This British-born director had already amassed an impressive resume of stage and TV credits, when her first feature film brought her both a fame and notoriety neither she nor the studio had expected.The daughter of a failed actor, Bird ran away at 16 and got her start acting (and being Jill-of-all-trades) for a repertory company. She eventually distinguished herself, spending eight years directing productions on the 'legitimate' English stage, notably at London's Royal Court Theater, before shifting to helming TV shows for the BBC (including much of the first season of the popular series
