Ben Smithard, B.S.C., is a British cinematographer known for his work on period pieces, such as the films The Damned United (2009), My Week with Marilyn (2011), Goodbye Christopher Robin, The Man Who Invented Christmas (both 2017), Blinded by the Light and Downton Abbey (both 2019).
In television, Smithard served as cinematographer on the 2007 BBC One series Cranford (2007). He returned for the subsequent series Return to Cranford in 2009, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography. In 2012, Smithard received a nomination for Best Cinematography in a Television Drama by the British Society of Cinematographers for his work on the "Henry IV, Part I" and "Henry IV, Part II" episodes of the BBC Two series The Hollow Crown.
Filmography Film
Year Title Director 2004 Breaking the Fifth Austin Smithard 2009 The Damned United Tom Hooper 2010 The Trip Michael Winterbottom 2011 My Week with Marilyn Simon Curtis 2012 I, Anna Barnaby Southcombe 2013 Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Declan Lowney Belle Amma Asante 2015 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel John Madden 2017 Viceroy's House Gurinder Chadha Goodbye Christopher Robin Simon Curtis The Man Who Invented Christmas Bharat Nalluri 2019 Blinded by the Light Gurinder Chadha Downton Abbey Michael Engler 2020 The FatherFlorian Zeller 2022 The Son The Bubble Judd Apatow Allelujah Richard Eyre 2023 Freud's Last Session Matthew Brown 2024 Lonely Planet Susannah Grant 2025 Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Simon Curtis 2026 Bunker Florian Zeller
Documentary film Year Title Director Notes 2006 Glastonbury Julien Temple Shared credit with Julien Temple and Terry Flaxton
Television Year Title Director Notes 2005 Wire in the Blood Terry McDonough Episode "Synchronicity" Spooks Jeremy Lovering Episodes "The Book" and "The Innocent"2006 The Street Terry McDonough Episodes "The Flasher" and "Football" The Royle Family Mark Mylod Episode "The Queen of Sheba" 2007 Cranford Simon CurtisSteve Hudson 5 episodes 2009 10 Minute Tales Richard Eyre Episode "The Three Kings" 2010 The Trip Michael Winterbottom Season 1 2012 The Hollow Crown Richard Eyre Episode "Henry IV" (Part 1 and Part 2) 2016 Cold Feet Terry McDonough 2 episodes 2021 The Nevers David Semel Episodes "Ignition" and "Undertaking"
Miniseries Year Title Director Notes 2006 Eleventh Hour Terry McDonough Episodes "Resurrection" and "Containment" 2009 The Day of the Triffids Nick Copus 2010 Money Jeremy Lovering 2012 True Love Dominic Savage 2026 VisionQuest Terry Matalas Post-production
TV movies Year Title Director 2007 Instinct Terry McDonough2009 A Short Stay in Switzerland Simon Curtis Freefall Dominic Savage2015 Esio Trot Dearbhla Walsh The Dresser Richard Eyre 2017 Diana and I Peter Cattaneo 2018 King Lear Richard Eyre
References
External links
Ben Smithard at the British Society of Cinematographers' website