Claire Oakley
Born
London, England
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
Occupation(s)Film Director, Screenwriter
Years active2011–present
Websitewww.claireoakley.com

Claire Oakley (born 1985)[1] is a British film director and screenwriter. She began her career directing multiple short films, including Tracks (2014) and Physics (2012) before writing and directing her first feature film Make Up (2019).[2]

Early life and education

Oakley was raised in Hammersmith, West London and later studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, where she first developed an interest in film.[3]

Career

Her career began as a script reader working at various companies, including BBC Films and the BFI, before writing and directing her first short film Beautiful Enough (2010).[4] She subsequently directed four more short films.

Her first feature film Make Up was released in 2020[5] to critical acclaim; on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 43 critics gave the film a positive review, with Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph writing "as poetically teasing as it is psychologically precise, Make Up signals the arrival of an exciting new talent".[6][7]

In 2023, she made her small-screen directorial debut with three episodes of the Disney+ heist crime thriller Culprits, starring Gemma Arterton and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.[8][9][10]

Oakley is currently working on a second feature film, adapted from the novel English Animals.[3]

She also founded Cinesisters, an "inclusive collective of female directors" with over 175 members which aims to support and provide resources to female filmmakers.[3]

Personal life

Oakley lives in East London with her wife.[11]

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2019 Make Up Yes Yes No

Short films

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2010 Beautiful Enough Yes Yes Yes
2012 Physics Yes Yes No
2014 James Yes No No
2014 Tracks Yes Yes No
2016 Waterfall No No Yes
2016 Pumeza: Tuning In Yes Yes No

Television

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2023 Culprits Yes No No Episodes 5–7

References

  1. ^ "Claire Oakley". D'A. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  2. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (30 July 2020). "Make Up review – wintry chills in a spooky seaside thriller". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Jacobs, Emma (17 July 2020). "New film-maker Claire Oakley on desire and storytelling". Financial Times. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Catching Up with Underwire Alumni: Claire Oakley". Underwire Festival. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  5. ^ Bugbee, Teo (12 November 2020). "'Make Up' Review: Self-Discovery, an Adolescent Horror". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Make Up (2019)", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved 1 June 2021
  7. ^ Collin, Robbie (30 July 2020). "Make Up review: this sexy, eerie Cornish creeper is the best British film of 2020 so far". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. ^ McArdell, Ian (26 October 2023). "Culprits - trailer lands for the slick Disney+ post-heist thriller". CultBox. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. ^ Phelan, Zehra (24 October 2023). ""What are you not telling me?" Trailer drops for series 'Culprits'". HeyUGuys. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. ^ Paz, Maggie Dela (23 October 2023). "Culprits Trailer: Gemma Arterton Stars in Hulu's Crime Dark Comedy Series". ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Make Up director Claire Oakley: 'I was worried people might think we were making a porno'". The Guardian. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021.

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