Joel Edgerton (born 23 June 1974) is an Australian actor and filmmaker. He is known for his portrayal of Will McGill on the first two seasons of the Australian drama series The Secret Life of Us (2001–02), and for playing Owen Lars in the Star Wars films Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005), a role he reprised in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). For his portrayal of Richard Loving in the 2016 historical drama Loving, he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture.
Joel Edgerton | |
|---|---|
 Edgerton in 2017 | |
| Born | 23 June 1974 |
| Alma mater | University of Western Sydney |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Partner(s) | Christine Centenera (2018–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Nash Edgerton (brother) |
In Australia, Edgerton won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor for his work on The Secret Life of Us. He has appeared in several Australian films, such as The Square (2008), Animal Kingdom (2010; for which he received the AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor), Wish You Were Here (2012), and Felony (2013). Edgerton's other film appearances include King Arthur (2004), Warrior (2011), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), The Great Gatsby (2013), Black Mass (2015), Bright (2017), Red Sparrow (2018), The Green Knight (2021), The Stranger, Thirteen Lives, and Master Gardener (all 2022), and The Boys in the Boat (2023). He has also starred in the Amazon Prime miniseries The Underground Railroad in 2021 and the Apple TV+ science fiction series Dark Matter in 2024.
For his work on The Gift (2015), a thriller he wrote, directed, co-produced, and in which he co-starred, Edgerton received critical acclaim and a nomination for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directing. In 2018, he wrote, directed and co-starred in the conversion therapy drama Boy Erased. The following year The King, which he co-wrote and starred in, was released by Netflix.
Early life
editEdgerton was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia[1] the son of Michael, a solicitor and property developer, and Marianne (née van Dort) Edgerton.[2][3] His mother is a Dutch immigrant, who was born in The Hague.[4][5] He graduated from The Hills Grammar School in 1991. He attended the Nepean Drama School at the University of Western Sydney,[6] before moving on to various stage productions, including at Sydney Theatre Company.
Career
edit
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)[7] and reprised the role in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.[8] 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 appeared in Smokin' Aces (2006).[9]
Edgerton appeared in the film Whisper (2007),[10] The Square (which he co-wrote and was directed by his brother Nash Edgerton), Acolytes, and Separation City.[11] In 2009, he starred alongside as Stanley in the Sydney Theatre Company's acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire.[12] He appeared in a production of the same play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in December 2009.[13] 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 film Warrior (2011).[14][15]
In February 2010, Edgerton was cast in Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.'s 2011 prequel to The Thing,[16] portraying helicopter pilot Sam Carter.[17] 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.[18]
In 2013, it was revealed that Edgerton and David Michôd had collaborated on writing an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henriad" plays, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2 and Henry V, for Warner Bros. Pictures.[19][20][21]
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 and grossed 60 million with a budget of 5 million.[22] He co-starred in the 2015 film Black Mass as John Connolly, FBI contact and childhood friend of notorious gangster Whitey Bulger.[23]
In 2016, he starred in the Jeff Nichols films Midnight Special[24] and Loving,[25] and in 2017, he starred in the film Bright as Officer Nick Jacoby, an orc who is a police officer. He will reprise the character in the sequel along with Will Smith, directed by Louis Leterrier for Netflix.[26]
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.[27] In March 2018, Edgerton joined the cast of the film.[28]
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, it was announced that a new film, The Unknown Man, directed by Thomas M. Wright, would begin filming in South Australia as soon as enough of the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.[29][30][31][32] It was released in 2022 as The Stranger. In September 2020, Edgerton was tapped to star in and executive produce limited series The Florida Man based on a novel of the same name by Tom Cooper.[33]
In 2021, Edgerton starred in the medieval fantasy film The Green Knight written and directed by David Lowery.[34][35]
In 2024, Edgerton guest starred in the Bluey episode "The Sign", voicing a German Shepherd policeman.
Philanthropy
editEdgerton 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.[36] In 2012, he visited Nepal, where he saw sight restored first hand.[37] 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.[38] The Fred Hollows Foundation is an international non-profit organization which educates and provides equipment for undersupported surgeons to help cure avoidable blindness.
Personal life
editEdgerton's brother, Nash, is a stuntman and filmmaker. Both he and his brother are a part of the Australian film collective Blue-Tongue Films.[39] Nash directed Joel in 2018's Gringo.
Joel was in a relationship with Olympic Gold medalist Cathy Freeman from 2003 to 2005.
In 2018, Edgerton began a relationship with Christine Centenera, editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia.[40][41] They have known each other since the late 1990s.[42] Their twins were born in May 2021.[43]
Filmography
editActing roles
editFilm
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Police Rescue | Andy | Episode: "Wild Card" |
| 1995–1997 | Spellbinder | Bazza | 2 episodes |
| 1996–1999 | Water Rats | Pete Crosby / 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 |
| 2024 | Bluey | Policeman | Voice role, Episode: "The Sign" |
| Dark Matter | Jason Dessen | Lead role |
Filmmaking credits
editShort film
| Year | Title | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Loaded | No | Yes |
| 1998 | Bloodlock | Yes | Yes |
| 2001 | The Pitch | Yes | No |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Square | No | Yes | Executive |
| 2013 | Felony | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2014 | The Rover | No | Story | No |
| 2015 | The Gift | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Stranger | No | No | Yes |
| TBA | Wizards! | No | Story | No |
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Role | Production company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Blackrock | Toby | Sydney Theatre Company |
| 1996 | Dead White Males | ||
| 1997 | Third World Blues | Graham | |
| 1998 | Henry IV | Prince Hal | Bell Shakespeare |
| 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 |
Awards and nominations
editThis section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (March 2023) |
References
edit- ^ "Behind The Voice Actors: Joel Edgerton". Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ "Oh, brother". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "'Square' director, Nash Edgerton, likes keeping audiences on edge". Post-gazette.com. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "Joel Edgerton And Nash Edgerton Talk 'Gringo' and Being Best of Friends – Interviews – Articles". cinemovie.tv.
- ^ "Ashburn House Spring newsletter 2015". Issuu. 27 September 2015.
- ^ "The Secret Life of Us: profiles". Australian Television. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ Biography for Joel Edgerton at IMDb
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (29 March 2021). "'Obi-Wan Kenobi' To Start Production in April; Disney+ Series Cast Includes Joel Edgerton Returning To 'Star Wars' Franchise". Deadline. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ ""Smokin Aces" Movie Photo: Jeremy Piven and Joel Edgerton". About.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ "Whisper Web site". Archived from the original on 8 June 2007.
- ^ "Separation City". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
- ^ "A Streetcar Named Desire". Sydneytheatre.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (3 December 2009). "NY Times article on A Streetcar Named Desire". Theater.nytimes.com. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ +theTime+ (8 February 2010). "'The Thing' Has Found Its First Two Hosts". Bloody-disgusting.com. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ Hassan, Genevieve (21 September 2011). "Can Warrior pack a punch in the UK?". BBC. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "Lead Joel Edgerton Talks The Thing Prequel". Dreadcentral.com. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "The Thing Star Joel Edgerton Puts Remake or Prequel Argument to Rest". Dreadcentral.com. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "Breakthrough & Heath Ledger Scholarship Winners". Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- ^ Davies, Luke (June 2013). "Joel Edgerton after Gatsby". The Monthly. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
With David Michôd he has written King, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts I & II, and Henry V, for Warner Bros.
- ^ Wood, Stephanie (26 July 2014). "Australian actor Joel Edgerton hits the Hollywood big time". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (3 September 2016). "Joel Edgerton Talks 'Game of Thrones' Meets Shakespeare Project With David Michôd, 'Jane Got A Gun,' And More". Indiewire.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "The Gift (2015) (2015) – Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (28 February 2014). "Warner Bros. Boards Johnny Depp's 'Black Mass' But Kiboshes Ben Affleck & Matt Damon's Whitey Bulger Pic". IndieWire.com. IndieWire. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (27 June 2013). "Joel Edgerton Eyes Jeff Nichols Film at Warners (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ Sullivan, Kevin P. (26 October 2015). "First photo from Loving with Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga debuts". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (5 May 2020). "Louis Leterrier Making Netflix Deal To Direct Will Smith & Joel Edgerton In 'Bright 2'". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (8 February 2018). "Timothee Chalamet To Play King Henry V in David Michôd Netflix Film 'The King". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (22 March 2018). "Joel Edgerton Joins Timothee Chalamet in Netflix Drama 'The King'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "Joel Edgerton Thriller 'The Unknown Man' To Shoot In South Australia". Glam Adelaide. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ "Crime thriller The Unknown Man to be filmed in SA". InDaily. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ "Work in the Screen Industry". SAFC. 19 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (20 April 2020). "Joel Edgerton's 'The Unknown Man' Heads for South Australia Shoot". Variety. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (21 September 2020). "Joel Edgerton To Star In & EP 'Florida Man' Limited Series Based On Novel For Anonymous Content". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Edwards, Molly (23 September 2021). "The Green Knight: Dev Patel and Joel Edgerton talk starring in David Lowery's adaptation of the Arthurian tale". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Joanna (30 July 2021). "The Green Knight's Ending, Explained". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Charity worker is Joel Edgerton's new role".
- ^ "An actor who doesn't want to be famous". Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ "Joel Edgerton's Philanthropic Journey in Nepal".
- ^ "'It Comes at Night': Why A24 Took a Gamble on a New Filmmaker's Ambitious Horror Vision". 9 June 2017.
- ^ Galloway, Stephen; Belloni, Matthew (18 January 2016). "Watch THR's Full, Uncensored Actor Roundtable With Will Smith, Mark Ruffalo and More – Actor Oscar Roundtable". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ Galloway, Stephen; Belloni, Matthew. "Will Smith, Mark Ruffalo and Four More A-List Actors on Hollywood Racism, Aging and ... Peeing in Sinks?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ Madsen, Anders Christian (11 April 2020). "How Christine Centenera Created A Label That's Loved By Rosie, Hailey and Gigi". British Vogue. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Joel Edgerton and wife Christine Centenera welcomed TWINS". msn.com. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (2 May 2024). "Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, Clifton Collins Jr. Join Black Bear's Denis Johnson Adaptation 'Train Dreams' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
External links
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