Polly Steele was born in London, but her upbringing was far from ordinary. She spent her teenage years in France, where she was deeply influenced by the country's rich cinematic heritage. This formative experience laid the foundation for her future career in filmmaking.
Steele's professional journey began in the innovative department of the BBC, where she worked on Video Diaries, a groundbreaking series that blurred the lines between documentary and reality TV. This pioneering work allowed her to "break all the rules" and develop a unique style that would characterize her subsequent projects.
One of her most notable projects was Tantrums and Tiaras, a highly intimate and personal portrait of Elton John's life. This film, co-directed with David Furnish, was a trailblazing effort that explored the private life of a celebrity in a way that was both candid and respectful.
As an award-winning filmmaker, Steele has worked with all of the UK's major broadcasters and has produced and developed fiction projects for her own company, In Trust Films, as well as for Rocket Pictures, a production company co-founded with Elton John and David Furnish.
In addition to her documentary work, Steele has also created a series of moving, silent video portraits that focus on capturing the essence of her subjects' humanity. These portraits, which have featured celebrities such as Tony Benn, Jason Isaacs, Michael K Williams, and Patrick Moore, among others, offer a unique and powerful glimpse into the human experience.
Steele's feature film debut, Let Me Go, was written and directed by her and premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2017. The film, which stars Juliet Stevenson and Lucy Boynton, was composed by Philip Selway of Radiohead and has won several awards. The film's exploration of inherited trauma was deeply personal for Steele, who has also experienced trauma in her own life.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Steele is a devoted mother to three children, Josie, Toby, and Raffy.
