Sharon Maguire

Sharon Maguire (born 1960) made her name as a film director when she landed the job of directing Bridget Jones's Diary. The film was based on the book by her close friend Helen Fielding, and one of the main characters - Shazzer - is actually based on Maguire.

Raised as a Roman Catholic, Maguire studied English and Drama at the University of Wales Aberystwyth from 1979–1983 and graduated with a 2:2 degree before going on to do the PGCE teaching qualification. She's quoted as saying: "It always breaks the ice at parties when I'm with Oxbridge types and I brag: 'I went to Aberystwyth!'"

After leaving Aberystwyth, she did a year's postgraduate course in journalism at City University in London and worked as a researcher then a director on The Media Show. In 1991, she got a job with the BBC as producer/director of The Late Show. She also made several documentaries - including Omnibus - before leaving the Corporation to make advertisements. Bridget Jones' Diary marked Maguire's feature directorial debut.