Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro builds his monsters out of tenderness, and in 2018 the Academy finally agreed with him. The Shape of Water, a fairy tale set against the Cold War, took four Oscars on 4 March 2018: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Production Design and Best Original Score. Its hero is a gentle amphibious being who falls in love with a mute laboratory cleaner, and its villain a security chief who sees the creature as an asset. Del Toro trained as a make-up effects artist, so his creatures still look built by hand.

Full name

Guillermo del Toro

Nationality

Mexico

Known for

The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth, Pinocchio

Role

Director / Writer / Producer

Oscar win

Best Director, 2018

Signature

Practical creature effects; folklore and faith