Richard Laxton might have kept his filmmaking talents estranged from the gaze of the cinematic community for many years, but that doesn't mean he wasn't busy. The London-born director kicked off his career with an array of television work, helming episodes of British soap operas, crime dramas, sci-fi miniseries, and TV movies. After 14 years on the small screen, Laxton took the leap to motion pictures, making his debut with the music business-themed romantic drama "Life and Lyrics" (2006). He would juggle film and television thereafter, most notably working on the sitcom "Him & Her" (BBC Three 2010-13), the television biopic "Burton and Taylor" (BBC Four 2013), and the Emma Thompson drama "Effie Gray" (2014).