Directors of 2011: 1 - Tom Hooper

Tom Hooper made his name in TV before moving into movies - and he really did make a big impact this year with The King’s Speech.

Yes Hooper is FemaleFirst’s director of 2011 for delivering a truly remarkable movie that was really packed with emotion.

He brought together a great cast that included Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush and Guy Pearce.

The movie followed the personal struggle of King George VI set to a backdrop of a monarchy in turmoil after the abdication of his brother.

This is a moving story of one man’s struggle to overcome his greatest demon and the friendship that he makes with Lionel Logue along the way.

The King’s Speech really is a stunning movie that is dramatic, funny, heart-warming before coming to a very emotional and yet triumphant ending.

The movie featured heavily on the awards circuit last year and it went head to head with The Social Network at the Oscars.

And it was The King’s Speech that was triumphant as it picked up Best Picture, Best Director for Hooper and Best Actor for Firth.

We haven’t seen Hooper back in the director’s chair since this success but he is about to start work on a new project… Les Miserables.

The movie is set to be an adaptation of the popular musical and William Nicholson has penned the script.

Hugh Jackman is set to take on the role of Jean Valjean while Russell Crowe will be playing Inspector Javert.

Filming is set to get underway in 2012 - this is a project that I really am looking forward to.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw