Glass was born in London, England, and grew up in Essex. Glass grew up Catholic, attending a all-girls Catholic convent school, attending regular church trips, and having a grandfather who was a vicar, but never expressed a large interest in it, even though it is a through-line between some of her work and especially in Saint Maud[2]. Glass was inspired to be a director ever since a family vacation when she was 12 where she and the other children made home movies. A few years later, she used her parents’ camera to create more home videos with her friends, dabbling in stop-motion and films about aliens[3]. She attended New Hall School[4] and later the London College of Communication before working as a runner on film sets alongside directing and writing her own shorts. After graduating, she made a short film called Storm House,[5] and later submitted the film in an application to the National Film and Television School.[6] She graduated from the National Film and Television School in 2014, where she made the short film Room 55. During her years at both schools, she had written and directed five short films including Room 55 and Storm House.[7]
After graduating from the National Film and Television School Glass moved to London and started working with Tracey Hyde as her agent. She got a job at a cafe all the while working on Saint Maud. In 2015 she teamed up with Oliver Kassman who would go on to be one of 2 producers on Saint Maud. She then worked as a receptionist for a fashion college for a year before working as a cinema usher. Kassman and Glass apply to iFeatures and Film4 with Saint Maud, both accept it and they end up going with Film4, but also sign up with iFeatures with another idea. Saint Maud was cast, greenlit, and began shooting at the end of 2018[8]. After directing the short film Room 55 in 2014,[9] Glass achieved prominence with her feature length directorial and screenwriting debut, the psychological horror film Saint Maud. The story follows hospice nurse Maud who, having converted to Catholicism, becomes obsessed with one of her charges, believing she must save her soul. Saint Maud premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2019,[10] and was released in the United Kingdom on 9 October 2020 by StudioCanal UK.[11] The film was praised by critics for its direction, atmosphere, performances and score.[12]
In 2019, Glass won the IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award.[13] In late 2020, Glass was nominated for and won Best Debut Director at the British Independent Film Awards.[14][15] In early 2021, Saint Maud was nominated for two awards at the 74th British Academy Film Awards, including a nomination for Glass in the category of 'Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer'.[16] In a five star review of Saint Maud, film critic Mark Kermode called Glass "a thrilling new talent in British cinema".[17] Noted director Danny Boyle has called Glass "an extraordinary talent and powerful storyteller" with a "singular vision".[18]
In March 2022, American actor Kristen Stewart announced that she would be working with Glass on her follow up to Saint Maud, a romantic thriller entitled Love Lies Bleeding, to be developed by Film4 and A24.[19][20][21] Glass teamed up with writer-director friend Weronika Tofilska to write the screenplay for Love Lies Bleeding, wanting some help to collaborate on the script[22]. The story follows Lou, a reclusive gym manager, played by Kristen Stewart, who falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder, played by Katy O'Brian. Jackie is headed to Las Vegas to pursue her dream, but their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou's criminal family.[23] Glass wanted to create a project that was more “visceral.” Inspired by body horror and violent films, and the psychological opportunities that came from a story about a female bodybuilder. Glass was especially inspired by female bodybuilders of the 40’s and 50’s, “These women had amazing ’50s pin-curl hairdos and incredible muscular physiques, and the visual juxtaposition was intriguing to me.”[24] The film had its world premiere in the Midnight section at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and was set for a theatrical in the United States on March 8, 2024 by A24 and by Lionsgate in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2024.[25][26][27] Love Lies Bleeding was named one of the Top 10 Independent Films of 2024 by the National Board of Review[28]. Love Lies Bleeding had a budget of 10 million dollars and made 12.8 million, making it a modest box office hit. At the 2024 British Independent Film Awards Love Lies Bleeding was nominated for 3 awards, including ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Screenplay.’[29] In 2025 Love Lies Bleeding was nominated for ‘Outstanding British Film of the Year’ at the British Academy Film Awards. [30]
Glass has not said much about her next project, but has revealed she has been written it since Sundance of 2024 and plans to write and direct it solo. She also expressed that she did not want to direct TV or direct scripts from other screenwriters, preferring to have control over writing and directing her own work for now[31].
Influences
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2021, Glass credited filmmakers such as David Cronenberg, John Waters and David Lynch as major inspirations for her growing up. Her and the filmmakers all having an interest in “the weird and psychological.”[32]
The Misery 1990 film starring Kathy Bates was cited as a early inspiration for Saint Maud.[33]
Glass provided a 2024 interview with the Associated Press for the release of Love Lies Bleeding in which Glass spoke about utilizing the 1995 Paul Verhoeven-directed Showgirls as a means to demonstrate to the cast the overall setting and tone of the film.[34]
For Love Lies Bleeding, Glass wanted to avoid watching films such as Thelma & Louise and Wild at Heart or other classics from the 80’s as they could give unwanted influences.[35]
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