STAN & OLLIE (2018) About The Director and Cast

Director JON S. BAIRD and cast JOHN C. REILLY (Oliver Hardy), STEVE COOGAN (Stan Laurel), SHIRLEY HENDERSON (Lucille Hardy), and NINA ARIANDA (Ida Laurel)

JON S. BAIRD (Director) began his career at the BBC and quickly progressed through the ranks to become one of Britain's most exciting directorial talents. His first role as director was in 2003 when he directed the topical comedy show THE STATE WE'RE IN, presented by John Oliver. In 2004 Baird wrote, directed and produced his first short film, IT'S A CASUAL LIFE, which led to him landing a role as an associate producer on the feature film GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS (2006), starring Elijah Wood.

Baird's directorial debut feature, which he also wrote and produced, was the highly acclaimed CASS (2008); a true story about a Jamaican orphan, whose violent struggle for identity saw him going from public enemy number one, to successful author. Baird's follow up feature FILTH (2013), which he also wrote, directed and produced, was based on the bestselling novel by Irvine Welsh and starred James McAvoy. FILTH won numerous awards and played at several international film festivals. FILTH is in the top ten highest grossing UK 18 certificates of all time.

In 2014, Baird directed the television drama BABYLON for Channel 4, which was produced by Academy Award Winner, Danny Boyle. Baird was then approached by HBO in 2015 to direct an episode of their Martin Scorsese / Mick Jagger produced show VINYL, created by Terence Winter. In 2016 Baird directed two episodes of a new AMC show FEED THE BEAST, starring David Schwimmer, and the second episode of a new Showtime series I'M DYING UP HERE, created by Jim Carrey.

Awards include: Winner of Breakthrough British filmmaker and nomination for Best British Film (London Critics Circle), Best Screenplay nomination (Writer's Guild Great Britain), Best Director and Best Film nominations (BAFTA Scotland) Best Director nomination (British Independent Film Awards) Best British Film nomination (Empire Film Awards)

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JOHN C. REILLY (Oliver Hardy) is one of the most diverse actors working today, with an impressive range of roles in dramas, comedies, musicals and foreign films. He has been acknowledged by the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Tony Awards, the Independent Spirit Awards as well as the Grammys.

This year, Reilly will star in four very diverse films: HOLMES & WATSON with Will Ferrell, RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2, STAN AND OLLIE, and in Jacques Audiard's THE SISTERS BROTHERS, alongside Joaquin Phoenix.

Other recent films THE LOBSTER, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the French award-winning film LES COWBOYS, directed by Thomas Bidegain and the Italian film THE TALE OF TALES for director Matteo Garrone, all of which premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. John also recently starred in KONG: SKULL ISLAND.

Reilly has worked with top directors such as Martin Scorsese in both GANGS OF NEW YORK and THE AVIATOR; Brian DePalma in CASUALTIES OF WAR; Robert Altman in A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION; Terrence Malick in THE THIN RED LINE; Rob Marshall in CHICAGO; Roman Polanski in CARNAGE; Wolfgang Petersen in THE PERFECT STORM; Lynne Ramsay in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN and Paul Thomas Anderson in HARD EIGHT, BOOGIE NIGHTS and MAGNOLIA.

Reilly has starred in the hit comedies TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY, STEPBROTHERS, CYRUS, and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. He voiced the title character in the Academy Award nominated animated feature WRECK-IT RALPH, and he also voiced the role of 'Eddie' in SING. His work in the world of independent films include THE GOOD GIRL, CEDAR RAPIDS, THE PROMOTION, TERRI, YEAR OF THE DOG, CRIMINAL, and THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY.

His many theater credits include "True West", in which he received a Tony Award nomination, and "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Broadway, as well as Steppenwolf productions of "The Grapes of Wrath" and "A Streetcar Named Desire".

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STEVE COOGAN (Stan Laurel) was born and raised in Manchester where he trained as an actor at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre. Shortly after Drama School, Coogan landed his first job as an impersonator and comic on the satirical TV series, SPITTING IMAGE.

In 1992, Coogan won the Perrier Award for his show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Whilst appearing on various shows on BBC Radio 4, the now infamous Alan Partridge was born. The character moved from Radio to TV and over the years has picked up a number of BAFTAS and British Comedy Awards. Coogan took the character on two nationwide sell out tours. The latest series of MID MORNING MATTERS aired on Sky Atlantic in February 2016 with critical acclaim and was followed by mockumentary special, SCISSORED ISLE for Sky in late May. Alan Partridge's second book, ALAN PARTRIDGE: NOMAD was released in October 2016.

Other TV appearances include SAXONDALE in 2006, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM in 2007, THE SIMPSONS in 2012, HAPPYISH in 2015 and THE TRIP in 2010, 2014 and 2017. Coogan won the BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2011 for his performance in THE TRIP, and the third series aired on Sky Atlantic in May 2017 to much critical acclaim. For his work in TV and Film, Coogan has won seven BAFTA Awards and seven British Comedy Awards. Most recently, he won the BAFTA for Male Performance in a Comedy Program for ALAN PARTRIDGE'S SCISSORED ISLE in 2017.

Coogan's film career includes five films with Michael Winterbottom and performances in THE PAROLE OFFICER, 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, A COCK AND BULL STORY, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, TROPIC THUNDER, IN THE LOOP, THE LOOK OF LOVE, ALAN PARTRIDGE: ALPHA PAPA, DESPICABLE ME 2 and 3 and PHILOMENA.

PHILOMENA, in which Coogan starred alongside Judi Dench, received worldwide critical acclaim upon its release. Coogan was further recognised for his role as producer and co-writer alongside Jeff Pope, winning the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in addition to being nominated for Best British Film and Best Film. The film was also nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Last year, Coogan starred in Oren Moverman's adaptation of THE DINNER alongside Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Rebecca Hall, DESPICABLE ME 3, MINDHORN and RULES DON'T APPLY.

Upcoming productions include a new season of Alan Partridge for BBC One, THIS TIME WITH ALAN PARTRIDGE, voicing a role in the animated film THE ADVENTURES OF DRUNKY co-starring Sam Rockwell, Jeffrey Tambor and Nina Arianda and HOT AIR, opposite Neve Campbell and Skylar Austin.

In addition to his acting career, in 1999 Coogan set up Baby Cow Productions, with Christine Langan currently as CEO. Baby Cow have produced several award-winning programs including ALAN PARTRIDGE, THE MIGHTY BOOSH, THE TRIP, GAVIN & STACEY and RED DWARF. Upcoming series include E4's HIGH AND DRY from writer/actor Marc Wootton and CAMPING, an HBO eight-part series currently in development from GIRLS creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner to star Jennifer Garner.

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SHIRLEY HENDERSON (Lucille Hardy) is a multi-award-winning actress, whose film and television career has made her a household name throughout the UK and across the world. Henderson has starred in many television dramas, most notably in Channel 4's SOUTHCLIFFE for which she won the Scottish BAFTA award for Best Actress. She also played a lead role in the critically acclaimed JAMAICA INN for the BBC and Sally Wainwright's multi award-winning series HAPPY VALLEY.

Her other television credits include THE TAMING OF THE SHREW for the BBC, MAY CONTAIN NUTS for Tiger Aspect, DIRTY FILTHY LOVE for ITV and TREASURE ISLAND for Benbow Films. She has also starred in DR WHO for the BBC, WEDDING BELLES for Channel 4 and the BAFTA winning CHARLES II: THE POWER AND THE PASSION for the BBC.

Henderson has a well-established film career spanning over two decades. She is perhaps most well known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in the HARRY POTTER franchise and for her role as Bridget Jones' chardonnay-swilling sidekick, Jude, in the BRIDGET JONES franchise.

Henderson has won many awards for her film work including the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actress in a Scottish Film for her role in Juliet McKoen's FROZEN and Best Actress at the Cherbourg-Octeville Festival of Irish & British Film for her role in Don Coutts' AMERICAN COUSINS. She was nominated for the BIFA's Best Supporting Actress award for her role alongside James McAvoy in FILTH as well as for her role in Lone Sherfig's black comedy WILBUR (WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF). Her other film credits include Michael Winterbottom's critically acclaimed EVERYDAY alongside John Simm, Danny Boyle's TRAINSPOTTING, Michael Winterbottom's 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, Shane Meadows ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS, Deva Palmier's FISHY and Frank Van Passel's VILLA DES ROSES.

In 2015, Henderson played a lead role in Matteo Garrone's epic fantasy, THE TALE OF TALES alongside Toby Jones, Vincent Cassel and Salma Hayek and in 2016, she played alongside Celyn Jones and Elijah Wood in the Dylan Thomas inspired SET FIRE TO THE STARS. Most recently Henderson has been seen playing opposite Tilda Swinton in the Bong Joon-ho Netflix feature OKJA and Kathleen Hepburn's NEVER STEADY, NEVER STILL.

Henderson has just finished a run of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY at the Old Vic Theatre and London's West End. She has recently received an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her role.

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NINA ARIANDA (Ida Laurel) is a versatile actress, commanding both the stage and screen in a number of multi-faceted roles. A Tony Award Winner for VENUS IN FUR, a role which she originated Off-Broadway, she is the youngest actress ever to be nominated for back-to-back Tony's in consecutive years - BORN YESTERDAY (2011), VENUS IN FUR (2012). More recently, Nina starred in Broadway's FOOL FOR LOVE, the critically acclaimed Sam Shepard play. On the film side, Arianda has played memorable roles in Woody Allen's MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, Tom McCarthy's film WIN WIN, Vera Farmiga's HIGHER GROUND, and Brett Ratner's TOWER HEIST. Arianda can also be seen starring in ROB THE MOB opposite Michael Pitt, LUCKY THEM with Toni Collette, Ned Benson's film THE DISSAPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY opposite James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain, and Barry Levinson's film THE HUMBLING, opposite Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig.

She was also recently seen in Stephen Frears' film FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, starring in a supporting role opposite Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. She can also be seen in THE ADVENTURES OF DRUNKY this year, as well. She wrapped filming the second season of GOLIATH, as a series regular, and has guest starred on HORACE AND PETE, MASTER OF NONE, HANNIBAL, THE GOOD WIFE, HOSTAGES, and 30 ROCK.