Tom Hooper was educated at Westminster, one of England's most prestigious schools. At the age of 13, he made his first film, Runaway Dog, using a Clockwork 16mm Bolex camera and 100 feet of film. This early start in filmmaking led to his first short film, Painted Faces, at the age of 18, which premiered at the London Film Festival and was later released theatrically.
Hooper then went on to study English at Oxford University, where he directed theatre productions starring his contemporaries Kate Beckinsale and Emily Mortimer, and directed his first television commercials. His father's connections in the industry also helped him get breaks, with Matthew Robinson, a top British television director and producer, employing him to direct episodes of Byker Grove and EastEnders.
Hooper's success continued with his work on Prime Suspect: The Last Witness, starring Helen Mirren, and Elizabeth I, also starring Helen Mirren. He then made the transition to film, directing Michael Sheen in The Damned United and Colin Firth in The King's Speech, which was a critical and commercial success, earning him an Academy Award for directing.
The King's Speech was also nominated for 12 Oscars, more than any other film that year, and won the Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay Oscars. The film received numerous other accolades, including seven BAFTA Awards, a Directors Guild of America Award, and the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Hooper's subsequent films, Les Misérables and The Damned United, also received critical acclaim and numerous award nominations. He has been nominated for several Directors Guild of America Awards, and has won several Golden Globe Awards and Emmy Awards for his work on HBO miniseries.
Hooper's television work includes episodes of EastEnders, Cold Feet, and Daniel Deronda, as well as directing ITV's miniseries Prime Suspect 6. His filmography is a testament to his versatility and talent as a director, with a range of films and television shows that have been recognized with numerous awards and nominations.
