Early Life and Education
Childhood and Family Background
Joseph Matthew Alwyn was born on February 21, 1991, in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Raised in North London, he is the son of a psychotherapist mother and a documentary filmmaker father. Alwyn is also the great-grandson of the composer William Alwyn.
Schooling and Early Interests
Alwyn attended the City of London School, where he took guitar lessons and was part of a school band called Anger Management. He also played football and rugby during his school years. Despite being an introverted child, Alwyn was drawn to acting from an early age. He auditioned for a minor role in the 2003 film Love Actually but did not get the part. In his late teens, he joined the National Youth Theatre.
Higher Education
Alwyn pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and drama at the University of Bristol, graduating in 2012. During his time at university, he participated in student productions at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He later attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he completed a BA in acting in 2015. During his third year, he signed with an agent after being spotted in a student showcase, which led to his casting in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
Acting Career
Breakthrough and Early Roles
In early 2015, Alwyn was cast in the lead role of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, directed by Ang Lee. The film, an adaptation of Ben Fountain’s novel, marked Alwyn’s feature film debut in 2016. Despite not fitting the typical casting profile for the role, Alwyn impressed Lee with his ability to convey the complexities of the character through facial expressions alone. His performance received praise for its naturalism, and the film was considered his breakout role.
Subsequent Film Roles
Alwyn’s subsequent roles included supporting parts in various films in 2018, such as Samuel Masham in The Favourite, Klaus Eichmann in Operation Finale, and Henry Wallace in Boy Erased. He also portrayed Robert Dudley in Mary Queen of Scots. In 2019, he played a slave owner in Harriet, a biographical drama about Harriet Tubman, and appeared as Bob Cratchit in the television miniseries A Christmas Carol.
Recent Projects
In 2021, Alwyn had roles in The Souvenir Part II and The Last Letter from Your Lover. In 2022, he starred in the Hulu drama series Conversations with Friends and appeared in the films Stars at Noon and Catherine Called Birdy. He is set to appear in the anthology film Kinds of Kindness and has roles in the upcoming films The Brutalist and Hamlet.
Music Contributions
Collaboration with Taylor Swift
While in a relationship with American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, Joseph Matthew Alwyn co-produced and co-wrote several of her songs under the pseudonym William Bowery. His contributions include “Exile” and “Betty” from Swift’s album Folklore, which won the Album of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He also co-wrote songs for her albums Evermore and Midnights.
Personal Life
Relationship with Taylor Swift
Joseph Matthew Alwyn was in a relationship with Taylor Swift from 2016 to 2023. The couple’s relationship was highly scrutinized by the media, and Alwyn has consistently maintained a private personal life. He lives near Vauxhall, London.
Filmography
Film Roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk | Billy Lynn | Feature film debut |
2017 | The Sense of an Ending | Adrian Finn | |
2018 | Operation Finale | Klaus Eichmann | |
The Favourite | Samuel Masham | ||
Boy Erased | Henry Wallace | ||
Mary Queen of Scots | Robert Dudley | ||
2019 | Harriet | Gideon Brodess | |
2020 | Miss Americana | Himself | Documentary |
2021 | The Souvenir Part II | Max | |
The Last Letter from Your Lover | Laurence Stirling | ||
2022 | Stars at Noon | Daniel DeHaven | |
Catherine Called Birdy | George | ||
2024 | Kinds of Kindness | TBA | Upcoming |
TBA | The Brutalist | TBA | Upcoming |
TBA | Hamlet | Laertes | In production |
Television Roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | A Christmas Carol | Bob Cratchit | Miniseries; three episodes |
2022 | Conversations with Friends | Nick Conway | Main role; 12 episodes |
Discography
Contributions to Taylor Swift’s Albums
Year | Album | Song | Credit |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Folklore | “Exile” | Co-writer |
“My Tears Ricochet” | Co-producer | ||
“August” | Co-producer | ||
“This Is Me Trying” | Co-producer | ||
“Illicit Affairs” | Co-producer | ||
“Betty” | Co-writer; co-producer | ||
2020 | Evermore | “Champagne Problems” | Co-writer |
“Coney Island” | Co-writer | ||
“Evermore” | Co-writer | ||
2022 | Midnights | “Sweet Nothing” | Co-writer |
Accolades
Awards and Nominations
Award | Year | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austin Film Critics Association | 2019 | Best Ensemble | The Favourite | Nominated |
BMI London Awards | 2021 | Most Performed Songs of the Year | “Betty” | Won |
2022 | Most Performed Songs of the Year | “Exile” | Won | |
Boston Society of Film Critics | 2018 | Best Cast | The Favourite | Runner-up |
Cannes Film Festival | 2018 | Trophée Chopard | Himself | Won |
Critics’ Choice Movie Awards | 2019 | Best Acting Ensemble | The Favourite | Won |
Detroit Film Critics Society | 2018 | Best Ensemble | The Favourite | Nominated |
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | 2018 | Best Ensemble | The Favourite | Won |
Georgia Film Critics Association | 2019 | Best Ensemble | The Favourite | Won |
Grammy Awards | 2021 | Album of the Year | Folklore | Won |
2022 | Album of the Year | Evermore | Nominated | |
International Cinephile Society | 2019 | Best Ensemble | The Favourite | Nominated |
New York Film Critics Online | 2018 | Best Ensemble Cast | The Favourite | Won |
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | 2018 | Best Ensemble | Boy Erased | Nominated |
Best Ensemble | The Favourite | Runner-up | ||
Satellite Awards | 2019 | Best Ensemble – Motion Picture | The Favourite | Won |
Seattle Film Critics Society | 2018 | Best Ensemble Cast | The Favourite | Nominated |
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2018 | Best Acting Ensemble | The Favourite | Won |
Women Film Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Ensemble | The Favourite | Nominated |
Joseph Matthew Alwyn has established himself as a talented actor with a diverse filmography and notable contributions to music. His career continues to evolve with upcoming projects and continued recognition in the entertainment industry.