Changing Lanes

An award-winning play director whose venture into film and television proved equally successful, Roger Michell directed one of the highest grossing British films of all time, “Notting Hill.”

Michell was born in South Africa but spent significant parts of his childhood in Beirut, Damascus and Prague since his father’s job as a diplomat required the family to move often. While in England, he enrolled at Cambridge University and, by age 17, received considerable attention for his directing talents. The same year, he earned the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company Goodbody Award, named after the acclaimed British female director Buzz Goodbody, who committed suicide at the age of 29.

After graduating from Cambridge in 1977, Michell moved to London and began an apprenticeship at the Royal Court Theatre. During this time he was living hand-to-mouth in a rundown section of town, but he was gaining invaluable experience acting as assistant director to noted British playwrights John Osborne and Samuel Beckett. During this period, he also worked with stage manager Danny Boyle, who would also go on to a successful directing career with his international hit, “Trainspotting” (1996).

Michell left the Royal Court Theater in 1979 and began writing and directing projects on his own. The most successful of these ventures was 1982’s"’Private Dick," a comedy which won the Fringe First Award at the world famous Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. The play later debuted in in London’s West End and featured Robert Powell and Phillip Marlowe. In 1985, Michell joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and was the Resident Director there for six years. During his tenure he was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for directing the immensely popular “Some Americans Abroad.” This dark comedy about American professors working in London played at the Lincoln Center as well as on Broadway.

After leaving the Royal Shakespeare Company, Michell directed two miniseries and a documentary for British television before receiving his feature break directing the film adaptation of Jane Austin’s novel “Persuasion” (1995). Originally shown on BBC and later released by Columbia TriStar, the movie earned five BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards including Best Drama.

Michell’s next big break came when he was selected to direct “Notting Hill” (1999). Mega-star Julia Roberts was soon also added into the mix as was producer Duncan Kenworthy, who sent the script to Michell after being impressed with the comedic opening of his gay tragic-comedy play “My Night with Reg” (1996). “Notting Hill” would go on to make $360 million worldwide and establish Michell as an internationally known director.

Michell’s next project was to direct the film adaptation of the best-selling World War II romance novel, “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” (2001). But Michell suffered a heart attack and was replaced by director John Madden. Michell was soon back in the director’s chair with “Changing Lanes” (2002), a character driven film about man’s need for revenge, starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson. The movie was a departure from romantic comedies and with it Michell showed his range as a director. The film was noted for its unique style and quick cuts as well as its edgy and rain-soaked portrayal of New York City. —TCM