Born in Manchester, England, Boyle started his career in the theatre.
He first worked with the Joint Stock Theatre Company, and then in 1982
with the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, where he was the artistic director
until 1985. In 1985, he became the deputy director of the Royal Court
Theatre, where he stayed until 1987. During the 1980s, Boyle also began
directing for television, making TV films and serials including Mr.
Wroe's Virgins and episodes of Inspector Morse.
He made his feature directorial debut with the John Hodge scripted
Shallow Grave (1994). A stylish, darkly
humorous psychological black comedy/thriller set amongst a trio of self-absorbed
flatmates. Two years later, Boyle consolidated on his earlier success
with another Hodge-Macdonald-McGregor collaboration, Trainspotting
(1996), adapted from the novel by Irvine Welsh - about a group of likable,
albeit unconscionable, Edinburgh heroin addicts. Next was another Gen-X
film that touched upon Powell and Pressburger's A
Matter of Life and Death (1946), A
Life Less Ordinary (1997), this time with American actress Cameron
Diaz alongside McGregor as mismatched lovers. He also served as producer
on Twin Town
(1997). After having his finger's burnt on Hollywood blockbuster The
Beach (2000), Boyle returned home for his two most recent productions;
a return to television to make two tv movies (Vacuuming
Completely Nude in Paradise and Strumpet) for the BBC. Next, Boyle
had worldwide hit with the post-modern zombie thriller 28
Days Later (2002), a stylishly shot low-budget film that belies
its grainy digital video cinematography.
To some surprise, Boyle followed up his successful zombie flick with
the family-friendly Millions (2005),
a morality tale seen through the eyes of two pre-teen brothers.
