Avengers director Joe Russo returns to UEA to meet students and get honorary degree
The award winning director was a visiting student in Norwich in 1991
Last updated 5th Apr 2023
Avengers director, producer and screenwriter Joe Russo has returned to the University of East Anglia to recieve an honourary degree - and meet the next generation of filmmakers.
The critically acclaimed director, who alongside brother Anthony is responsible for MCU films including Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), met Drama, Film and Creative Writing students yesterday (April 4).
He was also given an Honorary Doctorate of Letters.
Russo is no strager to Norwich, having been at the UEA as a visiting student in 1991. The university's Sainsbury Centre would later become a stand-in for Avengers HQ in the Marvel film series.
Joe Russo said: “I came to UEA as a writer and I left as an actor, so I went through a great transition in those six months while I was here.
"Acting led me to directing, and directing led me to where I am today. My experiences here at UEA changed me and made me who I am.
“When I was here at UEA, I remember I was asked to write and perform a monologue for a class and the professor at the time, Jon Hyde, mentioned that I could be an actor if I wanted to.
"He invited me to take part in American Buffalo, a play he was directing at the time down at the Waterfront theatre, and it was incredibly influential – it changed the entire trajectory of my life.
"Everything we did on that play over those following months really taught me everything I know about acting. That is one of my favourites memories from my time spent at UEA, though I also have a few good memories from the student pub!
“With enough hard work, creativity and discipline, you can go wherever you want to go. I think that’s the great thing about universities, and UEA in particular – it fashioned me, moulded me, and gave me inspiration.
"I think this is an incredible place to study writing, to study creative arts, and to figure out who you are and what it is that you want to do with your life.
“I greatly appreciate the University recognising me with this honorary degree, but I’d also like to recognise the University and how it profoundly affected my life in the six months that I was here.”