Peter Chelsom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Chelsom
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Chelsom on set of The Space Between Us, summer 2015
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| Born | 20 April 1956 Blackpool, Lancashire, England
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| Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation | Film director, actor |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) | Lindsay McCracken |
| Children | 3 |
Peter Chelsom (born April 20, 1956) is a talented British film director, writer, and actor. He has directed many popular movies. Some of his well-known films include Hector and the Search for Happiness, Serendipity, and Shall We Dance?. Peter Chelsom is a member of important film groups like the British Academy and the American Academy.
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Peter Chelsom's Early Life
Peter Chelsom was born in Blackpool, England. His parents, Kay and Reginald Chelsom, owned an antiques shop. He went to Wrekin College for school. Later, he studied at the Central School of Drama in London. Peter Chelsom is a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom. He is also an honorary citizen of Fivizzano, a small town in Italy.
Peter Chelsom's Career in Film
Before he turned 30, Peter Chelsom was a successful actor. He performed in plays with famous actors like Patrick Stewart and Sir Anthony Hopkins. He also appeared in many TV shows and films. One of these was A Woman of Substance in 1985.
Becoming a Director
While acting, Peter Chelsom became very interested in writing and directing movies. His first short film, Treacle, was nominated for a BAFTA award. This award is a big honor in British film. The film was also shown at many film festivals around the world.
From 1985 to 1998, he taught film at the Central School of Drama. He also taught at other places like Cornell University.
First Feature Films
Peter Chelsom's first full-length movie was the romantic comedy Hear My Song in 1991. This film was inspired by the life of an Irish singer named Josef Locke. Peter Chelsom won the "Best Newcomer" award for this film. A famous film critic, Roger Ebert, called it "the very soul of a great small film."
His next movie was Funny Bones in 1995. This film is about comedy and stars actors like Oliver Platt and Jerry Lewis. It tells the story of two brothers who try hard to be funny. Funny Bones won "Best Picture" at five film festivals in Europe. It also won the "Peter Sellers Award for Comedy."
In 1998, he directed The Mighty. This movie was based on the popular book Freak the Mighty. It starred well-known actresses like Sharon Stone and Gillian Anderson. The film received two Golden Globe nominations.
Directing Popular Movies
In 2001, Peter Chelsom directed Town and Country. This movie featured famous actors like Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton. In the same year, he directed Serendipity, a romantic film with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. Serendipity earned over $50 million at the box office.
His 2004 film, Shall We Dance?, was a remake of an older movie. It starred Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon. This film was a huge success, making $170 million worldwide.
In 2009, Peter Chelsom directed Hannah Montana: The Movie for Disney. This movie was very popular and broke box office records. It made $32 million on its opening weekend in the USA.
In 2014, he directed Hector and the Search for Happiness. The movie starred Simon Pegg and Rosamund Pike. It is about a psychiatrist who travels the world to find out what makes people happy. Peter Chelsom won "Best Director" for this film at the Monte Carlo Film Festival.
His most recent film, The Space Between Us, came out in 2017. It is a science fiction romance movie. It stars Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield, and Britt Robertson.
Peter Chelsom's Filmography
Director: Short Films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Treacle | Yes | Yes |
Director: Feature Films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Hear My Song | Yes | Yes |
| 1995 | Funny Bones | Yes | Yes |
| 1998 | The Mighty | Yes | No |
| 2001 | Town & Country | Yes | No |
| Serendipity | Yes | No | |
| 2004 | Shall We Dance? | Yes | No |
| 2009 | Hannah Montana: The Movie | Yes | No |
| 2014 | Hector and the Search for Happiness | Yes | Yes |
| 2017 | The Space Between Us | Yes | No |
| 2021 | Security | Yes | Yes |
| 2024 | A Sudden Case of Christmas | Yes | Yes |
Peter Chelsom's Awards
Peter Chelsom has won several awards for his work:
- For Hear My Song (1991):
* Won "Most Promising Newcomer" at the Evening Standard British Film Awards. * Won "British Newcomer of the Year" at the London Critics Circle Film Awards. * Won "Best Film" at the British Comedy Awards.
- For Funny Bones (1995):
* Won the Grand Prix at the Paris Film Festival. * Won the Golden Hitchcock at the Dinard British Film Festival. * Won the Emden Film Award at the Emden International Film Festival. * Won the "Audience Award" and "Crystal Star for Best European Feature" at the Brussels International Film Festival. * Won the "Peter Sellers Award for Comedy" at the Evening Standard British Film Awards. * Won "British Producer of the Year" at the London Critics Circle Film Awards.
- For The Mighty (1998):
* Won the Silver Gryphon and Young People's Jury Award at the Giffoni Film Festival.
- For Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014):
* Won "Best Director" at the Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival.
See also
In Spanish: Peter Chelsom para niños
