Sam Mendes

Samuel Alexander Mendes (born August 1, 1965) is an English stage and film director. As a stage director, he is probably best known for his production of The Blue Room[?], which offered among its many virtues an opportunity for people to see Nicole Kidman get her kit off. As a film director, he is still best known for his debut, American Beauty.

Stage

• Won a Critics Circle Award[?] for Best Newcomer after directing Judi Dench in The Cherry Orchard[?].
• 1990: Began directing for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
• 1992: became artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse[?] theatre
• 1994: directed revival of Oliver! (with score specially-revised and added to by the original composer and lyricist, Lionel Bart) at the London Palladium; in 1994, Oliver! became the longest-running show at that venue.
• 1994: directed revival of Cabaret[?]
• 1998: revival of Cabaret[?] opens on Broadway; wins four Tony Awards, including Best Musical (Revival)
• 1998: directed David Hare[?]'s The Blue Room[?], starring Nicole Kidman (and Iain Glen[?]).

Film

• 1999: Film directorial debut: American Beauty; won Golden Globe Award for Film Directing and Academy Award for Directing.
• 2002: Road to Perdition[?] (based on novel by Max Allan Collins)