“When I had cancer, people were surprised at how cheerful and upbeat I was, but I couldn't let myself go to depression - to go there, that defeat would allow everything in. If you look too far into the abyss, you might never come out again. You can stand on the abyss and peep but not give in to sadness.”

British filmmaker

Sam Taylor-Johnson is a British filmmaker associated with the Young British Artists. She is known for directing feature films, and her first was 2009’s Nowhere Boy. Nowhere Boy was based on the childhood experiences of John Lennon, the singer and songwriter from the Beatles. Taylor-Johnson’s work in film is tied to that wider group of contemporary British artists, and her name is often linked to the rise of the Young British Artists movement.