My first lead role was a stage play called A Kestrel for a Knave. I was 11.
Manchester Youth theater, then the National Student Theater Company and later my degree course all helped form my love of telling stories and directing.
Its amazing what you can do without in terms of filmmaking when a story is really important.
My job is to create a film, where we are capturing truth in performances.
After college I funded my short films with acting roles in film and TV. I learned my craft through the great opportunities British television gave me as a director.