My father was 65 when I was born so we didn't have much time together.

I find it ironic that happy endings now are called fairytale endings because there's nothing happy about most fairytale endings.

Pride' is my first film with a happy ending. Before, I naively thought they were a cop-out, but now I've come to believe that happy endings and wish fulfilment are an incredibly important part of our cultural life.

I went to comprehensive school in North London and left without any qualifications [diploma]. And I was doing bits of acting and improv in a drama club in the evenings. Then I discovered you didn't need qualifications to go to art school, you just needed a body of work.

Generally, I've never known quite how to fit in in civilian life, but on set, making a film, I know exactly where to go, how to behave and how I fit.

I see the job of directing as being one of creating the right atmosphere, creating an environment where people can realize their full potential.

I worked hard, but I was lucky the right people happened to see my work.