Joel Edgerton (born 23 June 1974) is an Australian actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his appearance in the Star Wars films Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005) as a young Owen Lars, a role he reprised in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). Edgerton also appeared in King Arthur (2004) as Gawain, Zero Dark Thirty (2012), The Great Gatsby (2013), Black Mass (2015),[1] Loving (2016), Bright (2017), Red Sparrow (2018), The King (2019), and the limited series The Underground Railroad (2021).
Joel Edgerton | |
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![]() Edgerton at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con | |
Born | (1974-06-23) 23 June 1974 (age 48) Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia |
Alma mater | University of Western Sydney |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1995–present |
Partner(s) | Christine Centenera (2018–present) |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Nash Edgerton (brother) |
In Australia, Edgerton portrayed Will McGill in the drama series The Secret Life of Us (2001–02), for which he won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama. He has also appeared in several Australian films, such as The Square (2008), Animal Kingdom (2010), for which he won the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Wish You Were Here (2012), and Felony (2013).
In 2015, Edgerton received a nomination for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – First-Time Feature Film for The Gift, a psychological horror-thriller film he wrote, directed, co-produced, and in which he co-starred.[2] Edgerton garnered further critical acclaim for his performance as Richard Loving in the 2016 historical drama Loving, for which he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. In 2018, he wrote, directed, and starred in the drama Boy Erased, about gay conversion therapy. The following year's The King, which he co-wrote and starred in, was released on Netflix.
Edgerton was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia[3] the son of Michael, a solicitor and property developer, and Marianne (van Dort) Edgerton.[4][5] His mother is a Dutch immigrant, who was born in The Hague.[6][7] He graduated from The Hills Grammar School in 1991. He attended the Nepean Drama School at the University of Western Sydney,[8] before moving on to various stage productions, including at Sydney Theatre Company.
Edgerton has appeared in such films as Erskineville Kings, King Arthur and Ned Kelly. In the Star Wars franchise, he played a young Owen Lars in Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005)[9] and reprised the role in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.[10] He played Will on The Secret Life of Us, for which he won an AACTA Award in 2002. In 2005, he lent his voice to the title character of The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello, an Academy Award-nominated animated short film. The same year, he appeared as the son of a deceased shoemaker in the British comedy Kinky Boots. He also appeared in Smokin' Aces (2006).[11]
Edgerton appeared in the film Whisper (2007),[12] The Square (which he co-wrote and was directed by his brother), Acolytes, and Separation City.[13] In 2009, he starred alongside as Stanley in the Sydney Theatre Company's acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire.[14] He appeared in a production of the same play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in December 2009.[15] He appeared in the Crime Drama film Animal Kingdom as Barry Baz Brown in 2010 in which he won an AFI award. He starred as fictional MMA fighter Brendan Conlon in the MMA film Warrior (2011).[16][17]
In February 2010, Edgerton was cast in Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.'s 2011 prequel to The Thing,[18] portraying helicopter pilot Sam Carter.[19] He played Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's 2013 remake of The Great Gatsby. He was honoured for his work in international roles with the 2011 Australians in Film Breakthrough Award.[20]
In 2013, it was revealed that Edgerton and David Michôd had collaborated on writing an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henriad" plays, Henry IV, Parts 1 &[21] and Henry V, for Warner Bros. Pictures.[22][23][24]
In 2014, Edgerton starred in the biblical film Exodus: Gods and Kings, as Ramesses II, Moses' adoptive brother, who became a notorious king. Edgerton directed, starred in, wrote, and produced the thriller The Gift, which was released on 7 August 2015.[25] He co-starred in the 2015 film Black Mass as John Connolly, FBI contact and childhood friend of notorious gangster Whitey Bulger.[26]
In 2016, he starred in the Jeff Nichols films Midnight Special[27] and Loving,[28] and in 2017, he starred in the film Bright as Officer Nick Jacoby, an orc who is a cop. He will reprise the character in the sequel along with Will Smith, directed by Louis Leterrier for Netflix.[29]
In 2018, Edgerton headlined Francis Lawrence's thriller film, Red Sparrow, with Jennifer Lawrence, and based on the book by Jason Matthews. He plays Nathaniel Nash, a CIA agent who becomes involved with a Russian spy Dominika Egorova (Lawrence). In February 2018, Timothée Chalamet joined the cast of The King, with Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner producing, alongside Liz Watts, under their Plan B Entertainment banner.[30] In March 2018, Edgerton joined the cast of the film.[31]
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, it was announced that a new film, The Unknown Man, will begin filming in South Australia as soon as enough of the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Directed by Thomas M. Wright, it will also star Sean Harris.[32][33][34][35] In September 2020, Edgerton was set to star in an ensemble film The Brutalist directed by Brady Corbet.[36] In the same month, he was tapped to star in and executive produce limited series The Florida Man based on a novel of the same name by Tom Cooper.[37]
In 2021, Edgerton starred in the medieval fantasy film The Green Knight written and directed by David Lowery.
Edgerton has been a distinguished ambassador for The Fred Hollows Foundation for a number of years and has strong personal ties to the organisation, which works to restore people's sight in poor countries and to improve the health of Aboriginal Australians.[38] In 2012, he visited Nepal, where he saw sight restored first hand.[39] He has described social activism and his involvement with The Fred Hollows Foundation as "an escape" from the "materialistic life" that often surrounds an actor.[40] The Fred Hollows Foundation is an international non-profit organization which educates and provides equipment for undersupported surgeons to help cure avoidable blindness.
Edgerton's brother, Nash, is a stuntman and filmmaker. Both he and his brother are a part of the Australian film collective Blue-Tongue Films.[41] Nash directed Joel in 2018's Gringo.
In 2018, Edgerton began a relationship with Christine Centenera, fashion director of Vogue Australia.[42][43] They have known each other since the late 1990s.[44] Their twins were born in May 2021.[45]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Loaded | Frog | Short film |
Race the Sun | Steve Fryman | ||
1998 | Praise | Leo | |
Bloodlock | Danny | Short film | |
1999 | Dogwatch | Sparrow | |
Erskineville Kings | Wayne | ||
2000 | Sample People | Sem | |
2001 | The Pitch | Guy | Short film; also writer |
Saturn's Return | Barney | Short film | |
2002 | Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | Owen Lars | |
The Hard Word | Shane | ||
2003 | The Night We Called It a Day | Rod Blue | |
Ned Kelly | Aaron Sherritt | ||
2004 | King Arthur | Gawain | |
2005 | The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello | Jasper Morello | Voice role |
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | Owen Lars | ||
Kinky Boots | Charlie Price | ||
2006 | Smokin' Aces | Hugo Croop | |
Open Window | Peter Delaney | ||
2007 | Crossbow | The Dad | Short film |
Spider | Paramedic | Short film | |
Whisper | Vince Delayo | ||
2008 | The Square | Billy | Also writer & producer |
Acolytes | Ian Wright | ||
$9.99 | Ron | Voice role | |
2009 | Separation City | Simon Nicholson | |
The Waiting City | Ben Simmons | ||
2010 | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole | Metal Beak | Voice role |
Animal Kingdom | Barry "Baz" Brown | ||
2011 | Warrior | Brendan Conlon | |
The Thing | Sam Carter | ||
2012 | Wish You Were Here | Dave Flannery | |
The Odd Life of Timothy Green | Jim Green | ||
Zero Dark Thirty | Patrick Grayston | ||
2013 | The Great Gatsby | Tom Buchanan | |
Felony | Malcolm "Mal" Toohey | Also writer & producer | |
2014 | The Rover | N/A | Writer only |
Exodus: Gods and Kings | Ramesses II | ||
2015 | Life | John G. Morris | |
The Gift | Gordon "Gordo" Moseley | Also writer & producer | |
Black Mass | John Connolly | ||
Jane Got a Gun | Dan Frost | Also writer | |
2016 | Midnight Special | Lucas | |
Loving | Richard Loving | ||
2017 | It Comes at Night | Paul | |
Bright | Nick Jakoby | ||
2018 | Red Sparrow | Nathaniel "Nate" Nash | |
Gringo | Richard Rusk | ||
Boy Erased | Victor Sykes | Also writer & producer | |
2019 | The King | Sir John Falstaff | Also writer & producer |
2021 | The Green Knight | The Lord | |
2022 | The Stranger | Mark | Also producer |
Thirteen Lives | Richard Harris | ||
Master Gardener | Narvel Roth | ||
TBA | The Boys in the Boat ![]() |
Al Ulbrickson | Filming |
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Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1995 | Police Rescue | Andy | Episode: "Wild Card" |
1995–1997 | Spellbinder | Bazza | 2 episodes |
1996–1999 | Water Rats | Aaron Lawrence | 2 episodes |
1997 | Big Sky | Pierce Bateman | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
Fallen Angels | Scoob | Episode: "The Faust Lane" | |
1998 | Wildside | Michael Savini | Episode: "#1.15" |
1999 | Secret Men's Business | Baz | Television film |
2000 | The Three Stooges | Tom Cosgrove | Television film |
2001–2002 | The Secret Life of Us | William "Will" McGill | Main role, 32 episodes |
2002 | Dossa and Joe | Robbo | 2 episodes |
2007 | Dangerous | Senior Sergeant Mark Field | Main role, 8 episodes |
2009 | Dirt Game | Shane Bevic | Main role, 6 episodes |
2021 | The Underground Railroad | Arnold Ridgeway | Miniseries, 7 episodes |
2022 | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Owen Lars | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
TBA | Dark Matter | Jason Dessen | Main role, upcoming series |
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Loaded | No | No | Yes | Short film |
1998 | Bloodlock | No | Yes | Yes | |
2001 | The Pitch | No | Yes | No | |
2008 | The Square | No | Yes | Executive | |
2013 | Felony | No | Yes | Yes | |
2014 | The Rover | No | Yes | No | |
2015 | The Gift | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directorial debut |
2015 | Jane Got a Gun | No | Yes | No | |
2017 | It Comes at Night | No | No | Executive | |
2018 | Boy Erased | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2019 | The King | No | Yes | Yes | |
2022 | The Unknown Man | No | No | Yes | |
Year | Title | Role | Production company |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Blackrock | Toby | Sydney Theatre Company |
1996 | Dead White Males | Sydney Theatre Company | |
1997 | Third World Blues | Graham | Sydney Theatre Company |
1998 | Henry IV | Prince Hal | Bell Shakespeare |
1998 | Love for Love | Valentine | Sydney Theatre Company |
1999 | Henry V | King Henry V | Bell Shakespeare |
2007 | The Pillowman | Katurian | Melbourne Theatre Company |
2009 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Stanley Kowalski | Sydney Theatre Company |
Year | Award | Category | Subject | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama | The Secret Life of Us | Nominated |
2002 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama | Won | |
Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actor | Nominated | ||
AACTA Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | The Hard Word | Nominated | |
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
2003 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ned Kelly | Nominated |
2008 | AACTA Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | The Square | Nominated |
AACTA Awards | Best Original Screenplay (with Matthew Dabner) | Nominated | ||
2009 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Original Screenplay (with Matthew Dabner) | Won | ||
2010 | AACTA Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Animal Kingdom | Won |
2011 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | |
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actor | The Waiting City | Nominated | |
2012 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Fight (with Tom Hardy) | Warrior | Nominated |
2013 | AACTA Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Wish You Were Here | Nominated |
Australian Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | Won | ||
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actor | Won | ||
2014 | AACTA International Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | The Great Gatsby | Nominated |
AACTA Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | ||
Australian Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
2015 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actor | Felony | Nominated |
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Hollywood Film Awards | Breakthrough Actor | Black Mass | Won | |
2016 | AACTA International Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | |
Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Virtuosos Award | Won | ||
Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film | The Gift | Nominated | |
Austin Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Loving | Nominated | |
Boston Society of Film Critics | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Detroit Film Critics Society | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Florida Film Critics Circle | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Gotham Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Indiewire Critics' Poll | Best Actor | 6th place | ||
San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
San Francisco Film Critics Circle | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Satellite Awards | Best Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
St. Louis Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Utah Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Village Voice Film Poll | Best Lead Performance | 6th place | ||
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Women Film Critics Circle | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
2017 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | |
AACTA International Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
North Carolina Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
2018 | AACTA Awards | Best Film | Boy Erased | Nominated |
Best Direction | Nominated | |||
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | |||
Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |||
Best International Supporting Actor | Nominated | |||
2019 | AACTA Awards | Best Film | The King | Nominated |
Best Screenplay | Nominated | |||
Best Supporting Actor | Won | |||
Best International Film | Nominated | |||
With David Michôd he has written King, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Parts I & II, and Henry V, for Warner Bros.
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