Films by their very nature are designed as a form of escapism. They swing audiences through New York skyscrapers by a spider’s web, they let us walk the desert planet of Tatooine, run the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art or even go skipping through the mountains of Austria.
Whilst we embrace spontaneous musical numbers where somehow everyone knows the words, catch a glimpse of the future where AI take their place as the superior race, there is nothing more intriguing than the words, ‘Based on a True Story’, appearing in the opening credits.
At NMP Live, we’re proud to work with a number of speakers whose lives have inspired some of the most moving, empowering and shocking biographical feature films of the 21st century.
Now using their remarkable stories to inspire, educate and entertain audiences around the world - these NMP Live speakers are not to be missed.
Scoop
Sam McAlister, Former BBC Newsnight Interviews Producer
In 2019, BBC Newsnight hit global headlines when the now infamous Prince Andrew interview aired. In the 58-minute interview, the prince discussed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the accusations he himself faced.
In 2020, it was announced that he would indefinitely withdraw from his public roles.
Inspired by the interview and Sam McAlister’s book, Scoop is a 2024 biographical drama starring Gillian Anderson, Keeley Hawes, Billie Piper, and Rufus Sewell. The film is a retelling of how the Newsnight team, instrumentally led by Sam, secured and filmed the interview.
Find out more about Sam McAlister by visiting her profile here.
127 Hours
Aron Ralston, American adventurer
Directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle and starring James Franco, 127 Hours is the faithful re-telling of mountaineer Aron Ralston’s survival story.
On April 26th, 2003, Aron was canyoneering alone through Bluejohn Canyon in Utah, just south of the Horseshoe Canyon unit of Canyonlands National Park. Whilst descending the lower stretches of the slot canyon, a suspended boulder dislodged as he was climbing down from it.
The boulder first smashed his left hand, and then crushed his right hand against the canyon wall, trapping him where he stood.
Released in 2010, the film recounts Aron’s six-day ordeal, his forced examination of his own life and the shocking moment when he freed himself by amputating his own arm.
Find out more about Aron Ralston by visiting his profile here.
Catch Me If You Can
Frank Abagnale, The greatest con artist of all time
A doctor, a lawyer, and a co-pilot for a major airline all before his 18th birthday, Catch Me If You Can is the 2003 biographical crime film inspired by notorious con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr.
In this epic game of cat and mouse, FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) makes it his mission to capture Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and bring him to justice. Always one step ahead, Frank is chased around the world, conning millions of dollars and impersonating anyone from a paediatrician to an FBI agent.
Find out more about Frank Abagnale by visiting his profile here.
Touching the Void
Joe Simpson, Mountaineer and author of Touching the Void
In 1985, two young British climbers set out to be the first to reach the summit of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. Touching the Void is the 2003 docudrama survival film inspired by that fateful expedition as told by climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates.
After the initial success of reaching the summit, their climb is marred by disaster when Joe breaks his leg in a fall.
When a storm threatens both their lives, Simon must decide whether to cut the rope and risk Joe’s likely death.
Find out more about Joe Simpson by visiting his profile here.
Rogue Trader
Nick Leeson, Former rogue trader
Released in 1999 starring Ewan McGregor and Anna Friel, Rogue Trader is a biographical drama based on former derivatives trader Nick Leeson.
The dramatisation tells of an ambitious Nick Leeson (Ewan McGregor) a young British man working at Barings, one of England's oldest merchant banks. Sent to the bank’s Singapore branch and propelled into a position of authority, the Barings whizzkid soon becomes consumed by his ambition for success and fear of failing.
In an effort to cover a loss made by a team member, Nick finds himself gambling large sums and facing mounting losses. After endless vain attempts to recoup his losses, Nick flees the country but is ultimately forced to face the consequences of his actions following the banks collapse.
Find out more about Nick Leeson by visiting his profile here.
Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich, Environmental legal consultant
Starring Julia Roberts and Albert Finney, Erin Brockovich is a dramatisation of the true story of Erin Brockovich. An American legal clerk and environmental activist, Erin is best known for her instrumental role in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company regarding its culpability for a contamination incident.
The case alleged the contamination of drinking water with hexavalent chromium, toxic compounds that if airborne or inhaled can cause lung cancer.
The drama released in 2000, details Erin’s involvement in investigating the cover-up of the contaminated water and the devastating effects it had on the residents of Hinkley, South California.
Find out more about Erin Brockovich by visiting her profile here.
Eddie The Eagle
Eddie The Eagle, Great Britain’s first Olympic Ski Jumper
Released in 2016 starring Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman and Christopher Walken, Eddie the Eagle is the biographical sports film telling the story of Michael Edwards, better known as Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards.
The biopic is based on Eddie’s journey to Olympic glory as Great Britain’s first Olympic Ski Jumper. Despite ranking 55th in the world, the unlikely but courageous ski jumper qualified for the 1988 Winter Olympics as the sole British applicant in ski jumping.
With a relentless desire to compete and represent his country, the film tells of the plasterer turned ski jumper’s difficult journey to his historic appearance at the 1988 games.
Find out more about Eddie The Eagle by visiting his profile here.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Chris Gardner, Entrepreneur
Based on the real-life story of Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happyness is the inspiring 2006 biopic of Chris’ journey to build a future for himself and his son.
A struggling salesman, Chris is determined to provide a permanent home for his son, secure a regular income and realise his dreams of a successful career. Faced with relentless adversity, Chris is left to raise his son alone whilst also trying to begin a career as a stockbroker.
Working an unpaid internship sees Chris and his son evicted from their home, forced to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of a metro station bathroom. With an unparalleled drive to achieve, Chris Gardner’s story is one that shows any challenge or obstacle can be overcome in pursuit of your goals.
Find out more about Chris Gardner by visiting his profile here.
Close
Jacquie Davis, The world’s top female bodyguard
Close is a 2019 action thriller inspired by the career of Jacquie Davis, one of the top operators in close protection for over thirty years.
Close tells the story of bodyguard and counter-terrorism expert Sam (Noomi Rapace), hired to protect a rich young mining heiress. The job quickly finds Sam tangled in a violent kidnapping and deadly conspiracy against the mining heiress.
When attackers target the heiress she’s protecting, battle-hardened bodyguard Sam scrambles to save her client – and teach her how to fight back.
Find out more about Jacquie Davis by visiting her profile here.
Invictus
François Pienaar, South African rugby captain
Invictus is the 2009 biographical sports drama based on the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup as told in the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation.
Following the fall of apartheid, newly elected President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) faces a South Africa that is racially and economically divided.
Believing he can unite his countrymen through the universal language of sport, Mandela joins forces with François Pienaar (Matt Damon), captain of the rugby team, to rally South Africans behind a bid for the 1995 World Cup Championship.
Find out more about François Pienaar by visiting his profile here.
Patch Adams
Patch Adams M.D, Renowned medical doctor
The 1998 biographical comedy-drama Patch Adams is based on the life of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams, famed for his belief, laughter is the best medicine.
After struggling with depression, Patch commits himself to a mental hospital, here he finds that using humour to help his fellow patients gives him a purpose in life. Deciding to pursue a career in medicine, Hunter "Patch" Adams (Robin Williams) enrols at Virginia Medical University but is quickly disillusioned by the school's clinical perspective on patient care.
Un-satisfied with the sterile treatment of patients, Patch pursues opening his own medical facility to allow the practice of his unconventional approach to medical care.
Find out more about Patch Adams by visiting his profile here.
To find out more about our full range of speakers available please enquire online, email us or pick up the phone and speak to one of our booking agents.
