HANS Zimmer is arguably the world's most successful movie composer with a string of hits including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Gladiator and the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die.

But what many people don't know is that the German-born composer writes all his music for a woman called Doris, who lives in Bradford.

Before he hit the big time Zimmer was part of a band which toured working mens' clubs in the north of England during the 1980s recession.

What he saw there had a profound effect on him.

Talking to the BBC for a new documentary, the two-time Oscar winner explained: "I have this person I write my music for.

"She's fictitious, she's called Doris and she lives in Bradford.

"She wears a grey coat and is of an uncertain age. She's got two boys, her hair dye isn't very good and she works really hard throughout the week.

"Come the weekend she has a  choice: going to the pub for a drink or coming and seeing one of our movies.

"She's a hero to me because she works hard and so when she comes and sees one of our movies I want to make sure she gets her money's worth."

The revelation came in a new documentary about the composer's life and work, Hans Zimmer – Hollywood Rebel, which aired last night on BBC 2.

Zimmer has won two best original score Oscars and four Grammys, and has been nominated for two Emmys and a Tony.

His first Academy Award came in 1994 for the Lion King, and again almost 20 years later for Villeneuve’s 2021 sci-fi epic Dune.

He is also the recipient of a Bafta and several Classic Brit awards.

And he owes it all to Doris from Bradford...

  •  Read more about the documentary here
  •  Watch it on BBC iPlayer here