“I fell in love with stories watching a British television puppet show called 'Thunderbirds' when it first came out on TV, about 1965, so I would have been 4 or 5 years old. I went out into the garden at my mom and dad's house, and I used to play with my little dinky toys, little cars and trucks and things.”

New Zealand filmmaker and producer, born in 1967. He is best known for directing the groundbreaking *Lord of the Rings* trilogy, which redefined modern fantasy cinema with its immersive storytelling and technical innovation. His work spans blockbuster films, documentaries, and television, consistently blending spectacle with emotional depth.