Out100: Bill Condon

Photography by Ryan Pfluger at his home in New York on September 17, 2015. Groomer: Dallin James at the Wall Group.

Just when you think you have Bill Condon pegged, the director pulls a new trick out of his hat. A man who's worked in threater, film, and TV (he revived SideShow on Broadway last year, and he's produced the Oscars telecast), Condon has also bobbed and weaved amid his three favorite genres: musicals (Dreamgirls), thrillers (the two-part Twilight finale), and historical dramas (GodsandMonsters). This year, his key triumph, the melancholic mystery Mr. Holmes, yielded one of Ian McKellen's best performances. Next year, he's back in the musical realm with a live-action take on Disney's BeautyandtheBeast. For such a fluid creative mind, it's no surprise where he feels most at ease: "In water. Amid all the noise of life, I can block things out and get in touch with myself."

SLIDESHOW | Out100 2015