Born in Queenstown, New Zealand, doctor's son Tim Bevan, along with
partner Eric Fellner, is co-founder and
co-chairman of Britain's flagship production company Working Title Films.
Bevan was brought up in New Zealand the son of English immigrants; returning
to England for secondary school, then back to NZ in the 70's to take
up a job as a production runner. Bevan then served his screen apprenticeship
at the National Film Unit.
Bevan returned to England and went into business, setting up Aldabra,
a music video production company. In 1984 Aldabra evolved into the London-based
Working Title Films, its first feature was the box office success and
critically acclaimed My
Beautiful Laundrette (1985) directed by Stephen
Frears. In 1991, Working Title linked up with Polygram, Sarah Radclyffe,
co-founder of Working Title, left the company at this point to remain
an independent filmmaker. Eric Fellner, who had previously produced
films including
The Rachel Papers (1989) and Hidden Agenda (1990), filled Sarah
Radclyffe’s departure. Polygram has later absorbed into Universal Pictures,
allowing Bevan greater access to Hollywood money and Universal’s world
distribution network. Bevan and Fellner’s production company has overseen
such hits as Four
Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Bean (1997), Notting
Hill (1999), Billy
Elliot (2000) and Bridget
Jones's Diary (2001).
Bevan has made a sole acting appearance in Elizabeth
(1998), cast as ‘Handsome Man’. He was married to actress Joely Richardson
for seven years; they have a daughter, Daisy.
