Alex Lawther | |
|---|---|
 Lawther in 2022 | |
| Born | Alexander Jonathan Lawther[1] (1995-05-04)4 May 1995 (age 29) Winchester,Hampshire, England |
| Citizenship |
|
| Education | Churcher's College National Youth Theatre |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | The End of the F***ing World Black Mirror The Imitation Game South Downs |
Alexander Jonathan Lawther (born 4 May 1995) is an English actor, writer, and director. He made his professional acting debut originating the role of John Blakemore inSir David Hare'sSouth Downs in theWest End. He made his feature film debut playing a youngAlan Turing in theAcademy Award-winning filmThe Imitation Game (2014), for which he received theLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for "Young British Performer of the Year" and was declared one ofBAFTA's 2015Breakthrough Brits.
He achieved more mainstream success for his role as Kenny in "Shut Up and Dance", an episode of theNetflix anthology seriesBlack Mirror (2016), and for portraying the lead role of James in theChannel 4 seriesThe End of the F***ing World (2017–2019). His other notable work includes his roles inFreak Show,Howards End,Goodbye Christopher Robin,Ghost Stories,The Last Duel andAndor. On screen, he is known for his frequent portrayals of outsiders and eccentric characters.[2][3]
Lawther was born inWinchester,Hampshire and raised inPetersfield.[4] He is ofEnglish andIrish descent, possessing dual British and Irish citizenship through hisNorthern Irish father. The son of two lawyers,[5] Lawther has described himself as having come from a "white middle-class bubble".[6] As the youngest of three children, he said that his aspiration to be an actor came from having to make up his own games to entertain himself as a child.[5] Both of his siblings live and work in theUnited States, with his older brother,Cameron Lawther, being an award-winningHollywood film producer, and his older sister Ellie Lawther working in public policy.[7]
Lawther was educated atChurcher's College, a selectiveindependent school in Petersfield. After getting into trouble for creating an illegitimate drama club at his school with friends,[8] Lawther became heavily involved in the drama programme when an official one was started. He played Ratty inThe Wind in the Willows,Sir Toby Belch inTwelfth Night, and Lucas inThe Third Bank of the River,[9] and received the SirDaniel Day-Lewis Award by the Petersfield Town Council.[10] In 2009, a fourteen-year-old Lawther was allowed to write and direct his own full-length play based on a song bySara Bareilles entitledRejected Fairytales as part of his drama club involvement, where he received laudatory coverage in the local press as a "theatrical whiz kid" who would end up working as an actor in the West End.[11][12]
In 2010, he was accepted into the prestigiousNational Youth Theatre, where he received his only formal training as an actor.[13] He also collaborated with his brother as an actor on his short filmThe Fear, made when the elder Lawther was applying to film school. He did not study drama at GCSE orA level.[7] He initially planned to read History atKing's College London, but ultimately gave up his place after being cast inThe Imitation Game; instead, he moved toLondon at 18 to pursue acting professionally.[14]
Lawther's professional debut came at the age of 16, when he appeared as John Blakemore inSir David Hare'sSouth Downs atChichester Festival Theatre. Lawther found out about an open audition for the play through his school, as the casting directors were scouting real students attending elite private schools in theSouth Downs for the play's public school setting. He travelled to London, where he beat hundreds of other young actors for the lead role. After a local trial run, the play then went to theWest End, where he performed the role at theHarold Pinter Theatre in sold out runs whilst still studying for his A Levels.[5] He received critical acclaim for his performance and, having previously viewed acting as only a hobby, he was encouraged to pursue a career in film and theatre. Shortly thereafter, he signed a contract with a film agent.
Following his performance inSouth Downs, Lawther spent much of his early career playing wealthy English schoolboys. After several small television roles, he portrayedBenjamin Britten as a schoolboy in the docudrama byTony Britten,Benjamin Britten: Peace and Conflict (2013), also featuringJohn Hurt as the narrator.[15] Lawther received hisbreakthrough film role as a youngAlan Turing during his time atSherborne School in theAcademy Award-winning filmThe Imitation Game (2014), withBenedict Cumberbatch portraying the older Turing.[5][16][17][18] The role won him theLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for "Young British Performer of the Year".[19] Subsequently, he appeared in a supporting role as a maths prodigy in the critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama filmX+Y, alongsideAsa Butterfield andSally Hawkins. He also starred as a youngcastrato inVirtuoso, a pilot produced forHBO byAlan Ball, but the show was not picked up by the network. He returned to the theatre doing various small productions in London during this period, playing a sexually precocious young gay man inThe Glass Supper, and the lead in thepost-apocalypticCrushed Shells and Mud.
In 2015, he starred alongsideJuliet Stevenson in his first lead film role, playing Elliot in the British film,Departure, the debut film of director Andrew Steggall, filmed in a mixture of French and English.[20]
In 2016, Lawther played the main character Kenny in "Shut Up and Dance", an episode from series three of the Britishscience fictionanthology seriesBlack Mirror.[21] While the episode overall received mixed reviews, and Lawther himself later expressed lukewarm feelings for the episode, he received universal acclaim and significant recognition for his performance. He also performed in themockumentary filmCarnage, directed by his frequent collaborator, comedianSimon Amstell.
In 2017, Lawther played Tibby Schlegel inHowards End, aBBC One adaptation of theE.M. Forster novel that starredHayley Atwell, as well as the lead role of Billy Bloom inTrudie Styler'sFreak Show, where he was supported byBette Midler,Abigail Breslin,AnnaSophia Robb,Lorraine Toussaint andLarry Pine.Freak Show marked his first (and thus far only) appearance in anAmerican film; Lawther has expressed a lack of interest in performing in more American films.
Later that same year, he also starred, alongsideJessica Barden, as James in thePeabody Award-winning television seriesThe End of the F***ng World. The role also brought Lawther more acclaim from critics and further raised his profile in the entertainment industry. He would go on to reprise this role during the show's second and final season, which received aBAFTA Award for Best Drama. He also originated the role of Sam in theStephen Daltry-directed playThe Jungle, which focused on the refugee crisis inCalais, in both its London and New York productions. Lawther spent time in France meeting with refugees for this job, and ultimately found it to be one of his most challenging roles due to his character'sright-wing views which were antithetical to his own.[22] Subsequently, Lawther played the lead role of Amberson in Toby MacDonald's debut filmOld Boys, as well as a supporting role in the horror filmGhost Stories.
In 2020, Lawther played the lead role in Régis Roinsard's thriller,Les Traducteurs (The Translators), his first non-English language film. As a result of fans of both Lawther and English singer-songwriterDeclan McKenna frequently pointing out their resemblance, Lawther made an appearance in the music video for McKenna's song "The Key to Life on Earth". In 2021, Lawther appeared inRidley Scott'sThe Last Duel,Wes Anderson'sThe French Dispatch, andLucile Hadzihalilovic'sEarwig. He starred asAriel in a French production ofShakespeare'sThe Tempest atLes Bouffes du Nord directed byPeter Brook andMarie-Hélène Estienne[23] and replacesAndrew Scott in the titular role ofHamlet whenRobert Icke's adaptation is brought toNew York City, after previously being delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[24] He appeared in theStar Wars spin-off seriesAndor as rebel operative Karis Nemik.
In 2021, Lawther made his directorial debut with the music video for "Fountainhead" by Linus Fenton, starringRoman Griffin Davis and sponsored byCALM.[25] In 2022, he wrote and directed the short filmFor People in Trouble, produced byBen Affleck andMatt Damon and starringEmma D'Arcy andArchie Madekwe.[26]
Lawther stopped using social media as he began to take more high-profile roles and considers himself to be "technophobic".[27] He has described himself as politicallyleft-wing, and generally tries to avoid discussing his private life when possible.[28] He considers his biggest inspirations as an actor to beBen Whishaw,Sally Hawkins, andAndrew Scott.
Lawther has been aFrancophile and a fan ofFrench cinema from a young age. He speaks fluent French and divides his time between Paris and London.[29]
In 2020, Lawther co-signed an open letter to the government of the United Kingdom to banconversion therapy for LGBT youth.[30] In 2023, he co-signed an open letter alongside more than 1,000 artists in the British film industry calling on the arts and culture sector to demand apermanent ceasefire in Gaza, amplify Palestinian voices, and protect artists who speak out in favor of Palestinians.[31] He has also been involved in climate activism withExtinction Rebellion. He is afeminist and has critiqued the lack of diversity in the film industry.[32] He became involved withcauses supporting refugees following his work inThe Jungle and supports the charityChoose Love.[33]
After seeing a sixteen-year-old Lawther'sWest End debut inSouth Downs,Dame Maggie Smith reportedly remarked to him that "most of us spend our lives trying to do what you've achieved".[5] For that same performance, he was nominated for aWhatsOnStage Award for "Best Newcomer" and named one of London's "Top 25 Under 25" by theEvening Standard. He has since received theLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for "Young British Performer of the Year" forThe Imitation Game and theDublin Film Critics Award for "Best Actor" forDeparture. With the cast and crew ofThe Jungle, he received a Special Citation at theObie Awards for the play'soff-off-Broadway production and was cited for his "deeply funny and moving performance" inThe End of the F***ing World when the show received aPeabody Award.[34]
Lawther was named as one ofBAFTA's Breakthrough Brits for 2015.[35] His acting style has been compared favourably to actorBen Whishaw,[5] whom he cites as an idol of his.[36]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Benjamin Britten: Peace and Conflict | Benjamin Britten | Docudrama | [37] |
| 2014 | The Imitation Game | youngAlan Turing | ||
| X+Y | Isaac Cooper | Released in the U.S. asA Brilliant Young Mind | [37] | |
| 2015 | Departure | Elliot | [38] | |
| 2017 | Freak Show | Billy Bloom | Credited as "Alex J. Lawther" | |
| Goodbye Christopher Robin | Christopher Robin Milne (aged 18) | |||
| 2018 | Ghost Stories | Simon Rifkind | ||
| Old Boys | Martin Amberson | |||
| 2019 | The Translators | Alex Goodman | French:Les Traducteurs | |
| 2021 | The French Dispatch | Morisot | ||
| The Last Duel | Charles VI | |||
| Earwig | Laurence | |||
| 2022 | For People in Trouble | — | Writer and director | [26] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Holby City | Fred Bamber | Episode: "All Before Them" |
| 2015 | Virtuoso | Battista | Episode: "Pilot" |
| William | Freddy | Television short | |
| 2016 | Black Mirror | Kenny | Episode: "Shut Up and Dance" |
| 2017 | Carnage | Volunteer: Joseph | Mockumentary |
| Howards End | Tibby Schlegel | Miniseries | |
| 2017–2019 | The End of the F***ing World | James | Main role, 16 episodes |
| 2020 | Unprecedented | Zac | Episode #1.4 |
| Grand Amour | Television film | ||
| 2021–2022 | The Owl House | Philip Wittebane | Voice; 4 episodes |
| 2021, 2023 | Summer Camp Island | Mildred's Friend / Additional Voices | Voice; 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Lloyd of the Flies | Abacus Woodlouse | Voice; main role |
| Andor | Karis Nemik | 4 episodes | |
| Le patient | Bastien | Television film | |
| 2023 | The Cleaner | Dan Mangkukulam / Watson | Episode: "The Shaman" |
| The Velveteen Rabbit | Velveteen Rabbit | Television special | |
| 2025 | Alien: Earth | CJ | Upcoming series[39] |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | South Downs | John Blakemore | Chichester Festival Theatre | [40] |
| 2012 | South Downs | John Blakemore | Harold Pinter Theatre | [41] |
| 2013 | Fault Lines | Ryan | Hampstead Theatre | [42] |
| 2014 | The Glass Supper | Jamie | Hampstead Theatre | [43] |
| 2015 | Crushed Shells and Mud | Derek | Southwark Playhouse | [44] |
| 2017–2019 | The Jungle | Sam | Young Vic Theatre & Playhouse Theatre (2018) St. Ann’s Warehouse | [45] |
| 2021 | The Tempest | Caliban/Ferdinand | Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord | |
| 2022 | Hamlet | Hamlet | Park Avenue Armory | [46] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | South Downs | John Blakemore | ||
| 2014 | How to Say Goodbye Properly | Toby | BBC Radio 4 | [47] |
| Rock Me Amadeus | Charlie | BBC Radio 4 | [48] | |
| 2015 | Decline and Fall | Peter Beste-Chetwynde | BBC Radio 4 | [49] |
| 2020 | Murmurs | Lloyd | Episode: "Man's Best Friend" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The London Necropolis Railway | Barney | Main role, 7 episodes |
| 2020 | The Painkiller Podcast | Leo | Episode: "Object" |
| Year | Title | Artist | Album | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "The Key to Life on Earth" | Declan McKenna | Zeros | Himself | |
| 2021 | "Fountainhead" | Linus Fenton | Director |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Newcomer | South Downs | Nominated | [50] |
| 2014 | BFI London Film Festival | Best British Newcomer | The Imitation Game | Nominated | [51] |
| 2015 | London Critics' Circle Film Awards | Young British Performer of the Year | Won | [52] | |
| 2016 | Audi Dublin International Film Festival | Best Actor | Departure | Won | [53] |
| Dinard British Film Festival | Special Mention - Actors | Won | [54][better source needed] | ||
| 2018 | International Online Cinema Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | The End of the F***ing World | Nominated | [55][better source needed] |
| Fright Meter Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ghost Stories | Runner-Up | [56] | |
| 2019 | Obie Awards | Special Citation - Cast and Creative Team | The Jungle | Won | [57] |
| 2024 | London Critics' Circle Film Awards | British/Irish Short Film of the Year | For People in Trouble | Nominated | [58] |
| Annie Awards | Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Media Production | The Velveteen Rabbit | Nominated | [59] |
| International | |
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| National | |
