Sara Sugarman facts for kids

Sara Sugarman (born on October 13, 1962) is a talented actress and filmmaker from Wales. She is known for directing movies like Disney's Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004) and Very Annie Mary (2001). Sara has also acted in films such as Dealers (1989) and Those Glory Glory Days (1983).

Early Life and Acting Career

Sara Sugarman was born in Rhyl, Wales. When she was a teenager, she was part of a punk band called The Fractures. A local musician named Mike Peters helped manage the band.

During this time, Sara also started acting. She played Jessica Samuels, a strong leader in the School Action Group (SAG). This was for the children's TV show Grange Hill, which aired from 1978 to 1979.

Training to Be an Actress

Sara moved to London to continue her acting studies. She attended the Arts Educational School and later the Barbara Speake Stage School. From 1986 to 1989, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). This is a very famous acting school. Sara even won the Best Actress medal there!

Becoming a Filmmaker

In 1994, Sara decided to learn more about making movies. She got a spot at the Bournemouth Film School. There, she wrote and directed three short films. These films were very successful.

Her short films were nominated for a BAFTA award and a BAFTA CYMRU award. They also won 23 awards at different film festivals around the world. Sara won the International Filmmaker's prize at the Sundance Film Festival. She also received the HBO Filmmaker prize and the Orange Prize for screenwriting.

Directing Movies

By 2010, Sara Sugarman was living in Los Angeles. In 2012, she wrote and directed a British comedy film called Vinyl. This movie was based on a true story about the Welsh musician Mike Peters. He is from the band The Alarm. In 2004, he released a song called "45 RPM" under a fake band name, The Poppy Fields. Much of the movie Vinyl was filmed in Sara's hometown of Rhyl.

Selected Work

Movies Sara Sugarman Directed

• Mad Cows (1999)
• Very Annie Mary (2001)
• Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
• Vinyl (2012)
• House of Versace (2013)
• Save the Cinema (2022)
• Midas Man (2024; uncredited American shoot)

Movies Sara Sugarman Acted In

• Those Glory Glory Days (1983)
• Sid and Nancy (1986)
• Straight to Hell (1987)
• Dealers (1989)
• Anthrakitis (1998, a short film)
• Mr. Nice (2010)

TV Shows Sara Sugarman Appeared In

• Grange Hill (1978–1979) as Jessica Samuels
• Juliet Bravo (1980)
• Minder (1984)
• Happy Families (1985)
• A Very Peculiar Practice (1986)
• Escape from Sobibor (1987, a TV movie)
• Streetwise (1989–1991) as Angel