Trivia

Apparently, his first job on a film shoot was working as Lindsay Anderson's assistant in his early twenties, a position he described as "...basically holding cups of tea".

Was approached to direct Good Will Hunting (1997) for $1.5 million but declined.

He is a keen admirer of the New German Cinema, particularly the films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Wim Wenders.

His former partner Sabrina Broadbent wrote a novel, "Descent", which "The Manchester Guardian" describes as "closely based on their life together. Or rather, not together, because the husband in the book is understood to be a workaholic film director who keeps disappearing in pursuit of interesting projects". ("A Winterbottom's Tale", February 1, 2004)

Has made three movies based on novels by Thomas Hardy: Jude (1996), based on "Jude the Obscure," The Claim (2000), re-setting "The Mayor of Casterbridge" from rustic England to a California mining town, and Trishna (2011), an update of "Tess of the d'Urbervilles.".

Co-founder of Revolution films (UK); along with producing partner Andrew Eaton.

Often works from a script by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Was the original director chosen for The Cider House Rules (1999), Goal! The Dream Begins (2005), and Freedomland (2006) and did extensive work before leaving each of those projects.

Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 51st Cannes International Film Festival in 1998.

Attended Oxford before going to Bristol University to study film.

Has two daughters with Sabrina Broadbent.

Went to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn.

Frequently works with actors Christopher Eccleston, Shirley Henderson, John Simm and James Nesbitt.

Went to college with director Marc Evans (Resurrection Man (1998), My Little Eye (2002), Trauma (2004)). Winterbottom's company Revolution Films produced Marc Evans' second film Resurrection Man (1998).

Hoped to use the sets of Danny Boyle's film Sunshine (2007) on the production's off-days to shoot his own science fiction comedy. Permission was never worked out and Winterbottom's film was canceled.

Often flies economy with his crew.

He visited Argentina for to promote his film Tristram Shandy (2005) in Mar del Plata International Film Festival. (March 2006)

Often works with cinematographers Marcel Zyskind (In This World (2002), Code 46 (2003), 9 Songs (2004)) and Alwin H. Küchler (The Claim (2000), Heartlands (2002), Code 46 (2003)).

Was approached to direct The Cider House Rules (1999).

Many of his films are 'road movies' or at least include road trips or voyages to other countries as part of their stories.

He was replaced by Danny Cannon on Goal! The Dream Begins (2005) after the producers saw some of Winterbottom's early footage and found he was making it more like a documentary drama rather than a straight drama as they wanted.