Danny Boyle - Early Life and Background

Early Life and Background

Daniel Boyle was born on 20 October 1956 in Radcliffe, historically a part of Lancashire. Although he now describes himself as a "spiritual atheist", he was raised in a working-class Irish Catholic environment by his English father (of Irish descent) and Irish mother (from Ballinasloe in County Galway). Boyle was an altar boy for eight years and his mother had the priesthood in mind for her son, but aged 14 he was persuaded by a local priest not to transfer from his local school to a seminary near Wigan.

Whether he was saving me from the priesthood or the priesthood from me, I don’t know. But quite soon after, I started doing drama. And there’s a real connection, I think. All these directors — Martin Scorsese, John Woo, M. Night Shyamalan — they were all meant to be priests. There’s something very theatrical about it. It’s basically the same job — poncing around, telling people what to think.

He later studied at Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton, and at Bangor University. While at university Boyle dated the actress Frances Barber.

Boyle is a trustee of the UK-based, African arts charity Dramatic Need.

He has three children, Grace, Gabriel, & Catilin, with an ex-girlfriend, Gail Stevens.

In 2010, “The Tablet” named him as one of Britain’s most influential Roman Catholics.