Steven Soderbergh was born on January 14, 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

After he graduated from high school, he went to Hollywood, where he worked as a freelance editor. Soderbergh's time in Hollywood was brief, and he soon returned home, where he continued making short films and writing scripts.

Steven Soderbergh won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival for his 1989 film sex, lies and videotape (starring James Spader). The movie was a critical sensation and is often credited with launching the independent film boom of the 1990s. After making several offbeat low-budget films, Soderberg hit the mainstream with the 1998 crime romance Out of Sight with Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney. In 2001 Soderbergh was nominated twice for an Academy Award as best director, for the drug drama Traffic (with Benicio Del Toro and Michael Douglas) and the biopic Erin Brockovich (starring Julia Roberts). He won the Oscar for Traffic. He then shifted emotional gears to direct Clooney, Roberts, Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle in a remake of the old Frank Sinatra Las Vegas heist film Ocean's Eleven (2001) and a 2004 sequel, Ocean's Twelve. Somewhat like Ang Lee, Soderbergh eagerly shifts genres and experiments with new techniques, from the shot-on-digital-video quickie Full Frontal (2002) to the eerie science fiction remake Solaris (2002) and the planned biography of Che Guevara (shot in 2006). He also has produced many projects, including the political docudrama series K Street.

"I've always gotten along with them," says Soderbergh of actors, "I try and make sure they're OK, and when they're in the zone, I leave them alone. I don't get in their way."; his non-intrusive directorial style has attracted repeat performances by many high-profile movie stars. Julia Roberts had supporting roles in Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, and Full Frontal, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her lead in Erin Brockovich. Benicio Del Toro, who also won an Academy Award for his work in a Soderbergh film (Traffic), is starring in the upcoming Guerrilla. Other frequent sightings in Soderbergh's filmography include character actors Luis Guzmán (Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic) and Don Cheadle (Out of Sight, Traffic, Ocean's Eleven, and Ocean's Twelve). But the actor who played the leading role in no fewer than six of his films is George Clooney, with whom he co-owns the film production company, Section Eight Productions. Section Eight produced the critical hits Far From Heaven, Insomnia, and Syriana as well as the Clooney-directed films Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Good Night, and Good Luck.

Soderbergh often acts as his own director of photography under the alias of Peter Andrews and occasionally as his own editor under the alias of Mary Ann Bernard. While shooting Traffic, Soderbergh wanted a credit of 'Photographed and Directed by'. The Writer's Guild (WGA) wouldn't allow another credit ahead of the writer. Because Soderbergh didn't want his name used more than once, he adopted a pseudonym, Peter Andrews, his father's first and middle names.

As of 30 April 2006, his projects in production include Guerrilla, starring Benicio Del Toro as Che Guevara, and Ocean's Thirteen.

Director

• Life Interrupted (2007)
• The Argentine (2008)
• Guerrilla (2008)
• Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
• The Good German (2006)
• Bubble (2005)
• Ocean's Twelve (2004)
• Eros (2004)
• "K Street" (2003) TV Series
• Solaris (2002)
• Full Frontal (2002)
• Ocean's Eleven (2001)
• Traffic (2000)
• Erin Brockovich (2000)
• The Limey (1999)
• Out of Sight (1998)
• Schizopolis (1996)
• Gray's Anatomy (1996)
• "Fallen Angels" (2 episodes, 1993-1995)
• Underneath (1995)
• King of the Hill (1993)
• Kafka (1991)
• Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
• Winston (1987)
• Yes: 9012 Live (1986) (V)

Awards

• The National Board of Review Best-picture "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
• Broadcast Film Critics Best Director "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic" 2000
• Chicago Film Critics Best Director "Traffic" 2000
• Golden Satellite Best Director "Traffic" 2000
• Las Vegas Film Critics Best Director "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic" 2000
• Los Angeles Film Critics Best Director "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic" 2000
• National Board of Review Best Director "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic" 2000
• National Society of Film Critics Best Director "Traffic" 2000
• New York Film Critics Best Director "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich" 2000
• Oscar Best Director "Traffic" 2000
• Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Director "Traffic" 2000
• Toronto Film Critics Best Director "Traffic" 2000
• National Society of Film Critics Best Director "Out of Sight" 1998
• Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Award "sex, lies and videotape" 1989
• Independent Spirit Award Best Director "sex, lies and videotape" 1989
• Sundance Film Festival Audience Award (Dramatic) "sex, lies and videotape" 1989