Sara Sugarman (*Shoogz) began her career as a child actor, starring in BBC’s Grange Hill and numerous film, stage, and television projects. She took time to study at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she was awarded the Gold Medal. Upon graduation, Sugarman performed in many theatre plays mainly at the Manchester Royal Exchange theatre. She has acted opposite Alan Rickman twice (onstage in Hamlet and on television in Anthony Minghella’s Whale Music). Sugarman went on to star in films for David Puttnam, Beeban Kidron, Jack Gold, and Jon Amiel, in addition to three movies with Alex Cox. She transitioned from her successful acting career to writing and directing.
Her work as a director includes projects for BBC, Film Four, Canal Plus, Disney, Sky, and Lifetime. Sugarman has received numerous awards for her work as a filmmaker including the Sundance International Filmmaker Award, the HBO Comedy Award, and the Orange Prize for screenwriting. In addition, she has been nominated for three BAFTA's. Amongst Sugarman’s directing work are the film and TV projects, 'Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen', starring Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox for Disney, 'Very Annie Mary' for Film 4 starring Rachel Griffiths and Jonathan Pryce, 'House of Versace' starring Gina Gershon and Raquel Welch for Lifetime and 'Save the Cinema', starring Samantha Morton, Jonathan Pryce and Tom Felton for Sky Original Movies, distributed by Universal Pictures in USA. In recent years, she has worked extensively with BBC.
Her development slate includes a comedy-horror feature film with Catherine Zeta Jones attached to star. A three part TV limited series for The Forge with Michael Sheen attached to star, and she is writing a feature film for Blueprint Films.
Education:
RADA
AFI Conservatory
Represented by:
Judy Daish Associates (judy@judydaish.com)
Creative Artists Agency (steveejo.eads@caa.com)
Independent Talent (Janeepstein@independenttalent.com)
Contact:
sarasugarman@me.com
0044 (0)7919 992091
PS.
Sara was drummer in an early Punk band, The Fractures. Sara could sustain two drumbeats and the band had seven songs. The band supported Siouxie Sioux and The Clash at Erics in Liverpool and broke up when the lead singer's broken leg healed and was taken out of plastercast.
She has always painted and had many exhibitions including one with Grayson Perry at the James Birch Gallery. A piece was displayed at the Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea.