Although yet to be connected with the kind of box-office hit that establishes a director as a household-word, Richard Loncraine has demonstrated a wide versatility, directing comedy, poignant dramas, thrillers, psychodramas and spy films, leading up to Shakespeare's "Richard III" (1995) starring Sir Ian McKellen.

Loncraine originally sought to be a set designer and then an actor. As a kinetic sculptor, he had several exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art. His first commercial success was as a toy designer, with an "executive toy" called "Newton's cradle". Turning to directing, he