Mike Leigh says he’s “somewhat handicapped” in new health update amid final film
Mike Leigh has said his physical health is likely to prevent him from directing another film after Tender Loving Care, which is due for release later this year. The 83-year-old director said the prospect is frustrating, but he is sceptical that a further production would be possible despite retaining the energy and ideas to make one.
Leigh, who won the Palme d’Or, said he is “somewhat handicapped” and needed help from colleagues while making his latest film, starring Kate O’Flynn and Marion Bailey. He has previously disclosed that he has myositis, an immune-related condition causing chronic muscle inflammation; it affects his legs and hands, requires him to use a stick and makes standing difficult. He noted that another film would take at least two years to make, leaving uncertainty over his health at 85.
- Mike Leigh expects Tender Loving Care may be his final film.
- Myositis has significantly affected his mobility and ability to work.
- He says his creative energy remains intact.
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Mike Leigh is a British film director known for making character-focused films, often developed with actors through rehearsal and improvisation. He won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, for Secrets & Lies.
Leigh has said he has myositis, a condition that causes long-term muscle inflammation and affects his movement. He has used a stick and needed help from colleagues on his latest film, Tender Loving Care, which stars Kate O’Flynn and Marion Bailey.
Film-making can take years, so Leigh’s health may affect whether he directs again. His comments have drawn attention to the practical demands of directing and how a health condition can shape a long career.