Mike Leigh: Don't mess with my movies

Mike Leigh would walk away from a film if someone put their "fingerprints" on it.

The iconic filmmaker is known for his unique directing style, which has already earned him seven Oscar nominations.

His movies include Happy-Go-Lucky and Vera Drake and he often turns to British actors to star in his features. He is so keen to maintain this approach that, despite losing funds on his latest movie Mr. Turner, based on the life of painter J.M.W. Turner, Mike still stuck to his guns.

"Sure, it would be nice to get more dosh, but it’s the price you pay. Here’s the thing - backers insist on a name, and that means an American name. There are plenty of sources I could go to, and they’d say, 'Get Johnny Depp to play Turner and we’ll give you as much as you want.' Well, no disrespect to Johnny Depp, but I don’t do that," he explained to spectator.co.uk.

"I’m committed to independent, indigenous film. I’ve made 19 full-length films and no one has interfered with a frame, never ever. Because the minute there’s a threat that anyone wants to put their fingerprints on it, I walk away. I don’t complain. I really don’t."

Taking on the lead role in his upcoming film is his long-term collaborator, Timothy Spall. The actor was so dedicated to the character, he started taking painting lessons two years before shooting even began. His artwork is set to be exhibited at Petworth House in Sussex, UK, next year.

While some may describe Mr. Turner as more scenic than his previous features, Mike insists that isn't the case.

"I reject the idea that anything can be more or less cinematic. Cinematic is cinematic," he said. "A close-up of a person in a small room can be cinematic. You can’t see, for example, my film Meantime as being less cinematic than Mr. Turner because it’s about grotty flats and dole queues."