Martin Campbell, a renowned filmmaker, has a remarkable track record of captivating audiences with his directorial work. His 1998 film, The Mask of Zorro, garnered Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, thereby propelling the international careers of Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The movie's success was followed by the well-received Vertical Limit in 2000, which earned over $200 million worldwide.
Campbell's impressive portfolio also includes his work on the James Bond franchise. He directed GoldenEye in 1995, marking Pierce Brosnan's debut as the iconic British spy, which went on to gross over $350 million. Additionally, he helmed Casino Royale in 2006, Daniel Craig's inaugural Bond feature.
Born in New Zealand, Campbell relocated to London, where he began his career as a cameraman. He then ventured into production, working on the controversial British feature Scum in 1979, as well as Black Joy, which was selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 1977. Campbell made his directorial debut on the British police action series The Professionals in 1977, subsequently directing the popular BBC series Shoestring in 1979 and Thames TV's Minder in 1979.
By the mid-'80s, Campbell was considered one of the U.K.'s top directors, having directed the highly acclaimed British telefilm Reilly: Ace of Spies in 1983. His work on the five-hour BBC miniseries Edge of Darkness in 1985, which explored nuclear contamination in England and depicted murder and high-ranking corruption, earned him six BAFTA awards.
Campbell's foray into Hollywood began with the 1998 film Criminal Law, followed by Defenseless in 1991 and No Escape in 1994. His American credits include directing HBO's Cast a Deadly Spell in 1991 and two episodes of NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street in 1993, among others. He also directed the epic romance Beyond Borders in 2003, starring Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen.
