Rankin

Acting

Rankin

Born 1966-04-28 · Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

John Rankin Waddell (born 28 April 1966), known professionally as Rankin, is a British photographer and director. He was co-founder of Dazed & Confused magazine and is known for his photography of models including Kate Moss and Heidi Klum, celebrities such as Madonna, David Bowie and his portrait of Elizabeth II. His work has appeared in magazines including GQ, Vogue and Marie Claire.

Acting credits

Twiggy poster
7.7

Twiggy takes a comprehensive look at the life story of UK model and cultural icon Twiggy, real name Lesley Lawson, whose career kickstarted in the 1960s. It features interviews with Twiggy and her husband Leigh Lawson, as well as commentary from Erin O’Connor, Paul McCartney, Lulu, Poppy Delavigne, Brooke Shields, Pattie Boyd and Zandra Rhodes.

Twiggy

2025

No artwork available
7.8

A show commemorating the 30th anniversary of the former Beatle's death. His contemporaries and current commentators reflect on the role of John Lennon, the artist and radical thinker.

Discovering Lennon

2010

South Africa in Pictures poster
NR

British fashion photographer Rankin explores South Africa's rich photographic tradition, discovering how its leading photographers have captured this complex, often turbulent, nation through remarkable images and charting the unique role photography has played in documenting the story and people of this fascinating country.

South Africa in Pictures

2010

America in Pictures - The Story of Life Magazine poster
7.0

Life was an iconic weekly magazine that specialised in extraordinarily vivid photojournalism. In the 40s, 50s and 60s it caught the spirit of America as it blossomed into a world superpower and its influence on American people was unparalleled. Fashion photographer Rankin celebrates the work of Life's legendary photographers including Alfred Eisenstaedt and Margaret Bourke-White, who went to outrageous lengths to get the best picture. He travels across the USA to meet Bill Eppridge, John Shearer, John Loengard, Burk Uzzle and Harry Benson, who have shot the big moments in American history - from the assassination of Robert F Kennedy to the Civil Rights struggle and the Vietnam War. These photographers pioneered new forms of photojournalism, living with and photographing their subjects for weeks, enabling them to capture compelling yet ordinary aspects of American life too. Rankin discovers that Life told the story of America in photographs, and also taught America how to be American.

America in Pictures - The Story of Life Magazine

2011

Looking for Light: Jane Bown poster
5.7

In the almost six decades that Bown worked for The Observer, she became renowned for insightful, highly individualistic portraits of the famous. Some of these portraits are now regarded as classics of the genre - Samuel Beckett, Queen Elizabeth II, The Beatles, Bertrand Russell, Mick Jagger and Margaret Thatcher. For the first time, she spoke candidly about her career and revealed how her very personal approach to the taking of portraits is informed by a deep sense of loss and abandonment. This private portrait is enhanced by a series of insightful interviews with Jane’s peers, family, colleagues, friends, and of course some of her subjects.

Looking for Light: Jane Bown

2014

Behind the camera

No artwork available
4.8

A thriller/love story set in a perfect world. The film opens a brief window into the relationship between two lovers. Tension builds and their dark secret is exposed but, however twisted or shocking, 'Perfect' uncovers the very human drama of what it is to love and be loved.

Perfect

2003

The Exchange poster
NR

When two bags are mixed up at a hotel, two guests find themselves unknowingly connected in a fleeting moment. At the bar, she remembers his shirt, he recognises her fragrance, and a flirtatious moment plays out.

The Exchange

2013

No artwork available
9.0

Renegade TV was a regular feature on late night Channel 4 in the UK in the late 1990's. This special was made in conjunction with Dazed Magazine and featured a Mondo style compilation of news clips and stories from around the world.

Renegade TV Gets Dazed

1998

No artwork available
NR

About two young bicycle thieves.

Balance

2014

Lives of the Saints poster
6.6

Mr Karva runs a shady little empire in North London. We don't know exactly how he makes his money but we know it's probably not very nice. Mr Karva's stepson, Othello, has ambitions to take the old man's place; and Othello's fainthearted friend, Emilio, has ambitions of his own. This delicate balance of power is upset when Roadrunner finds a strange, sickly-looking 10 year old boy in the park. All his life, Roadrunner has been on the move - but when he looks into the child's eyes, he finds he can finally stop running. It becomes clear that the child can grant each character their own taste of heaven - the 'perfect, rosy future of your dreams'. The child never talks but transforms the world around him, working on the desire in each character's heart, whatever it may be.

Lives of the Saints

2007