10 things you may not have known about Cheam-born, Gravesend-raised film director Paul Greengrass as he turns 60

To celebrate the Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s big 6-0, we’ve put together a little list of 10 things you may not have known about him.

• He was born in Cheam, on August 13 1955, the son of a teacher and a merchant seaman. He has said: "Saturday matinees in North Cheam where my grandmother lived, watching Tony Hancock movies with a Knickerbocker Glory running down your legs and you just don’t care because you’re laughing so much."

• His family moved to Gravesend where he attended Westcourt Primary School and was then ‘kicked out’ of Gravesend Grammar School.

• The cinema at Gravesend’s Woodville Halls is named after him, a fact which apparently confused his father. Speaking at an event in the town in 2014, he said: “When I told my dad, he said ‘That’s ridiculous. Why are they naming it after you? You got kicked out of school’.”

• Greengrass won a BAFTA for United 93 (2006), which was also nominated for an Oscar. It was written, filmed and released in under a year.

• His Tom Hanks-starring tale of modern-day piracy, Captain Phillips, was also Oscar nominated. Greengrass said: “I have never won. I’ve been the bridesmaid a few times. I remember one of the times when I lost I was in the category with Clint Eastwood, who also lost. As we stood up to walk away, he goosed me and said ‘It’s shit, isn’t it, losing.’”

• While working as a journalist in the 1980s, he co-authored the notorious book Spycatcher – the candid autobiography of former MI5 assistant director Peter Wright. The Government tried to have it banned.

• Having directed The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), neither he nor the film’s star were involved in the Jeremy Renner-starring The Bourne Legacy.

They’re both back for an as-yet untitled 5th Bourne film, though, which is rumoured to include Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, Viggo Mortensen and a returning Julia Stiles in its cast.

• His highest rated film on Rotten Tomatoes is Captain Phillips (2013) at 93 per cent fresh. The lowest is The Theory of Flight (1998) at 50 per cent.

• Greengrass helmed a four-minute campaign film for Labour leader Ed Miliband in this year’s general election. Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw gave it three stars.

• He was awarded an honorary degree from Kingston University in 2012.