British film and TV director Antonia Bird has died at the age of 54, her agent has said.She was known for films including 1994’s Priest, 1997’s Face and 1999’s Ravenous, all starring Trainspotting actor Robert Carlyle.
Carlyle, writing on Twitter, said: “Such a sad day today. RIP Antonia Bird. Farewell my beautiful friend.”
Bird’s TV credits included Spooks, Cracker and, more recently, BBC One’s The Village, starring John Simm.
Her friend, writer Irvine Welsh, paid tribute on Twitter to “top Bird” who, he said, made “amazing films”.
In a 1999 interview with the Guardian, Bird said she enjoyed working with British actors because they “arrive on the set and they have an idea of what they want to do in the scene”.
“They’ve thought about it, they come and offer you something as a director,” she added.
“And, generally, to get a good performance out of an actor you go with that offer, because that’s going to be truthful.” – BBC Entertainment
