Martin McDonagh is an Irish playwright, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for his darkly comic plays, which often feature violence and profanity. His plays have been performed in theatres around the world, and his films have been critically acclaimed. McDonagh was born in London in 1970, and grew up in Ireland. He studied English and Drama at University College Dublin, and began writing plays in the late 1990s. His first play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, was produced in London in 1996 and won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. McDonagh has since written and directed several plays and films, including The Pillowman, In Bruges, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. His plays often feature darkly comic themes, such as violence, death, and the human condition. His films often explore similar themes, but with a more cinematic approach. McDonagh has won numerous awards for his work, including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary playwrights and filmmakers, and his work continues to be performed and celebrated around the world.