Sharon Maguire
{{Short description|British television director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
Sharon Maguire (born 17 August 1960) is a film director best known for directing the romantic comedy film Bridget Jones's Diary (2001).{{Cite web |title=Sharon Maguire |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sharon-maguire/credits/3030460885/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}} The film was based on the book of the same name by her close friend, Helen Fielding, and one of the main characters – "Shazza" – is allegedly based on Maguire.{{Cite web |last1=April 24 |first1=Gillian Flynn |last2=EDT |first2=2001 at 04:00 AM |title=Meet the inner circle that made 'Bridget Jones's Diary' |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/04/24/meet-inner-circle-made-bridget-joness-diary/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=EW.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2002-03-03 |title=Life support |url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/mar/03/ethicalliving.helenfielding |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2005-12-04 |title=This was Plan B, actually |url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2005/dec/04/familyandrelationships.features |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
Early life
Born in Coventry to Irish Catholic parents,{{cite magazine| url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2008/01/24/buzz-check-the/| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| title=Sundance BuzzCheck: Michelle Williams' eerie "Incendiary"| first=Vanessa| last=Juarez| date=24 January 2008| accessdate=27 April 2011}} Maguire studied English and drama at the University of Wales Aberystwyth. After leaving university she worked as a copywriter in publishing before doing a postgraduate degree in journalism at City University, London.
Career
She began a career in television, working as a researcher for The Media Show (C4) and then as a producer/director at the BBC's The Late Show. She then went on to direct several documentaries for BBC's Omnibus and Bookmark, before leaving the corporation to direct commercials. Bridget Jones's Diary marked Maguire's feature directorial debut.
In 2001, she directed Bridget Jones's Diary from a screenplay by Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis which was praised by critics.{{Cite web |last=Zacharek |first=Stephanie |date=2001-04-13 |title="Bridget Jones's Diary" |url=https://www.salon.com/2001/04/13/bridget_jones/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Salon |language=en}}The film stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, with Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.{{Cite news |date=2001-04-18 |title=Sharon Maguire to make 'modern Pride and Prejudice' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/apr/18/janeausten |access-date=2025-03-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=2001-04-13 |title=FILM REVIEW; 120 Pounds and 1,000,000 Cigarettes Later |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/13/movies/film-review-120-pounds-and-1000000-cigarettes-later.html |access-date=2023-01-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
In 2016, she co-founded the television production company, 7 Stories, which creates scripted drama for TV.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}
In 2016 she directed Bridget Jones's Baby from a screenplay by Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer and Emma Thompson, based on a story by Fielding. It is the sequel to Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and the third installment in the Bridget Jones film series. The film stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypk3hc9Ia_8 |title=Interview Sharon Maguire BRIDGET JONES' BABY |date=2016-10-21 |last=movieweather |access-date=2025-03-06 |via=YouTube}} {{cite news |last1=Jaafar |first1=Ali |date=14 July 2009 |title=Third 'Bridget Jones' in works |url=https://variety.com/2009/biz/markets-festivals/third-bridget-jones-in-works-1118005982/ |access-date=15 September 2015 |work=variety.com}}
Personal life
She has three children with her partner, director Anand Tucker.{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Angela |title=EXCLUSIVE: Sharon Maguire Returns to Deliver ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ |url=https://frontrowfeatures.com/features-category-of-interviews-and-spotlights/exclusive-sharon-maguire-returns-deliver-bridget-joness-baby-17141.html |website=frontrowfeatures.com |access-date=18 February 2025}}
Filmography
= Films =
= Documentary =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1991
|The Thing is... Babies |Director |C4 |
| 1993
|The Godfather |Director |BBC The Late Show |
| 1995
|Rumer Godden: An Indian Affair |Director |BBC Bookmark |
| 1995
|H.G. Wells: Bromley Boy |Director |BBC Bookmark |
| 1995
|H.G. Wells: The Panther and the Jaguar |Director |BBC Bookmark |
| 1997
|Dame Henrietta's Dream |Director | |
= TV =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2013
|Director |Lifetime TV |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|name=Sharon Maguire|id=0536632}}
{{Sharon Maguire}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maguire, Sharon}}
Category:Alumni of Aberystwyth University
Category:Alumni of City, University of London
Category:Alumni of the University of Wales
Category:Welsh women screenwriters
Category:Welsh television directors
Category:Welsh women film directors
Category:People from Aberystwyth
Category:British women screenwriters
Category:British women film directors