RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH

Richard Attenborough was born in Cambridge in 1923, but spent his childhood in Leicester.

Aged 17, he won the prestigious Leverhulme Scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. While still a student in 1942, he made his screen debut in the Noel Coward/David Lean film In Which We Serve.

On graduating, he acted in a number of West End theatre productions including Brighton Rock (he would later star, memorably, in the movie version), before joining the Royal Air Force in 1943. He was demobilised after three years' service, and went on to star in more than 60 films including The Great Escape, The Flight of the Phoenix, 10 Rillington Place, Brannigan, Miracle on 34th Street and Jurassic Park.

Collaborating with long-term friend and colleague, writer/director Bryan Forbes, he also produced films such as The Angry Silence and Whistle Down the Wind. Then, in 1969 came the first of a dozen major movies as producer/director, the acclaimed Oh, What a Lovely War, which won 16 international awards.

Richard Attenborough is, however, undoubtedly best known for Gandhi, 1982 film of the year - winning eight Oscars® and five BAFTA Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director on both sides of the Atlantic.

His other films as director include Shadowlands, A Bridge Too Far, Chaplin, In Love and War, and most recently, the love across the generations movie, Closing the Ring, starring Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer and Mischa Barton.

Today, never happier than when wearing several hats, Lord Attenborough continues to fulfill his responsibilities as Chairman or President of numerous film industry bodies and charities. What an extraordinary career both in front of and behind the cameras - and what better dedication could there be for the UK's regional film awards?