Anthony Powell is an award-winning British film and television director. He is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed BBC comedy series The Office and the award-winning drama series State of Play.
Powell was born in Essex, England in 1956. He attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied English Literature. After graduating, he moved to London and began working as a production assistant for the BBC. During this time, he worked on a variety of programmes, including the BAFTA-nominated series Grange Hill.
In the mid-1980s, Powell began directing for television. His work included episodes of The Bill, EastEnders, and Brookside. He also wrote and directed the television film Killing Time, which starred John Hurt and was nominated for a BAFTA.
In 2001, Powell directed the pilot episode of The Office, the cult comedy series written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. He was subsequently nominated for a BAFTA for his direction of the show. He went on to direct many episodes of the series, as well as the Christmas special in 2003.
In 2003, Powell directed the acclaimed drama series State of Play, which starred John Simm, Bill Nighy, and David Morrissey. The series was nominated for several awards, including a BAFTA for Best Drama Series.
Powell has since directed episodes of the television series Doctor Who, Merlin, and Sherlock. He also directed the television films The Sea Change and The Town.
In 2012, Powell won the BAFTA for Best Director for his work on the television series The Fades. He also directed the television movie The Go-Between, which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2016.
Throughout his career, Powell has earned numerous awards and nominations for his work. In addition to the BAFTAs, he has also won a Royal Television Society Award and a British Academy Scotland Award.
Powell continues to direct for television and film. He is currently directing the television series The War of the Worlds.
