Tom Hooper
Tom Hooper is an acclaimed British director, recognized for his emotionally resonant storytelling and distinctive cinematic style. Born in London in 1971, he has made significant contributions to both film and television. Hooper gained widespread fame for directing "The King’s Speech" (2010), which won him an Academy Award for Best Director, as well as multiple other accolades for its portrayal of King George VI's speech impediment. His other notable works include "Les Misérables" (2012), which faced both praise and criticism for its unconventional filming techniques and casting choices, and "The Danish Girl" (2017), a biographical drama about transgender pioneer Lili Elbe.
In addition to feature films, Hooper has directed successful television projects, such as the Emmy Award-winning miniseries "John Adams" (2008), and he served as executive producer on the BBC adaptation of "His Dark Materials" (2019–2022). Despite his commercial successes, Hooper's work has occasionally sparked controversy, particularly regarding representation and historical accuracy. He has also directed impactful advertisements, earning recognition in the advertising industry. Hooper's approach often emphasizes emotion, leading to both critical acclaim and public enthusiasm for his projects.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Tom Hooper
Director
- Born: November 30, 1971
- Place of Birth: London, England
Contribution: Tom Hooper is an Acadey Award-winning director best known for The King's Speech (2010), Les Misérables (2012), The Danish Girl (2017), the television drama John Adams (2008), and the series His Dark Materials (2019).
Background
Tom Hooper was born in London, England, in 1971, the second of three children. He has a brother, Ben, and a sister, Rachel. His father, Richard, was a former deputy chair of the British communications-industry regulator Ofcom, and his mother, Meredith, was an Australian-born author and expert on the Antarctic. Hooper attended London's Westminster School as a child. He showed an interest in film from an early age, shooting his first short film, about his brother finding their grandfather's WWII bomber jacket, around age fourteen.
Hooper received a degree in English from Oxford University and then began his career in film by directing plays and shooting commercials. He made his directorial debut in British television, filming episodes of the shows Byker Grove, Cold Feet, and EastEnders.
Career
After EastEnders, Hooper directed the two-part television drama Love in a Cold Climate (2001), based on the novels of Nancy Mitford, and the three-part Daniel Deronda (2002), adapted from George Eliot's novel of the same name. He then directed the two-episode serial Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness (2003), the sixth such serial in the Prime Suspect series. The Last Witness won several awards and was nominated for three Emmy Awards and four BAFTA Awards.
Hooper's first feature film was 2004's Red Dust, starring Jamie Bartlett, Hilary Swank, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Meanwhile, his work on Prime Suspect had caught the attention of series star Helen Mirren, who asked him to direct the HBO miniseries Elizabeth I (2005), in which Mirren played the title role. Hooper won an Emmy for his work on the series.
Hooper went on to achieve mainstream success with the HBO miniseries John Adams, which aired in 2008. He worked with executive producer Tom Hanks on the project and was nominated for a Director's Guild Award. The series had a lukewarm reception in Britain but did very well in the United States, receiving thirteen Emmys out of a record twenty-three nominations.
Following John Adams and the 2009 British sporting drama The Damned United, Hooper took a chance when he decided to direct The King's Speech (2010), a story based on King George VI's real-life speech impediment. He shot the film on a budget of just $15 million, and critics worried that the subject matter would prove too dry for a popular audience. Hence, The King's Speech originally opened on just four screens in the United States. However, Hooper's gamble paid off as the movie gained momentum, eventually receiving more than twenty-five awards and over thirty-five award nominations. Among them were four Academy Awards, including one for Hooper for best director. Hooper also won a Director's Guild Award and was named British Director of the Year by the London Critics Circle. The success of The King's Speech rocketed Hooper into the limelight as one of the world's top directors.
Hooper next directed the blockbuster Les Misérables (2012), an adaptation of the musical based on the classic novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. It tells the story of paroled prisoner Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) as he travels through France while Inspector Javert follows, trying to send him back to jail. Hooper's casting was controversial, in particular his choice of Russell Crowe as antagonist Javert; critics complained that Crowe's singing was not of an appropriate caliber for the high-profile part. Hooper also came under fire from critics for his unconventional filming techniques, including his frequent use of close-up shots and the decision to film songs live, but the movie proved to be a success both nationally and internationally, winning a Golden Globe for best musical. Hooper was nominated for another Director's Guild Award for Les Misérables.
In 2017 Hooper's film The Danish Girl premiered to mostly positive reviews. It is based on a novel of the same name by David Ebershoff, which is in turn based on the life of transgender pioneer Lili Elbe (played by Eddie Redmayne), who is recognized as an early recipient of gender reassignment surgery in the 1930s. The movie was a nominee for best British film at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards and earned four Academy Award nominations, with costar Alicia Vikander winning for best supporting actress (despite some controversy over whether she had a supporting or lead role).
Hooper's next feature film was a big-budget adaptation of the long-running Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. He was attached to the project in 2016, and it was released in 2019, with an ensemble cast including James Corden, Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, and pop star Taylor Swift. However, it was very poorly received, racking up three Golden Raspberry Awards for worst picture, screenplay, and director. Meanwhile, Hooper was also involved in the BBC television production His Dark Materials, based on the fantasy trilogy of the same name by author Philip Pullman. The series premiered in November 2019, with Hooper directing the first two episodes, and earned mixed to positive reviews. He served as executive director of the series, which concluded in 2022 after three seasons.
Hooper directed a number of prominent advertisements. "Me, My Autism, and I" for Vanish featured a real family, a Chevrolet holiday ad focused on a woman with Alzheimer's, and a spot for Montefiore followed a boy with cerebral palsy. Based on these spots and other work, Ad Age's Creativity Awards named him the 2024 director of the year.
Impact
Hooper became known for his emphasis on emotion, which often led to his use of elaborate sets and unconventional filming techniques such as long close-up shots. His methods have often paid off with the public; according to the director, the popular reaction to Les Misérables was overwhelming, with London newspapers reporting many public displays of emotion by audiences reacting to the movie. Such successes made Hooper one of the most noted directors of the 2010s.
However, while many of Hooper's films were commercially successful, they also often stirred controversy from certain audiences and critics. For example, The King's Speech drew commentary for paying little attention to issues of social class, The Danish Girl was criticized for featuring a cisgender actor as a transgender character and various historical inaccuracies, and Cats drew much ridicule for its special effects even before it was released.
Personal Life
Tom Hooper was engaged to American actor and fashion designer Tara Subkoff. The couple split up in early 2012.
Bibliography
Bowles, Scott. "The King's Speech Director Wins." USA Today 31 Jan. 2011: 3D. Print.
Hooper, Tom. "Director Tom Hooper: 'I Put My Faith and Trust in the Audience.'" Interview by Susan Wloszczyna. USA Today 25 Jan. 2013: 2D. Print.
Nudd, Tim. "Oscar Winner Tom Hooper on His Trio of Acclaimed Ads--and Why He'll Keep Making Them." Ad Age, 8 July 2024, adage.com/article/creativity/tom-hooper-his-chevy-vanish-and-montefiore-ads/2568306. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.
Shoard, Catherine. "Tom Hooper: The Man Who Doesn't Need Oscar." Guardian 24 Feb. 2011, Film & Music sec.: 10. Print.
"Tom Hooper." IMDb, 2019, www.imdb.com/name/nm0393799/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
Utichi, Joe. "You Will Hear the People Sing." Sunday Times [London] 9 Dec. 2012: 4–6. Print.
Walker, Tim. "The King's Speech Director Tom Hooper Leaves His Pregnant Fiancée Tara Subkoff." Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 26 Jan. 2012. Web. 9 Aug. 2013.