Biography

Simon Hayes is an Academy Award-winning Production Sound Mixer celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to cinematic sound. He earned an Oscar for Les Misérables under the direction of Tom Hooper, alongside the BAFTA for Best Sound and the CAS Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing. His innovative techniques on Les Misérables redefined on-set vocal recording, setting a new standard for authenticity and emotional resonance in musical films.

With a portfolio of over ten musical features including the four highest grossing Broadway adaptions of all time, Simon is a pioneer in live vocal recording. He has consistently pushed technological and artistic boundaries. On Jon M. Chu's Wicked movies, he designed a state-of-the-art workflow that seamlessly integrated Broadway's theatrical magic with the precision of cinematic storytelling, further advancing his revolutionary approach.

His recent credits include Wicked: For Good (Jon M. Chu), The Little Mermaid (Rob Marshall) and Bond 25: No Time to Die (Cary Fukunaga). Simon's collaborations with Guy Ritchie span over ten films including Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch & Disney's Aladdin. He is also a regular creative partner of director Matthew Vaughn, contributing to films Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Argylle.

Simon's versatility is evident in his wide-ranging filmography: Ridley Scott's Prometheus and The Counselor, James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, David Yates' Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Tarzan, Danny Boyle's Ink, Yesterday & Trance. His earlier work includes iconic films such as Mamma Mia! (Phyllida Lloyd), Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright), and Harry Brown (Daniel Barber).

Born in London, Simon entered the film industry at just 16 as a runner in a commercials production company before transitioning into sound at 19. At 22, he completed a sound mixing course at the National Film and Television School, and at 27, he mixed his first feature film.
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

Recipient of AMPS (Association of Motion Picture Sound) Fellowship 2026: Awarded for sustained excellence and outstanding contribution to the craft.

Son of John Hayes.

Member of CAS (Cinema Audio Society).

AMPAS Sound Branch Executive Committee.