England

Film director Ang Lee. He grew up in Taiwan, but studied theater and film production in the United States. His second feature film, "The Wedding Banquet," was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, as was his next film, "Eat Drink Man Woman." Lee's films often portray family relationships with poignancy, respect, and a light comic touch. His latest film is "Sense and Sensibility," the film based on the novel by Jane Austen.

Novelist/screenwriter Hanif Kureishi. Kureishi has been termed by the British press a "literary terrorist" for his works which encompass racist and sexual themes. He wrote the screenplays for "My Beautiful Laundrette," and "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid." Both were directed by Stephen Frears. His new novel is "The Black Album," (Scribner). Kureishi was born and brought up in south London; his father is Pakistani, his mother English.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Anita Brookner's novel "Incidents in the Rue Laugier."

British musician Sting was the bassist and lead singer for the Police, which from 1978 to 84 produced a creative and popular blend of jazz and rock. Since beginning his solo career in 1982, Sting has released six albums. His latest "Mercury Falling," is scheduled for release in the United Sates on March 12.

Rock critic Ken Tucker tells us about the latest British invasion: Spacehog (their new album is "Resident Alien"--Sire Records), Black Grape ("It's Great When You're Straight"--Radioactive Records) and Pulp ("Different Class"--Island Records).

Film critic Lisa Schwarzbaum reviews the BBC movie "Cold Comfort Farm."

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "The Orchard on Fire" by British writer Shena MacKay.

Critic Milo reviews "The Best of the Barely Works," featuring songs by the unconventional British folk group.

Film critic John Powers reviews "The Full Monty."

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by Oasis.

Hoskins starred in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" "The Long Good Friday," "Mona Lisa," and "The Cotton Club." He also directed the two films, "The Raggedy Rawney" and "The Rainbow." Recently he starred in the British film "TwentyFourSeven." It won him the best actor award at the European Film Awards this year.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new novel London Bridges (Houghton Mifflin) by Jane Stevenson.

With writer Penny Valentine, biographer Vicki Wickham recently published Dancing with Demons: The Authorized Biography of Dusty Springfield. Wickham was Springfield close friend and manager for over a decade of Springfield career.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Gordon, the novel by Edith Templeton first published in 1966 and banned in Europe for indecency.

Writer Sarah Waters is the author of three novels which she calls "lesbo-Victorian romps." The lesbian-themed books are: Tipping the Velvet (about "a sort of Moll Flanders in drag"); Affinity (a historical book set in a Victorian women's prison); and Fingersmith (a gothic melodrama). Fingersmith was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Tipping the Velvet was made into a BBC miniseries and it will be shown on BBC America, beginning Friday, May 23.

Nigerian-born actor Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in the new Stephen Frears film Dirty Pretty Things. Ejiofor plays an immigrant former doctor who now must make his living in London as a cab driver and hotel clerk. Ejiofor graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and was named Outstanding Newcomer in The London Evening Standard Awards 2000. He recently completed a sell-out run at London's National Theatre as Christopher in Blue/Orange. At the age of 19 he had a role in Steven Spielberg's film Amistad.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Jacqueline Winspear's debut novel, Maisie Dobbs.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new DVD of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. The production was shown on TV in with Angela Lansbury, 25 years ago.

Leigh's social-realist comedies depict British working class life. He begins work on his films without a script, piecing them together from improvisations with his cast. His latest film is Vera Drake about a working class woman in Britain in the 1950s who secretly performs abortions.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews Closer, starring Jude Law and Natalie Portman, and directed by Mike Nichols.