Stephen Poliakoff

Career overview

Stephen Poliakoff was born on December 1, 1952, in Holland Park, London, England. He is a British playwright, director, and screenwriter who has been widely judged amongst Britain's foremost television dramatists. In 2006, Gerard Gilbert of The Independent described him as the United Kingdom's pre-eminent television dramatist and noted that he had inherited Dennis Potter's crown. Alongside his career in the theatre, Poliakoff began a successful career writing for British television, working with leading directors such as Michael Apted, Stephen Frears, and Peter Hall. His work in television includes writing projects such as Perfect Strangers in 2001 and The Lost Prince in 2003.

Poliakoff later moved into movies, writing and directing his first film, Hidden City, which led to him directing nearly all of his subsequent film and television projects. Among his notable film and television writing credits is the 1991 film Close My Eyes, which he also directed. His theatrical work includes the 1979 production of American Days at the ICA in London. He holds the honors of CBE and FRSL. He has been married to Sandy Welch since 1983, and the couple has two children.