Ridley Scott

Ridley Leighton Scott, KBE, KCG (born 30 November 1937) is an English filmmaker known for directing films in the science fiction, crime, and historical epic genres, often characterized by a distinct visual style and atmospheric presentation. His films have collectively earned over $5 billion at the global box office, placing him among the highest-grossing directors in cinema history. Scott has received numerous awards and honors, including the BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 and later appointed a Knight Grand Cross by King Charles III in 2024.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, Scott began his career in television as a designer and director before transitioning to commercial advertising. He made his feature film directorial debut with *The Duellists* (1977), followed by *Alien* (1979), which brought him broader recognition. His work spans a variety of settings and eras, often featuring vivid depictions of urban environments. These include 2nd-century Rome in *Gladiator* (2000) and its 2024 sequel, 12th-century Jerusalem in *Kingdom of Heaven* (2005), medieval England in *Robin Hood* (2010), ancient Memphis in *Exodus: Gods and Kings* (2014), contemporary Mogadishu in *Black Hawk Down* (2001), futuristic Los Angeles in *Blade Runner* (1982), and extraterrestrial landscapes in *Alien*, *Prometheus* (2012), *The Martian* (2015), and *Alien: Covenant* (2017).

Scott has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Directing for *Thelma & Louise*, *Gladiator*, and *Black Hawk Down*. *Gladiator* won the Oscar for Best Picture, and *The Martian* was also nominated in that category. In 1995, he and his brother Tony were honored with a British Academy Film Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. Three of Scott's films—*Alien*, *Blade Runner*, and *Thelma & Louise*—were selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for their cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance. In a 2004 BBC poll, Scott was ranked 10th on the list of the most influential people in British culture. He has also worked extensively in television, earning 10 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, with wins for Outstanding Television Film for *The Gathering Storm* (2002) and Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special for *Gettysburg* (2011). Additional Emmy nominations include *RKO 281* (1999), *The Andromeda Strain* (2008), and *The Pillars of the Earth* (2010).