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{{short description|British-Australian film director}}
{{Distinguish|Tom Hopper}}
{{other people}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
<!-- PLEASE FOLLOW EXISTING CONVENTIONS; THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN 'BRITISH' ENGLISH AND DOES NOT USE CITATION TEMPLATES -->
{{Infobox person
| name           = Tom Hooper
| image          = TomHopper10TIFF.jpg
| alt            = A man in a grey suit with a blue shirt looks down to his right while smiling.
| caption        = Hooper at the 2010 [[Toronto Film Festival]]
| birth_name     = Thomas George Hooper
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1972|10|5}}
| birth_place    = London, England
| citizenship    = {{hlist|British|Australian}}
| alma_mater     = [[University College, Oxford]]
| occupation     = {{hlist|Director|producer|screenwriter}}
| years_active   = 1992–present
| parents        = {{Plainlist|
* [[Richard Hooper (civil servant)|Richard Hooper]]
* [[Meredith Hooper]]
}}
| awards         = [[List of awards and nominations received by Tom Hooper|Full list]]
}}
'''Thomas George Hooper''' (born 5 October 1972)<ref name=BMD>''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005''. '''5d''': 2485.</ref> is a British-Australian{{#tag:ref|Hooper was born and raised in England and is the son of an English father and an Australian mother. He holds dual citizenship of the United Kingdom and Australia.<ref name=Gritten/> Hooper self-identified in 2010 as "half-Australian and half-English and living in London".<ref name=Thompson/>|group=n}} filmmaker. Known for his work in film and television he has received [[List of awards and nominations received by Tom Hooper|numerous accolades]] including an [[Academy Award for Best Director|Academy Award]], a [[BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film|BAFTA Award]], a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special|Primetime Emmy Award]] and three [[Golden Globe Award for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film|Golden Globe Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011|title=2011 &#124; Oscars.org &#124; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|website=www.oscars.org|date=7 October 2014 }}</ref>

Hooper began making short films as a teenager and had his first professional short, ''Painted Faces'', broadcast on [[Channel 4]] in 1992. At Oxford University, he directed plays and television commercials. After graduating, he directed episodes of ''[[Quayside (TV series)|Quayside]]'', ''[[Byker Grove]]'', ''[[EastEnders]]'', and ''[[Cold Feet]]'' on British television. In the 2000s, Hooper directed the major [[BBC]] costume dramas ''[[Love in a Cold Climate (2001 TV series)|Love in a Cold Climate]]'' (2001) and ''[[Daniel Deronda (TV series)|Daniel Deronda]]'' (2002), as well as the 2003 revival of [[ITV Network|ITV]]'s ''[[Prime Suspect]]'' series. He gained acclaim for directing the [[HBO]] projects ''[[Elizabeth I (2005 TV series)|Elizabeth I]]'' (2005), ''[[Longford (film)|Longford]]'' (2006), and ''[[John Adams (miniseries)|John Adams]]'' (2008), the former of which earned him the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie]].

Hooper made his feature film debut with the British drama ''[[Red Dust (2004 film)|Red Dust]]'' (2004) followed by the [[sports drama]] ''[[The Damned United]]'' (2009). He directed the historical drama ''[[The King's Speech]]'' (2010) which earned him the [[Academy Award for Best Director]]. He followed up with the musical epic ''[[Les Misérables (2012 film)|Les Misérables]]'' (2012), and the romantic drama ''[[The Danish Girl (film)|The Danish Girl]]'' (2015), the later of which was nominated for the [[BAFTA Award for Best British Film]]. He directed the [[Cats (2019 film)|2019 live-action adaptation]] of the musical ''[[Cats (musical)|Cats]]'', for which he won three [[Golden Raspberry Awards]] for Worst Director, Worst Picture, and Worst Screenplay. That same year he directed two episodes of the [[HBO]] fantasy series ''[[His Dark Materials (TV series)|His Dark Materials]]'' (2019).

== Early life and education ==<!-- PLEASE FOLLOW EXISTING CONVENTIONS; THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN 'BRITISH' ENGLISH AND DOES NOT USE CITATION TEMPLATES -->
Tom Hooper was born on 5 October 1972 in London, England, the son of [[Meredith Hooper|Meredith Jean (Rooney)]] and [[Richard Hooper (civil servant)|Richard Hooper]].<ref name=BMD/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/children/scholarly-magazines/hooper-meredith-jean-1939|title=Hooper, Meredith (Jean) 1939- &#124; Encyclopedia.com|website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> Meredith is an Australian author and academic and Richard is an English media businessman. Hooper was educated at [[Highgate School]] and [[Westminster School]].<ref name="Brown"/> His initial interest in drama was triggered by his English and drama teacher at Highgate, former [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] actor Roger Mortimer, who produced an annual school play.<ref name=Hulse>Hulse, Tim (6 April 2011). "[http://www.babusinesslife.com/People/What-Ive-Learned/Tom-Hooper.html What I've Learned: Tom Hooper]". babusinesslife.com (Business Life). Retrieved 16 July 2011 ([https://archive.today/20110614160516/http://www.babusinesslife.com/People/What-Ive-Learned/Tom-Hooper.html archived] by WebCite on 20 August 2011).</ref>

At the age of 12, Hooper read a book entitled ''How to Make Film and Television'' and decided he wanted to become a director.<ref name="Brown"/><ref name=Hulse/> For the next year Hooper researched filmmaking from publications such as ''On Camera'' by Harris Watts.<ref name=Hulse/> Aged 13, he made his first film, entitled ''Runaway Dog'', using a clockwork 16mm [[Bolex]] camera his uncle had given to him.<ref name="Brown"/> Hooper said: "The clockwork would run out after thirty seconds, so the maximum shot length was thirty seconds. I could only afford a hundred feet of Kodachrome reversal film, which cost about twenty-five [pounds], and you had to send off for two weeks to be processed. I could only make silent movies, because sound was too expensive and complicated."<ref name=Simmons>Simmons, Alan (24 January 2011). "[http://www.filmshaft.com/tom-hooper-on-done-in-60-seconds-the-kings-speech-and-james-bond/ Tom Hooper On Done In 60 Seconds, The King’s Speech And James Bond]". FilmShaft. Retrieved 24 January 2011 ([https://archive.today/20110126053147/http://www.filmshaft.com/tom-hooper-on-done-in-60-seconds-the-kings-speech-and-james-bond/ archived] by WebCite on 24 January 2011).</ref> He slowed down the frame rate of the camera so he could maximise what little film stock he had.<ref name=Hulse/> Hooper classified the short, about a dog which kept running away from its owner, as a comedy, and filmed it on location in [[Oxfordshire]].<ref name=Fendelman>Fendelman, Adam (24 January 2011). "Interview: 'The King's Speech' Director Tom Hooper on Colin Firth's Masterful Stutter". HollywoodChicago.com. Retrieved 25 January 2011 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110128081950/http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/13178/interview-the-kings-speech-director-tom-hooper-colin-firth-masterful-studder archived] by WebCite on 25 January 2011).</ref>

When Hooper was 14, his film ''Bomber Jacket'' came runner-up in a [[BBC]] younger filmmakers' competition.<ref name=Simmons/> The short starred Hooper's brother as a boy who discovers a bomber jacket and a photograph hidden in a cupboard and learns his grandfather died in [[World War II]].<ref name=Gritten>Gritten, David (24 December 2010). "[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmmakersonfilm/8219733/Tom-Hooper-interview-for-The-Kings-Speech.html King who came from nowhere]". ''The Daily Telegraph'' (Telegraph Media Group): p.&nbsp;20. Retrieved 2 March 2011.</ref> Another of Hooper's short films, entitled ''Countryside'', depicts a [[nuclear holocaust]].{{#tag:ref|The order of Hooper's early short films differs according to various sources; Fendelman (2011)<ref name=Fendelman/> states that ''Bomber Jacket'' was his second short, and Simmons (2011)<ref name=Simmons/> states it was his third. Hooper is himself confused about the order in his audio commentary for ''The King's Speech'' DVD.<ref>Hooper, Tom. (2011). ''Audio commentary for "The King's Speech"''. [DVD]. Alliance Films (UK). Event occurs at 1:51:00.</ref>|name=shorts|group=n}}<ref name=Simmons/>

Hooper finished school aged 16, then wrote the script for his first professional short film, entitled ''Painted Faces''. He spent the next two years raising capital for the short by courting advertisement directors, whose financial dominance during the late 1980s was noticed by Hooper. Director [[Paul Weiland]] invested in the short, which provided Hooper with the equipment he needed. After two years of financing and production, ''Painted Faces'' was completed. Hooper wrote, produced, directed and edited it.<ref name=Hulse/> It was sold to [[Channel 4]] and broadcast on the channel's ''First Frame'' strand in 1992, had a screening at the 35th [[London Film Festival]] and had a limited theatrical release.<ref name="Brown">Brown, Maggie (16 October 2006). "[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/16/mondaymediasection10 Prime candidate]". ''The Guardian'' (Guardian News & Media): p.&nbsp;6 (''MediaGuardian'' supplement). Retrieved 25 January 2008.</ref><ref name=Hulse/>

After taking a [[gap year]] to finance ''Painted Faces'', Hooper read English at [[University College, Oxford]].<ref name="Brown"/><ref>Harlow, John (16 March 2008). "[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3558487.ece Briton Tom Hooper in charge of the TV war of independence]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}". ''The Sunday Times'' (Times Newspapers): p.&nbsp;1 (''Business'' section). Retrieved 14 December 2010.</ref> He joined the [[Oxford University Dramatic Society]], where he directed [[Kate Beckinsale]] in ''[[A View from the Bridge]]'' and [[Emily Mortimer]] in ''[[The Trial#Theatre adaptions|The Trial]]''. Hooper also had his first paid directing work, earning £200 for a corporate Christmas video, and he directed his first television advertisements, including one for ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' featuring [[Right Said Fred]].<ref name=Hulse/><ref name=Burrell>Burrell, Ian (26 February 2009). "[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/tackling-old-big-ead-the-secret-of-making-brian-clough-live-again-on-screen-1632248.html Tackling Old Big 'Ead]". ''The Independent'' (Independent News & Media): p.&nbsp;14. Retrieved 10 October 2010.</ref> He continues to direct advertisements alongside television and film projects. In 1996 he joined the commercial production company John S. Clarke Productions and in 2001 he signed with Infinity Productions.<ref>Staff (3 May 1996). "John S. Clarke productions signs 23-year-old Hooper and doubles its directors". ''Campaign'' (Haymarket Business Publications): p.&nbsp;41.</ref><ref>Darby, Ian (18 May 2001). "[http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/38006/Mark-Stothert-quits-John-S-Clarke-run-Infinity-Productions/ Mark Stothert quits John S Clarke to run Infinity Productions]". ''Campaign'' (Haymarket Media). Retrieved 18 June 2011.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Notable advertising campaigns directed by Hooper include 2006's ''Rooftop Tennis'' for [[Sony Ericsson]]'s mobile phone range,<ref name="Brown"/><ref>Oatts, Joanne (5 July 2006). "[http://www.brandrepublic.com/bulletin/brandrepublicnewsbulletin/article/567717/tennis-stars-rally-launch-new-camera-phone/ Tennis stars in roof-top rally for Sony Ericsson launch]". brandrepublic.com (Haymarket Media). Retrieved 18 June 2011 ([https://archive.today/20120722092047/http://www.brandrepublic.com/bulletin/brandrepublicnewsbulletin/article/567717/tennis-stars-rally-launch-new-camera-phone/ archived] by WebCite on 18 June 2011).</ref> and ''Dive'', a spot for the 2011 [[Captain Morgan]] rum campaign ''To Life, Love and Loot''.
<ref>Smugglersite (2011). "[http://smugglersite.com/tom-hooper Examples of Tom Hoopers work]". Smuggler site .</ref><ref>Goundry, Nick (27 May 2011). "[http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2011/05/tom-hooper-films-captain-morgan-rum-pirate-ad-campaign-on-location-in-spain/ King’s Speech’s Tom Hooper films Captain Morgan pirate ads on location in Spain]". thelocationguide. Retrieved 18 June 2011 ([https://archive.today/20130204164057/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2011/05/tom-hooper-films-captain-morgan-rum-pirate-ad-campaign-on-location-in-spain/ archived] by WebCite on 18 June 2011).</ref>|group=n}} Hooper has also directed commercials including an ad for Jaguar with [[Tom Hiddleston]], [[Ben Kingsley]], and [[Mark Strong]], which aired during [[Super Bowl XLV]]. His commercial work is produced through international production company SMUGGLER.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Walker|first=Michael|date=2014-01-28|title=Super Bowl: Jaguar Previews Ad Featuring Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Strong (Video)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/super-bowl-jaguar-previews-ad-674700/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== 1997–2003: BBC and ITV productions ===<!-- PLEASE FOLLOW EXISTING CONVENTIONS; THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN 'BRITISH' ENGLISH AND DOES NOT USE CITATION TEMPLATES -->
After graduating from Oxford, Hooper directed further television commercials, intending to break into the film industry the same way [[Ridley Scott]], [[Tony Scott]] and [[Hugh Hudson]] did.<ref name=Brown/><ref>Johnson, Richard (21 June 2009). "[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6542652.ece In cash-strapped times British film-makers refuse to take a back seat. They're used to making a drama out of a crisis]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}". ''The Sunday Times'' (Times Newspapers): pp.&nbsp;50–52. Retrieved 26 June 2011.</ref> He was introduced by his father to the television producer [[Matthew Robinson (producer)|Matthew Robinson]], who mentored Hooper and gave him his first television directing work.<ref name=Brown/><ref name=Hulse/> For Robinson, Hooper directed episodes of the short-lived [[Tyne Tees Television]] soap opera ''[[Quayside (TV series)|Quayside]]'' in 1997, four episodes of the [[CBBC (TV channel)|Children's BBC]] television series ''[[Byker Grove]]'' in the same year, and his first episodes of the [[BBC One]] soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'' in 1998.<ref name=Brown/><ref name=BFI>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20071226124449/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/405561 Tom Hooper filmography]". British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 January 2010.</ref>

Hooper directed several ''EastEnders'' episodes between 1998 and 2000, two of which were hour-long specials that represented the soap when it won the [[British Academy Television Awards|British Academy Television Award]] for Best Soap Opera in 2000 and 2001;<ref name=Brown/> the first was the episode in which [[Carol Jackson]] ([[Lindsey Coulson]]) learns her daughter [[Bianca Jackson|Bianca]] ([[Patsy Palmer]]) had an affair with her fiancé [[Dan Sullivan (EastEnders)|Dan Sullivan]] ([[Craig Fairbrass]]). The Jackson episode marked the beginning of a week of episodes that led to Palmer's departure from the soap, and Robinson had hired Hooper to direct the key episodes of that storyline.<ref>Ellie (30 March 2010). "[http://www.walfordweb.co.uk/item.php?id=2314 Spotlight: Matthew Robinson (Part 1)]". Walford Web. Retrieved 3 October 2010 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20101201132925/http://walfordweb.co.uk/item.php?id=2314 archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref> Hooper worked 10-hour days on ''EastEnders'', and learned to direct with speed.<ref name=Burrell/> He was influenced in his early career by the cinematic style of American TV series such as ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'', ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' and ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' and tried to work that style into his ''EastEnders'' episodes; one scene featuring [[Grant Mitchell (EastEnders)|Grant Mitchell]] ([[Ross Kemp]]) involved a [[crane shot]], which Hooper believes made him infamous among the ''EastEnders'' production crew.<ref>Hooper, Tom. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7941000/7941116.stm Radio interview with Sarah Montague]. ''Today''. BBC Radio 4. 13 March 2009. Event occurs at 00:03:10–00:05:56. Retrieved 10 October 2010.</ref>

In 1999, Hooper directed two episodes of [[Granada Television]]'s comedy-drama television series ''[[Cold Feet]]'', which marked his move to bigger-budget productions.<ref name=Halper>Halper, Jenny (24 September 2009). "[http://awfj.org/2009/09/24/awfj-women-on-film-tom-hooper-on-the-damned-united-jenny-halper-interviews/ AWFJ Women On Film – Tom Hooper On "The Damned United" – Jenny Halper interviews]". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved 24 September 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120707053348/http://awfj.org/2009/09/24/awfj-women-on-film-tom-hooper-on-the-damned-united-jenny-halper-interviews/ archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref> There was initially concern at Granada that Hooper might be an unsuitable director for the series given his background in drama.<ref name=Brown/>

In 2001, Hooper directed his first of two costume dramas for the BBC; ''[[Love in a Cold Climate (2001 TV series)|Love in a Cold Climate]]'' was based on [[Nancy Mitford]]'s novels ''[[The Pursuit of Love]]'' and ''[[Love in a Cold Climate]]''. Hooper, the writer [[Deborah Moggach]], and the producer [[Kate Harwood]] researched the period details of the production by interviewing Nancy's sister [[Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire|Deborah]].<ref>Moggach, Deborah (20 June 2000). "Playing bit parts in my own dramas". ''The Times'' (Times Newspapers): p.&nbsp;9 (''Times2'' supplement).</ref> In 2002, Hooper directed ''[[Daniel Deronda (TV series)|Daniel Deronda]]'', adapted from [[George Eliot]]'s novel. ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s [[Mark Lawson]] said of Hooper's two costume dramas, "he brought verve and intelligence to television's most conservative form".<ref>Lawson, Mark (8 February 2003). "Getting real". ''The Guardian'' (Guardian News & Media): p.&nbsp;21 (''Weekend'' supplement).</ref>

Hooper returned to Granada the next year to direct the revival of ''[[Prime Suspect]]'', entitled ''The Last Witness''. The two-part serial was the first ''Prime Suspect'' instalment to be made since 1995, when star [[Helen Mirren]] quit. Hooper initially declined to direct the production because he believed the series was tired. Granada's head of drama [[Andy Harries]] introduced Hooper to Mirren, who persuaded him to take the job by promising that he could make the serial his own way.<ref name=Brown/><ref name=Halper/> The two-part serial was broadcast on the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network in November 2003. Hooper's direction received praise from Andrew Billen in the ''[[New Statesman]]'': "Tom Hooper proved an outstanding director, imposing a bleak, overlit hyper-realism on the search for a killer in a hospital, isolating Mirren in rows of empty chairs and playing on the eyewitness/optical visual metaphors."<ref>Billen, Andrew (15/30 December 2003). "The ratings war". ''New Statesman'': p.&nbsp;104.</ref> The serial was also broadcast on [[PBS]] in the United States. Hooper received nominations for the [[British Academy Television Awards|British Academy Television Award]] for Best Drama Serial and the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special]] for his work on ''Prime Suspect''.<ref>"[http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2003 Television nominations 2003]". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 3 October 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120721182023/http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2003 archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref><ref>"[http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=Tom+Hooper&program=&start_year=2004&end_year=2004&network=160&web_category=370&winner=All Outstanding Director For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special]". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 28 February 2011 ([https://archive.today/20120731012515/http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=Tom+Hooper&program=&start_year=2004&end_year=2004&network=160&web_category=370&winner=All archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref>

=== 2004–2008: Film debut and HBO works ===<!-- PLEASE FOLLOW EXISTING CONVENTIONS; THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN 'BRITISH' ENGLISH AND DOES NOT USE CITATION TEMPLATES -->
[[File:Tom Hooper HIFF 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Hooper at the 2010 [[Hamptons International Film Festival]]]]
Hooper made his debut as a feature film director with the South African [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] drama ''[[Red Dust (2004 film)|Red Dust]]'' (2004), which stars [[Hilary Swank]], [[Chiwetel Ejiofor]] and [[Jamie Bartlett]]. The film was not widely seen, which Hooper attributed to media coverage of torture during the [[Iraq War]]: "When I started making it you could watch the movie with a wonderful sense of 'we'd never do it in our own country…they're the horrible people but it's not us.' By the time the film came out (there were) these revelations that the Americans were torturing, the British were torturing. The film became a lot more uncomfortable for the very audiences it was designed to target. I have learned that sadly the theatrical audience does not run to see films that are openly issue-led."<ref name=Halper/> The premiere of the film in the United Kingdom came on [[BBC Two]] in 2005, making it eligible for the BAFTA Television Awards; it was nominated in the Best Single Drama category at the 2006 ceremony.<ref>"[http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2005 Television nominations 2005]". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 3 October 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120526064811/http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2005 archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref>

In 2005, Hooper was asked by Helen Mirren to direct the Company Pictures/HBO Films two-part serial ''[[Elizabeth I (2005 TV series)|Elizabeth I]]'', in which she was starring.<ref>Mirren, Helen (2007) ''In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures''. Weidenfeld & Nicolson: p.&nbsp;218. {{ISBN|0-297-85197-7}}.</ref> The serial won Hooper his first Emmy Award, for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special.<ref name=Brown/> In January 2006, Hooper commenced filming the Granada/HBO television film ''[[Longford (film)|Longford]]''. The film dramatises the failed efforts of [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|Lord Longford]] (played by [[Jim Broadbent]]) to secure the release from prison of [[Moors murders|Moors murderer]] Myra Hindley (played by [[Samantha Morton]]). The film was broadcast on [[Channel 4]] in October 2006. Seb Morton-Clark for the ''[[Financial Times]]'' called ''Longford'' one of the most accomplished television dramas of 2006, and praised the writer and director: "Morgan and director Tom Hooper wove a seamless narrative about obsession – and not just that of the misguided philanthropist for the incarcerated Hindley or even that that existed between the sadistic lovers themselves. More significantly, by using chunks of original television footage, they painted a stark picture of the zealotry of a vengeful nation and its press over the supposed embodiment of evil."<ref>Morton-Clark, Seb (28 October 2006). "Marooned on planet mediocre". ''Financial Times'' (The Financial Times): p.&nbsp;13.</ref> Hooper's continued successes led him to be ranked at number four in the Directors category of ''[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]]'' magazine's annual Hot 100.<ref>Adams, Vernon (24 November 2006). "Hot 100 – directors". ''Broadcast'' (Emap Media).{{page needed|date=October 2010}}</ref> The following year he was nominated for the British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Director for ''Longford''.<ref>"[http://www.bafta.org/awards/television-craft/latest-winners-nominees,58,BA.html Craft Winners in 2007]". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120719054753/http://www.bafta.org/awards/television-craft/latest-winners-nominees,58,BA.html archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref>

''Elizabeth I'' and ''Longford'' led directly to Hooper being selected by [[Tom Hanks]] to direct the epic miniseries ''[[John Adams (miniseries)|John Adams]]'' for [[Playtone]] and HBO. Hooper had been working on a biographical film with [[Joan Didion]] about [[Katharine Graham]], publisher of ''[[The Washington Post]]'', since 2006 when he was asked by Hanks to helm the programme.<ref>Argetsinger, Amy; Roxanne Roberts (10 March 2008). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/09/AR2008030902099.html Graham Biopic Back on Track]". ''The Washington Post'' (The Washington Post Company): p.&nbsp;C3. Retrieved 10 October 2010.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Hooper was subsequently replaced by [[Robert Benton]] on the Graham project.<ref>Newhall, Marissa (15 November 2008). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/14/AR2008111403138.html Names & Faces: HBO's Press Run for Linney]". ''The Washington Post'' (The Washington Post Company): p.&nbsp;C03. Retrieved 16 July 2011.</ref>|group=n}} The miniseries, starring [[Paul Giamatti]] as [[John Adams]], was based on [[David McCullough]]'s Adams [[John Adams (book)|biography]] and was Hooper's first wholly American production.<ref>Hooper, Tom. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/cultureshow/videos/2009/02/s5_e22_hbo_extra2/index.shtml Television interview with Greg Dyke]". ''The Culture Show'': Series 5, Episode 22. BBC Two. 3 February 2009. Event occurs at 01:54. Retrieved 10 October 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120904092901/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cultureshow/videos/2009/02/s5_e22_hbo_extra2/index.shtml archived] by WebCite on 9 February 2011).</ref> He worked on the miniseries for a total of 16 months; principal photography lasted 110 days on locations in the United States, France, England and Hungary and he controlled a $100&nbsp;million budget.<ref>Mitchell, Wendy (25 July 2008). "[http://www.screendaily.com/profileuk-director-tom-hooper/4040021.article Profile:UK director Tom Hooper]". ScreenDaily.com (Emap Media). Retrieved on &nbsp;4 December 2010.</ref> ''[[The Boston Globe]]''{{'}}s Matthew Gilbert complimented Hooper's style of direction in the first two episodes "Join or Die" and "Independence":

<blockquote>Director Tom Hooper lets his actors shine, as he did so marvelously in Helen Mirren's ''Elizabeth I'' and the child-killer drama ''Longford'', but he complements them, too, with this kind of immediate point of view. And when he does give us panoramic shots from afar – of the Adams farm in Braintree, for example – they're askew, to keep us out of the classroom mode. At the end of episode 2 [...] Hooper showcases all his directorial strength with one bold choice. When the long-fretting Congress finally decides to break with Britain, he refrains from using any visual or aural tweaks. Upon the announcement, "The resolution carries," the scene remains perfectly silent for one long moment. The terror of responsibility hangs heavily in the room, while a victorious soundtrack surely would have chased it away.<ref>Gilbert, Matthew (14 March 2008). "[https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/03/14/truly_historic/?page=full Truly historic]". ''Boston Globe'' (Globe Newspaper Company): p.&nbsp;D1. Retrieved 10 October 2010.</ref></blockquote>

''John Adams'' received 23 Emmy Award nominations, including another Outstanding Direction nomination for Hooper, and won 13, the highest number for any nominee in a single year.<ref>Hooper, Tom (29 September 2008). "[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/29/john.adams.emmy.award.television Somewhere, John Adams is smiling]". ''The Guardian'' (Guardian News & Media): p.&nbsp;11 (''MediaGuardian'' supplement). Retrieved 10 October 2010.</ref> He was also nominated for the [[Directors Guild of America Award]] for Outstanding Directorial Achievement.<ref>Gans, Andrew (31 January 2009). "[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125797-Directors-Guild-of-America-Awards-Presented-Jan-31-in-Los-Angeles Directors Guild of America Awards Presented 31 Jan. in Los Angeles]". Playbill.com (Playbill, Inc). Retrieved 5 October 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120912133952/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125797-Directors-Guild-of-America-Awards-Presented-Jan-31-in-Los-Angeles archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref> At the beginning of 2009, he was profiled for ''[[The Observer]]''{{'}}s film Hotlist.<ref>Solomons, Jason (4 January 2009). "[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/04/hotlist-film-tom-hooper 'My films seem to be about men's struggle with failure']". ''The Observer'' (Guardian News & Media): p.&nbsp;7 (''Observer Review'' supplement). Retrieved 16 October 2010.</ref>

=== 2009–2010: Independent feature films ===<!-- PLEASE FOLLOW EXISTING CONVENTIONS; THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN 'BRITISH' ENGLISH AND DOES NOT USE CITATION TEMPLATES -->
[[File:Tom Hooper directing The King's Speech.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Hooper directing ''[[The King's Speech]]'' on location in 2010]]
The wake of ''John Adams''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Emmy wins brought offers to Hooper from studios to direct spy and comic book films, which he declined.<ref>Jurgensen, John (19 November 2010). "[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704312504575618524087984144 A Director on the Verge: Tom Hooper]". ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved 19 November 2010.</ref> In November 2007, he signed on to direct ''[[The Damned United]]'', reuniting him with Peter Morgan and Andy Harries. The film was an adaptation of [[David Peace]]'s novel ''[[The Damned Utd]]'', a fictional version of the 44 turbulent days English football manager [[Brian Clough]] spent as manager of [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]. It was originally developed by [[Stephen Frears]] for [[Michael Sheen]] to play Clough. Frears quit the project after he was unable to translate the book to film.<ref>Solomons, Jason (11 November 2007). "[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/nov/11/3 Trailer Trash: Not Match of the Day]". ''The Observer'' (Guardian News & Media): p.&nbsp;15 (''Observer Review'' supplement). Retrieved 7 October 2010.</ref> Hooper received a copy of the script while shooting ''John Adams'' in Hungary and noticed a similarity between the "egotistical, flawed, brilliant" Adams and the "egotistical, flawed, brilliant" Clough.<ref name=Hardtalk>Hooper, Tom. Television interview with Stephen Sackur. ''Hardtalk''. BBC News 24. 26 March 2009.</ref> He was not put off by joining the project later, as Morgan's script was in only its first draft.<ref name=Halper/> During pre-production, Hooper engaged in meticulous research, particularly on the locations and the football grounds of the era. He cast [[Timothy Spall]] as Clough's assistant [[Peter Taylor (footballer born 1928)|Peter Taylor]], [[Colm Meaney]] as [[Don Revie]] and Jim Broadbent as [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] chairman [[Sam Longson]].<ref>Baker, Andrew (4 March 2009). "[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/sport/the_damned_united/4937772/The-Damned-United-Interview-with-director-Tom-Hooper.html The Damned United: Interview with director Tom Hooper]". Telegraph.co.uk (Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved 3 October 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120913024021/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/sport/the_damned_united/4937772/The-Damned-United-Interview-with-director-Tom-Hooper.html archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref> During editing, it was decided to make the tone of the film lighter to attract audiences and to appease the real people depicted in the film. ''The Damned United'' was released in 2009.<ref name=Hardtalk/><ref>Hooper, Tom; Andy Harries; Michael Sheen. (2009). ''Audio commentary for "The Damned United"'' [DVD]. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.</ref>

Work on Hooper's next film, ''[[The King's Speech]]'', began in the same year. Hooper explained: "It was a stage play, and my mother who's Australian was invited to a fringe [theatre] reading in London because she's part of the Australian community. The play's about the relationship between King George the Sixth and his Australian speech therapist. She came back and said 'you've got to read this play,' and I read it and it was brilliant ...".<ref name=Halper/> Hooper cast [[Colin Firth]] as [[George VI of the United Kingdom|George VI]] and [[Geoffrey Rush]] as [[Lionel Logue]] and spent three weeks with the actors reading the script and rehearsing.<ref name=AFI>Kung, Michelle (6 November 2010). "[https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/11/06/afi-fest-honors-the-kings-speech-collaborators-colin-firth-geoffrey-rush-and-tom-hooper/ AFI Fest Honors 'The King's Speech' Collaborators Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Tom Hooper]". Speakeasy (WSJ.com). Retrieved 7 November 2010 ([https://archive.today/20130209211010/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/11/06/afi-fest-honors-the-kings-speech-collaborators-colin-firth-geoffrey-rush-and-tom-hooper/ archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref> Principal photography took place on location around the UK from November 2009 to January 2010.<ref>"[http://screenbase.screendaily.com/films/68 The King's Speech]". Screenbase (Emap). Retrieved 4 October 2010 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110121005625/http://screenbase.screendaily.com/films/68 archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref> During editing, Hooper continued to consult with Firth and Rush by sending them cuts of the film and listening to their feedback.<ref name=AFI/>

[[File:TomHooperColinFirthJan11.jpg|thumb|right|Hooper with [[Colin Firth]] in January 2011]]
Hooper completed the final cut of the film at the end of August 2010 and presented it a few days later at the [[Telluride Film Festival]].<ref>Hoyle, Ben (9 September 2010). "Story of the King who was lost for words is an Oscar favourite". ''The Times'' (Times Newspapers): p.&nbsp;23.</ref> The film won the People's Choice Award at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] and Hooper won the [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film|Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures]].<ref>"[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11369007 Firth movie lands Toronto Film Festival prize]". BBC News website. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010 ([https://archive.today/20120719183207/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11369007 archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref><ref>McNary, Dave (29 January 2011). "[https://variety.com/2011/film/awards/the-king-s-speech-tops-dga-awards-1118031147/ 'The King's Speech' tops DGA Awards]". Variety.com (Reed Business Information). Retrieved 30 January 2011 ([https://variety.com/2011/film/awards/the-king-s-speech-tops-dga-awards-1118031147/ archived] by WebCite on 30 January 2011).</ref> In February 2011, he was presented with the [[Academy Award for Best Director]], though lost the [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction]] to [[David Fincher]].<ref>"[http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html Winners and Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards]". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 11 June 2011 ([https://archive.today/20110126083846/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html archived] by WebCite on 11 June 2011).</ref><ref name=BAFTA2011>"[http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/2011-film-awards,1572,BA.html 2011 Film Awards Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110061729/http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/2011-film-awards%2C1572%2CBA.html |date=10 January 2011 }}". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.</ref> In comparing the two films, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'}}s Adam Dawtrey wrote, "Hooper's 2009 film ''The Damned United'' did not register among awards selectors, but ''King's Speech'' is a much more personal project. His Anglo-Australian parentage reflects the culture clash at the heart of the movie, and it pays off with beautifully crafted, crowd-pleasing drama."<ref>Dawtrey, Adam (28 November 2010). "[https://variety.com/2010/film/awards/bifa-contenders-a-study-in-diversity-1118027577/ BIFA contenders a study in diversity]". Variety.com (Reed Business Information). Retrieved 28 November 2010 ([https://variety.com/2010/film/awards/bifa-contenders-a-study-in-diversity-1118027577/ archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref>

=== 2011–present: Studio films===
Following the success of ''The King's Speech'' during the awards season, Hooper joined the 15-person board of governors at the [[British Film Institute]], was invited to join the directors branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was ranked at number 19 in ''[[The Times]]''{{'}} British Film Power 100.<ref>Mitchell, Wendy (18 May 2011). "[http://www.screendaily.com/news/uk-ireland/tom-hooper-joins-bfi-board/5027666.article Tom Hooper joins BFI board]". ScreenDaily.com (Emap Media). Retrieved 18 June 2011 ([https://archive.today/20120908234612/http://www.screendaily.com/news/uk-ireland/tom-hooper-joins-bfi-board/5027666.article archived] by WebCite on 18 June 2011).</ref><ref>Kilday, Gregg (17 June 2011). "[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academy-invites-178-artists-execs-202935 Academy Invites 178 Artists and Execs as New Members]". ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved 18 June 2011 ([https://archive.today/20130125142843/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academy-invites-178-artists-execs-202935 archived] by WebCite on 18 June 2011).</ref><ref>Maher, Kevin (11 February 2012). "The British Film Power 100". ''The Times'' (Times Newspapers): p.&nbsp;4 (''Saturday Review'' supplement).</ref> In March 2009, Hooper met with [[Nelson Mandela]] in preparation for directing a film adaptation of Mandela's autobiography ''[[Long Walk to Freedom]]''.<ref name=Hardtalk/><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090316165454/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/14/content_11008949.htm Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom to be adapted into film]". Xinhua News Agency. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2009 ([https://archive.today/20120711060602/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/14/content_11008949.htm archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref> By 2012, however, he had left the project.<ref name=HUG>Lyus, Jon (3 January 2011). "[http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2011/01/03/interview-the-kings-speech-director-tom-hooper-talks-awards-the-beauty-of-silence-and-directing-bond/ Interview: The King’s Speech Director Tom Hooper Talks Awards, The Beauty of Silence and Directing Bond]". HeyUGuys. Retrieved 3 January 2011 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120713005548/http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2011/01/03/interview-the-kings-speech-director-tom-hooper-talks-awards-the-beauty-of-silence-and-directing-bond/ archived] by WebCite on 3 January 2011).</ref><ref>Wiseman, Andreas (9 March 2012). "[http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/chadwick-harris-circle-mandela-biopic-long-walk-to-freedom/5039050.article Chadwick, Harris circle Mandela biopic Long Walk to Freedom]". ScreenDaily.com (Emap). Retrieved 11 March 2012 ([https://archive.today/20120910214910/http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/chadwick-harris-circle-mandela-biopic-long-walk-to-freedom/5039050.article archived] by WebCite on 11 March 2012).</ref>

He was offered the chance to direct ''[[Iron Man 3]]'' for [[Marvel Studios]] but declined and instead signed on to direct ''[[Les Misérables (2012 film)|Les Misérables]]'' for [[Working Title Films]], which he had first heard about while discussing a different project with screenwriter [[William Nicholson (writer)|William Nicholson]] in 2010. Hooper had not seen the musical, so watched a performance of it in London's West End.<ref>Zeitchik, Steven; Nicole Sperling (23 February 2011). "[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/02/tom-hooper-iron-man-3-kings-speech-les-miserables.html Tom Hooper could direct Les Miserables musical, could have directed 'Iron Man 3']". 24 Frames (Tribune Company). Retrieved 28 June 2011 ([https://archive.today/20120712014001/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/02/tom-hooper-iron-man-3-kings-speech-les-miserables.html archived] by WebCite on 28 June 2011).</ref><ref name="Freer">Freer, Ian (January 2013). "Hugo Cabaret". ''Empire'' (Bauer Media): pp.&nbsp;120–125.</ref> Adapted from the [[Les Misérables (musical)|musical]], the film starred [[Hugh Jackman]], [[Russell Crowe]], [[Anne Hathaway]], [[Amanda Seyfried]], [[Helena Bonham Carter]], [[Sacha Baron Cohen]], and [[Eddie Redmayne]]. As the film required the actors to sing and dance, they were auditioned in front of Hooper, producers and composers.<ref name="Freer"/> The role of [[Fantine]] was hugely contested; Hooper said, "It was like half a dozen of the biggest female movie stars on the planet wanted to play the role".<ref name="Vena">Vena, Jocelyn (28 August 2012). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120830044402/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692645/les-miserables-anne-hathaway-preview.jhtml Anne Hathaway Is 'Breathtaking' In 'Les Miserables,' Director Gushes']". MTV News. Retrieved 19 November 2012 ([https://archive.today/20130129064439/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692645/les-miserables-anne-hathaway-preview.jhtml archived] by WebCite on 28 November 2012).</ref>
[[File:Tom Hooper on location for Les Mis.jpg|thumb|left|Hooper directing the [[second unit]] of ''[[Les Misérables (2012 film)|Les Misérables]]'' on location in Winchester, April 2012]]

Hooper investigated filming the feature in [[3D film|3D]], and performed some camera tests before deciding to film it with traditional 2D methods. He stated "[...] I slightly worry with 3D that some people will physically struggle with it. If you have a certain type of eyesight, it can be more demanding than watching a normal movie."<ref>Masters, Tim (5 December 2011). "[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16032642 Tom Hooper rejects 3D for Les Miserables movie]". BBC News website. Retrieved 17 December 2011 ([https://archive.today/20120720174643/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16032642 archived] by WebCite on 17 December 2011).</ref> Unlike other musical films, ''Les Misérables'' features the actors singing live on camera, rather than miming to backing vocals. Hooper told ''Los Angeles Times'' that he thought there was a "slightly strange falseness" when he saw musical films where the actors sang to recordings. The actors wore wireless earpieces on set so they could sing to accompanying piano music. Hooper believed this method allowed the actors to have emotional control over their songs: "When Annie [Hathaway, who plays Fantine] is singing '[[I Dreamed a Dream]]', if she needs to take a tenth of a second to have a thought before she sings it, or to have an emotion before she sings a line, she can take it."<ref name="Gettell">Gettell, Oliver (4 November 2012). "Holiday Movie Sneaks; The Singing; Power of the passion; Director Tom Hooper's 'Les Miserables' taps the heat of live performances". ''Los Angeles Times'' (Tribune Company): p.&nbsp;D12.</ref>''Les Miserables'' was released in North America on 25 December 2012, and received eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.<ref name="LesMis release">"[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lesmiserables2012.htm Les Misérables (2012)]". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 15 April 2012.</ref>

Hooper's fifth feature film, ''[[The Danish Girl (film)|The Danish Girl]]'', was released in late 2015. It loosely tells the story of [[Lili Elbe]], one of the first people to undergo [[sex reassignment surgery]], and wife [[Gerda Wegener]]. It stars [[Eddie Redmayne]] and [[Alicia Vikander]], both of whom received Academy Award nominations. Critics were generally positive about the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Danish Girl|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/The_Danish_Girl_2015/|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=27 February 2016}}</ref>

In May 2016, it was announced that he would direct an adaptation of [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s stage musical, ''[[Cats (2019 film)|Cats]]'', which is in turn, based on [[T. S. Eliot]]'s ''[[Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/05/tom-hooper-directing-cats-movie-musical|title=Les Misérables director Tom Hooper to bring Cats to the big screen|date=5 May 2016|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> Filming commenced in November 2018 and the film, which stars [[Jennifer Hudson]], [[Ian McKellen]], [[Judi Dench]], [[James Corden]], [[Idris Elba]] and [[Taylor Swift]], was released on 20 December 2019<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/jennifer-hudson-taylor-swift-james-corden-ian-mckellen-cats-movie-andrew-lloyd-webber-1202430100/|title=Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, James Corden & Ian McKellen Line Up For 'Cats' Movie – Miaow|date=20 July 2018|magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=15 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|title='Cats' Will Pounce During Christmas 2019 Frame; 'Wicked' Moves|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/taylor-swift-cats-movie-casting-james-corden-ian-mckellen-1202391041/|access-date=15 September 2018|magazine=Deadline|date=31 August 2018}}</ref> but was a critical and [[Box-office bomb|commercial failure]]. Hooper co-produced the original song "[[Beautiful Ghosts]]" with Lloyd Webber and [[Greg Wells]], written by Swift and Lloyd Webber.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/122447196|title="Beautiful Ghosts" (From the Motion Picture ''Cats'') by Taylor Swift|website=[[Tidal (service)|Tidal]]|access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref>

In 2023, he co-supervised a new digital remix and remaster of ''Les Misérables'' in [[Dolby Vision]] and [[Dolby Atmos]], in collaboration with producer [[Cameron Mackintosh]], music producer Lee McCutcheon, music director Stephen Metcalfe and sound mixer [[Andy Nelson (sound engineer)|Andy Nelson]]. This version of the film was released theatrically in [[Dolby Cinema]] on 14 February 2024 in the United Kingdom and 23 February 2024 in North America to celebrate the stage musical's upcoming 40th anniversary in 2025.<ref>[https://collider.com/les-miserables-theaters-screeings-dolby/ 'Les Misérables' Returns to Theaters for One Week With Dolby Cinemas (Exclusive)|Collider]</ref>

In February 2024, Hooper revealed that some upcoming projects with him set to direct are in the works, following a five-year hiatus from the medium caused by the critical and financial failure of ''Cats'' and spending time directing commercials for clients such as [[Vodafone]], [[McDonald's]], Santander and Vanish, saying, "I'm certainly quite close on a couple of things ... I've been busy. I'm very happy to get back behind the camera."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=2024-02-14 |title=Tom Hooper Talks 'Les Misérables' Rerelease, Says He's Hoping to Get Back to Big-Screen Filmmaking |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/tom-hooper-les-miserables-returning-to-filmmaking-1235908512/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Directorial style==
[[File:Damned United Kings Speech framing.jpg|thumb|left|Hooper adopted a style of framing actors at the extreme edge of a scene in both ''The Damned United'' (top) and ''The King's Speech'' (bottom)]]
Hooper uses camera styles "that encode the DNA of the storytelling in some way" and will reuse and develop filming styles in successive productions.<ref name="webchat">Hooper, Tom (21 January 2011). "[https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/jan/21/kings-speech-tom-hooper-live-blog The King's Speech director Tom Hooper answers your questions – live!]". guardian.co.uk (Guardian News & Media). Retrieved 6 July 2011 ([https://archive.today/20130420125239/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2011/jan/21/kings-speech-tom-hooper-live-blog archived] by WebCite on 6 July 2011).</ref> Hooper identifies research as being key to his process of directing period dramas such as ''John Adams'' to make the scenes authentic.<ref name=Thompson>Thompson, Anne (22 November 2010). "[http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/11/22/oscar_watch_q_a_tom_hooper_talks_long_road_to_kings_speech/ Oscar Watch Q &A: Tom Hooper Talks Long Road to King’s Speech]". Thompson on Hollywood. Retrieved 6 July 2011 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20101125171024/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/11/22/oscar_watch_q_a_tom_hooper_talks_long_road_to_kings_speech archived] by WebCite on 6 July 2011).</ref> For ''The Damned United'', Hooper and director of photography [[Ben Smithard]] researched the look of the late 1960s and early 1970s through football photography books.<ref name=Hope/> Hooper has also been influenced by cinematographer [[Larry Smith (cinematographer)|Larry Smith]], who worked with [[Stanley Kubrick]] and advised Hooper of techniques used by Kubrick.<ref>Tapley, Kristopher (6 September 2010). "[http://incontention.com/2010/09/06/interview-colin-firth-geoffrey-rush-and-tom-hooper/ Interview: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Tom Hooper]". InContention.com. Retrieved 6 July 2011 ([https://archive.today/20120716103038/http://incontention.com/2010/09/06/interview-colin-firth-geoffrey-rush-and-tom-hooper/ archived] by WebCite on 6 July 2011).</ref> Hooper and Smith have worked together on ''Cold Feet'', ''Love in a Cold Climate'', ''Prime Suspect'', ''Red Dust'' and ''Elizabeth I''.

Hooper also uses uncommon framing techniques to emphasise story; in ''John Adams'', he wanted to imply American independence seemed unlikely during the Revolutionary War, so he used "a very rough camera style—almost all hand held, wide lenses close to the actors, lots of movement, many cameras shooting at once so there was often not a settled master "point of view", and lots of unmatching [[Dutch tilt]]s so the horizon lines of the frame were often being thrown off."<ref name="webchat"/> The America-set scenes were contrasted by the scenes set in France, in which more traditional filming techniques were employed to evoke a feel of entrenched values.<ref name="webchat"/> Similarly, in ''The Damned United'', Hooper began to experiment with using wide-angle lenses and putting actors in the extreme edges of the frame. He was influenced by the unusual framing from social photography of the 1970s, and he and Ben Smithard decided to adopt the framing style while scouting locations.<ref name=Hope/> Hooper used the same style in ''The King's Speech'', particularly in the scene where Bertie and Logue meet in Logue's consulting room; Colin Firth is framed to the extreme left of the picture, leaving most of the shot dominated by the rough wall behind Firth.<ref name="webchat"/><ref name="Oconnell">O'Connell, Seann (22 December 2010). "[http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/12/22/tom-hooper-the-kings-speech-for-your-consideration/ Tom Hooper, The King's Speech – For Your Consideration]". HollywoodNews.com (Hollywood Movie News). Retrieved 6 July 2011 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110306135653/http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/12/22/tom-hooper-the-kings-speech-for-your-consideration/ archived] by WebCite on 6 July 2011).</ref>
[[File:John Adams and Les Miserables dutch angles.jpeg|thumb|right|Hooper frequently uses [[Dutch angle|Dutch tilts]] in his work, notably in ''John Adams'' (top) and ''Les Misérables'' (bottom)]]
Another frequently used technique is Hooper's tendency to use a variety of focal length camera lenses to distort the resulting picture.<ref name=Oppenheimer>Oppenheimer, Jean (December 2010). "Production Slate: A Future King Finds His Voice". ''American Cinematographer'' (American Society of Cinematographers) '''91''' (12): pp.&nbsp;18–22.</ref> In ''The Damned United'' he used a 10mm lens, notably in the scene where Clough stays inside during the Derby–Leeds match. Hooper operated the camera in this scene himself.<ref name=Hope>Hope-Jones, Mark (November 2009). "Kicked Off the Pitch". ''American Cinematographer'' (American Society of Cinematographers) '''90''' (11): pp.&nbsp;58–65.</ref> In ''The King's Speech'', Hooper used "typically 14mm, 18mm, 21mm, 25mm and 27mm" lenses and put the camera close to the actors' faces.<ref name=Oppenheimer/> Hooper said the use of this method in the first consulting room scene served to "suggest the awkwardness and tension of Logue and Bertie's first meeting".<ref name="webchat"/>

===''Cats'' VFX accusations===
Following the release of ''Cats,'' reports came from the film's visual effects departments of Hooper's "hurtful", "horrible", "disrespectful" and "demeaning attitude" towards them and their work.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/cats-film-flop-tom-hooper-treatment-special-effects-artists-rushed-production-a9453396.html | title=Cats director Tom Hooper accused of 'hurtful and demeaning' treatment of special effects artists on flop film | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=7 April 2020 }}</ref> The VFX team reportedly were forced to work upwards of 90-hour working weeks, with some employees staying at the offices for two to three days at a time just to finish the film. One member of the VFX team said Hooper's treatment "was pure, almost slavery for us",<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/cats-director-tom-hooper-visual-effects-almost-slavery-2642571 | title='Cats' director Tom Hooper made production "almost slavery" for VFX crew | website=[[NME]] | date=7 April 2020 }}</ref> with six months to complete the trailer, and only four months to complete the film.  Hooper supposedly had little understanding of the process of visual effects, thus the VFX department could not show Hooper the step-by-step process of what he wanted, such as animatics, unless it was already rendered. He reportedly would send emails to individual VFX artists on the film to denigrate their work. Hooper would also insult them during conference meetings, calling the work "garbage".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/i-edited-the-buttholes-out-of-cats-it-was-a-total-nightmare?ref=scroll | title=Editing the Buttholes Out of 'Cats' Was a Total Nightmare | newspaper=The Daily Beast | date=7 April 2020 | last1=Bradley | first1=Laura }}</ref> Neither Hooper nor Universal have commented on the accusations.

== Filmography ==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
!width=65| Director
!width=65| Producer
!width=65| Writer
! Distribution
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Red Dust (2004 film)|Red Dust]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| [[BBC Films]]
|-
| 2009
| ''{{sortname|The|Damned United}}''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| [[Sony Pictures Classics]]
|-
| 2010
| ''{{sortname|The|King's Speech}}''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| [[The Weinstein Company]]
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Les Misérables (2012 film)|Les Misérables]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| 2015
| ''[[The Danish Girl (film)|The Danish Girl]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| [[Focus Features]]
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Cats (2019 film)|Cats]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| [[Universal Pictures]]
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable "
|-
! Year
! Title
! Network
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2| 1997
| ''[[Quayside (TV series)|Quayside]]''
| [[ITV Tyne Tees]]
|
|-
| ''[[Byker Grove]]''
|rowspan=2| [[BBC One]]
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1998–2000
| ''[[EastEnders]]''
| 6 episodes
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Cold Feet]]''
| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Love in a Cold Climate (2001 TV series)|Love in a Cold Climate]]''
|rowspan=2| [[BBC1]]
| Miniseries
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Daniel Deronda (TV series)|Daniel Deronda]]''
| Miniseries
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Prime Suspect]] 6: The Last Witness''
| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| Miniseries
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Elizabeth I (2005 TV series)|Elizabeth I]]''
|rowspan=3| [[HBO]]
| Miniseries
|-
| 2006
|''[[Longford (film)|Longford]]''
| Television film
|-
| 2008
| ''[[John Adams (miniseries)|John Adams]]''
| Miniseries
|-
|2019
|''[[His Dark Materials (TV series)|His Dark Materials]]''
|[[BBC Studios]]/[[HBO]]
|2 episodes;<br>Also executive producer
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
[[File:Tom Hooper 2011.jpg|thumb|Hooper with [[Kathryn Bigelow]], who won [[82nd Academy Awards|the previous year's]] Oscar for Best Director]]
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Tom Hooper}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="2" width=160 style="text-align:center;"| Academy Awards
! colspan="2" width=160 style="text-align:center;"| BAFTA Awards
! colspan="2" width=160 style="text-align:center;"| Golden Globe Awards
|-
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
|-
|2010
| ''The King's Speech''
| align=center|12
| align=center|4
| align=center|14
| align=center|7
| align=center|7
| align=center|1
|-
| 2012
| ''Les Misérables''
|align=center|8
|align=center|3
|align=center|9
|align=center|4
|align=center|4
|align=center|3
|-
| 2015
| ''The Danish Girl''
|align=center|4
|align=center|1
|align=center|5
|align=center|
|align=center|3
|align=center|
|-
| 2019
|''Cats''
|align=center|
|align=center|
|align=center|
|align=center|
|align=center|1
|align=center|
|-
!colspan="2"| Total
!align=center|24
!align=center|8
!align=center|28
!align=center|11
!align=center|15
!align=center|4
|}

'''Directed Academy Award performances'''<br />
Under Hooper's direction, these actors have received [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations (and wins) for their performances in their respective roles.
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Performer
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[Academy Award for Best Actor]]'''
|-
| [[83rd Academy Awards|2010]]
| [[Colin Firth]]
| ''The King's Speech''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[85th Academy Awards|2012]]
| [[Hugh Jackman]]
| ''Les Misérables''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[89th Academy Awards|2015]]
| [[Eddie Redmayne]]
| ''The Danish Girl''
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]'''
|-
| [[83rd Academy Awards|2010]]
| [[Geoffrey Rush]]
| ''The King's Speech''
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]]'''
|-
| [[83rd Academy Awards|2010]]
| [[Helena Bonham Carter]]
| ''The King's Speech''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[85th Academy Awards|2012]]
| [[Anne Hathaway]]
| ''Les Misérables''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[88th Academy Awards|2015]]
| [[Alicia Vikander]]
| ''The Danish Girl''
| {{won}}
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[List of directorial debuts]]
*[[List of EastEnders crew members|List of ''EastEnders'' crew members]]
*[[List of English Academy Award nominees and winners]]
*[[List of University of Oxford people]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=n}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Tom Hooper}}
*{{IMDb name|0393799|Tom Hooper}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz2r2Py9hLo Hooper's Academy Award for Best Director acceptance speech] (video)

{{Tom Hooper}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Tom Hooper|Awards for Tom Hooper]]
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestDirector 2001-2020}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaAwardFeatureFilm 2000-2019}}
{{EmmyAward MiniseriesDirector 2001-2025}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay}}
{{IFFI Silver Peacock - Special Jury Award and Special Mention|state=collapsed}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hooper, Tom}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of University College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Best Directing Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:English people of Australian descent]]
[[Category:Television producers from London]]
[[Category:English television directors]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People educated at Westminster School, London]]
[[Category:Film directors from London]]
[[Category:Film producers from London]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:People educated at Highgate School]]
[[Category:Directors Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:English-language film directors]]
[[Category:Australian people of English descent]]
[[Category:Australian television directors]]
[[Category:Australian film directors]]
[[Category:Australian film producers]]
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[[Category:Directors of Best Picture Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Governors of the British Film Institute]]