Sharon Maguire

Sharon Maguire (born 17 August 1960) is a film director who hit the peak of her career as the director of Bridget Jones's Diary. This successful film was based on a novel written by her close friend, Helen Fielding. It's speculated that one of the main characters in the movie, Shazza, is based on Maguire's persona. Sharon was born in Coventry, to Irish Catholic parents, which influenced her upbringing and interests. Following her passion for the arts and literature, she pursued a degree in English and drama at the esteemed University of Wales Aberystwyth. After completing her bachelor's degree, she built a career in the publishing industry as a copywriter while refining her technical skills. She later pursued a postgraduate degree in journalism at City University, London. Diving right into the television industry, Maguire started off her career as a researcher for The Media Show, a programme on Channel 4. She then became a producer and director at BBC's The Late Show. Further, she directed several documentaries for BBC's Omnibus and Bookmark, before exiting the corporation to direct commercials. Her directorial debut on the big screen, Bridget Jones's Diary in 2001, earned acclaim from critics. In 2016, her career took another successful turn when she co-founded the television production company 7 Stories, dedicated to creating scripted drama for TV. Details about her personal life reveal that she has two children with her partner, director Anand Tucker.