British director who makes confrontational films that turn over stones to
reveal things that some people would rather not know about society today. The only child
of 'an unsuccessful actor', she admits to being influenced by the work of Martin Scorsese
in her decision to start making movies of her own.
After cutting her teeth on a rather unconventional TV detective thriller
she Safe, which focused on the lives of homeless people. This was followed
by her most controversial work, Priest (1994), which looked at the struggles
of a young cleric to repress his homosexuality. A trip to Hollywood
to make Mad Love (1995) proved largely unrewarding, and Bird was soon
back on Britain's mean streets, working with the country's newest
superstar, Robert Carlyle, on a very violent gangster thriller called
Face (1997). Her
style is hard-hitting, down-and-dirty, relying on close-up performances
and skilful cross cutting for its impact. Ravenous
(1999), a horror satire set during the Mexican War was enjoyable in
parts but ultimately failed to garner universal appeal.
