Bruce Beresford: Movies, Awards & Box Office

Bruce Beresford, born 16 August 1940, is a notable Australian film director, opera director, screenwriter, and producer. Beresford began his career during the Australian New Wave and has created over 30 feature films throughout his 50-year career, spanning multiple countries, including Australia and the United States. He is a two-time Academy Award nominee, with four AACTA/AFI Awards from a total of 10 nominations to his name. His emblematic movies include Breaker Morant (1980), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), which won four Oscars, and Mao's Last Dancer (2009). He also directed some operas and theatre productions such as Sweeney Todd with Portland Opera (Oregon) in 1996. He has written for The Spectator Australia and published a memoir in August 2007. Beresford's second wife is novelist Virginia Duigan, and they have five adult children. Beresford continues to work both in Australia and the United States.

Planning to break into the British film scene, he moved to England, where he found himself in Nigeria working for two years. He later worked for the British Film Institute as a producer. He finally returned to Australia to make his first feature film, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972). However, after negative reviews, he encountered difficulties finding work. His career was rejuvenated with Don's Party (1976), leading to his more recognizable works including Crimes of the Heart (1986) and Driving Miss Daisy (1989). He reached international acclaim, and his movie Driving Miss Daisy won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Beresford says it was the compelling writing that made the movie successful, downplaying his directing role.