Ridley Scott Details Family Life and Influencer Label

Film director Ridley Scott has revealed how he maintained absolute communication with his three adult children during their upbringing despite a demanding Hollywood filming schedule.

The 88-year-old filmmaker told London newspaper The Times that while his work behind the camera remains a major part of his life, fatherhood is his most important job. He explained that despite his career frequently taking him away from home, he made sure he remained a present parent to his sons and daughter.

Scott shares two sons, 61-year-old Jake Scott and 58-year-old Luke Scott, with his first wife Felicity Heywood. He also has a 48-year-old daughter, Jordan Scott, from his marriage to Sandy Watson.

Reflecting on their childhood during a discussion about how dangerous the modern world has become, Scott suggested he does not worry about his children's futures because of their older ages. He recalled keeping constant contact with them regardless of where his production schedule took him.

"You know, I'm one of those dads who kept absolute communication, from when they were babies," Scott said. "Honestly, twice a week, all you have to do is pick up the phone."

Scott added that staying in close touch with family is essential to him, attributing the belief to his early wartime experiences in Britain. "It is the most important thing because, well, I am a Blitz baby," he said.

The director recalled almost losing his life to a German V-2 rocket during the Second World War. He explained that surviving the Blitz taught him to make the most of life because he realises how quickly a life can be lost.

Fatherhood and Early Career

Before establishing himself as one of Hollywood's premier filmmakers, Scott studied art and design in London, graduating from the Royal College of Art. He began his professional career during the 1960s at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), working as a trainee set designer on the popular police procedural series Z-Cars and the science fiction anthology series Out of the Unknown.

In 1968, Scott partnered with his younger brother, Tony Scott, to found the commercial production company Ridley Scott Associates, known as RSA. The venture established their reputation in commercial directing before both brothers transitioned into feature filmmaking.

Scott made his feature directorial debut in 1977 with the historical drama The Duellists. The film earned BAFTA nominations for Cinematography and Costume Design and won the award for Best Debut Film at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

Major Blockbusters and Science Fiction Classics

Scott achieved his major international film breakthrough with the 1979 science fiction horror classic Alien. Following his decision to switch the lead character from a male hero to a female protagonist, Ellen Ripley became one of cinema's most iconic female leads. The film won two BAFTA awards in 1980 for Production Design and Soundtrack, alongside four additional nominations.

He followed Alien by directing the 1982 dystopian science fiction film Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, which is widely considered to be one of the most important science fiction movies ever made.

In 1992, Scott directed the road drama Thelma & Louise, earning his first seven BAFTA nominations and five Academy Award nominations for director. He went on to direct the 2000 historical epic Gladiator, which won five Oscars and four BAFTAs.

Scott received BAFTA's Special Award at the 1992 British Academy Film Awards. At the 1995 ceremony, he and his brother Tony were presented with the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award. Scott later earned another BAFTA nomination for directing the 2016 space drama The Martian. His more recent directorial projects include The Last Duel, House of Gucci, Napoleon, Gladiator II, and The Dog Stars.

Influencer Label and Industry Impact

Despite being one of the highest-grossing directors of all time with numerous industry accolades under his belt, Scott remarked during the interview that he views himself as an influencer rather than a filmmaker.

"I never want to repeat myself and all my films have been on the money," Scott said. "I've been ahead of the game frequently and, if you're ahead of the game, you're an influencer. So, I'm not a film-maker, I'm an influencer."