
Throughout his career, Noyce has been recognized for his contributions to the film industry, including numerous awards and nominations for his work as a director and producer.
