Bruce Beresford (b. 1940) went to Sydney University before moving to London in the early 1960s. He worked as a film editor in Nigeria and for Britain’s Film Institute Production Board before teaming with Barry Humphries to make The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972) and Barry McKenzie Holds his Own (1974). Successful at the box-office, these scandalous productions were sourly received by critics. Undaunted, Beresford proceeded to establish himself as a key figure in Australia’s film ‘renaissance’ with such classics as Don’s Party (1976), The Getting of Wisdom (1977), Breaker Morant (1980), The Club (1980) and Puberty Blues (1981). For his Hollywood debut, Tender Mercies (1983), he gained an Oscar nomination for best director. His 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy won four Academy Awards, including best picture – although Beresford himself was notoriously overlooked for nomination in the direction category. His subsequent pictures have included the acclaimed Black Robe (1991), and more recently And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003) and Mao’s Last Dancer (2009).
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2006
© Jozef Vissel
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