Biography

Sam Yates (born August 1983) is a British director. Yates grew up in Stockport and attended Poynton High School. He was selected as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow, named a rising star in The Observer, and featured in GQ Magazine's "Men of the next 25 years". Yates has been described as "a major talent" in The Guardian, and "a director of unusual flair" in The Observer. He studied Education with English at Homerton College, Cambridge.

Yates directed and co-created VANYA adapted by Simon Stephens and featuring Andrew Scott. The production won multiple awards including the Olivier Award for Best Revival, Best Revival at the What'sOnStage Awards, and Best Actor for Andrew Scott at the Critics' Circle and Evening Standard Awards. The filmed National Theatre Live production, directed by Yates, played in cinemas internationally and took over $2.5million at the box office.

His productions have been nominated for Olivier Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Murder Ballad (2017), and Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for The Phlebotomist by Ella Road (2019).

He directed feature debut Magpie featuring Daisy Ridley and Shazad Latif. The film premiered at South by Southwest in 2024.

Yates is known for his "eclectic body of work" and his "superb sense for casting", having directed leading talent Andrew Scott, Daisy Ridley, Ruth Wilson, Hayley Atwell, Gemma Arterton, Christian Slater, Matthew Broderick, Ciaran Hinds, Jane Horrocks, Elizabeth McGovern and Jonah Hauer-King. He is in a relationship with Irish actress Charlie Murphy.