Andrew Garfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrew Garfield
Garfield in 2023
Born	Andrew Russell Garfield (1983-08-20) 20 August 1983 (age 41) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Citizenship	United Kingdom United States
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2004–present
Awards	Full list

Andrew Russell Garfield (born August 20, 1983) is a talented actor who holds both English and American citizenship. He became widely known for playing Spider-Man in the superhero movies The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).

Before becoming Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield gained attention for his role in Boy A (2007). He also played Eduardo Saverin in the movie The Social Network (2010), which is about the early days of Facebook. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor twice. Once for his role as Desmond Doss in the war film Hacksaw Ridge (2016), and again for playing Jonathan Larson in the musical drama Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021). He even won a Golden Globe Award for Tick, Tick... Boom!.

His other notable films include Never Let Me Go (2010) and Silence (2016). On television, he starred as a detective in the crime drama miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven (2022). Andrew Garfield has also performed on stage, making his Broadway debut in Death of a Salesman (2012). He won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in Angels in America in 2018.

Early Life and Background

Andrew Russell Garfield was born in Los Angeles, California, on August 20, 1983. His mother, Lynn, was from England, and his father, Richard, was from California. Andrew's parents moved their family to the United Kingdom when he was three years old, and he grew up in Epsom, Surrey.

Andrew's family has Jewish roots on his father's side. His grandparents came to London from countries like Poland, Russia, and Romania. The family's original last name was "Garfinkel". In 2025, Andrew learned more about his Jewish heritage on a British TV show.

His parents ran a small business that designed interiors. His mother also worked as a teaching assistant, and his father became a swimming coach. Andrew has an older brother who is a doctor. When he was younger, Andrew enjoyed gymnastics and swimming. He first thought about studying business, but at age 16, a friend encouraged him to try theatre studies. He went on to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. His first job was at a Starbucks coffee shop.

Career Highlights

Starting Out and Gaining Attention (2004–2011)

Andrew Garfield at a film festival in 2009.

Andrew Garfield started acting classes in England when he was nine. He appeared in a youth theatre play called Bugsy Malone. After finishing drama school in 2004, he began working mostly in theatre. He won awards for his stage performances, including one for his role in Kes in 2004.

In 2005, he made his TV debut in the show Sugar Rush. He gained more public attention in 2007 when he appeared in two episodes of the popular BBC show Doctor Who. He also made his first American film appearance in Lions for Lambs (2007), starring alongside famous actors like Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep.

In November 2007, Andrew starred in the Channel 4 drama Boy A. He played a young man trying to start a new life after being in prison. This role earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in 2008. Critics praised his sensitive and detailed performance. In 2009, he had supporting roles in the film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and the TV series Red Riding.

With Justin Timberlake at an event for The Social Network in 2010.

In 2010, Andrew Garfield starred in the science-fiction drama Never Let Me Go, based on a popular novel. He played a character named Tommy D. He said he was drawn to the film because it asked big questions about life. His performance earned him a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor.

The same year, he co-starred in The Social Network, a movie about the creation of Facebook. Andrew played Eduardo Saverin, one of the co-founders. The film's director, David Fincher, felt Andrew's ability to show deep emotions made him perfect for the role of Saverin. Andrew's performance was highly praised, and he received many nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination. Critics called his performance "phenomenal" and said he was the "soul of a film."

Becoming Spider-Man and Global Fame (2012–2016)

Andrew Garfield at San Diego Comic-Con in 2011.

Andrew Garfield was chosen to play Spider-Man in the new movie series, starting with The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). He starred alongside Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. Andrew felt it was a big challenge to make the character feel real and new. He had always looked up to Spider-Man since he was a child. To prepare, he studied how athletes and spiders move, and he practiced yoga and pilates. The movie was a big success worldwide, and many people liked his portrayal of Spider-Man. One critic even called him the "definitive Spider-Man."

In March 2012, Andrew also made his debut on Broadway in the play Death of a Salesman. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance. In 2014, he hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live. He also starred in and helped produce the drama 99 Homes (2014) and returned as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Later, the Spider-Man character was brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a new actor. Interestingly, two scientists named a new species of spider, Pritha garfieldi, after him because of his role!

After a short break from movies, Andrew Garfield starred in two major films in 2016: Martin Scorsese's drama Silence and Mel Gibson's war film Hacksaw Ridge. In Silence, he played a Portuguese priest in the 1600s who travels to Japan. Andrew spent a year studying to understand the role and lost a lot of weight for the character. Hacksaw Ridge was a big hit. In this film, Andrew played Desmond Doss, a real-life combat medic during World War II who refused to carry a weapon but saved many lives. He was the first conscientious objector to receive the highest military award, the Medal of Honor. Critics praised Andrew for bringing depth to the role, showing Doss's kindness and strong will. He received an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination for Hacksaw Ridge.

Continuing Success (2017–Present)

Andrew Garfield promoting Breathe in 2017.

In 2017, Andrew Garfield played Prior Walter in the play Angels in America in London. His performance was highly praised, with one critic saying he was "transformative" in the role. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.

His only film in 2017 was Breathe, where he played Robin Cavendish, a young man who became paralyzed by polio. Andrew worked closely with Cavendish's family to prepare for the role. In 2018, he brought his role as Prior Walter in Angels in America to Broadway. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for this performance, which critics called the "persuasive moral core" of the play.

In 2018, Andrew's film Under the Silver Lake premiered. He played Sam, a young man looking for his missing neighbor. In 2020, he starred in Mainstream.

Andrew Garfield in 2024.

In 2021, Andrew starred in The Eyes of Tammy Faye and played composer Jonathan Larson in the film Tick, Tick... Boom!. He had never sung professionally before but trained for the role. This performance earned him a Golden Globe Award and another Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. Also in 2021, Andrew surprised many by returning as Spider-Man in the Marvel movie Spider-Man: No Way Home, joining the other Spider-Man actors. He said it was a "joyful" experience that gave him "closure" with his character.

In 2022, Time magazine included Andrew Garfield on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He also starred in the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven as a detective. His performance earned him an Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 2024, Andrew starred in the romance film We Live in Time with Florence Pugh. He is also set to appear in the thriller After the Hunt and a family film called The Magic Faraway Tree.

Personal Life and Interests

Andrew Garfield has described himself as having his own spiritual beliefs. He holds dual citizenship for both the United States and the United Kingdom. He has said he feels "equally at home" in both countries. Andrew's main home is in North London, England, which he considers home because his family and friends are there. He is also a fan of basketball.

Andrew usually talks about his work in interviews but prefers to keep details about his private life to himself. He has spoken openly about his grief after his mother passed away in 2021, sharing his feelings on TV shows.

In 2011, Andrew became an ambassador for the Worldwide Orphans Foundation, which helps children around the world. In 2023, he signed an open letter asking for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, showing his support for the people of Palestine. He has also spoken about his views on the capitalist system and consumerism.

Acting Credits

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	Boy A	Jack Burridge
	Lions for Lambs	Todd Hayes
2008	Other Boleyn Girl, TheThe Other Boleyn Girl	Francis Weston	Scenes cut; credit only
2009	Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, TheThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus	Anton
2010	I'm Here	Sheldon	Short film
	Never Let Me Go	Tommy D
	Social Network, TheThe Social Network	Eduardo Saverin
2012	Amazing Spider-Man, TheThe Amazing Spider-Man	Peter Parker / Spider-Man
2014	Amazing Spider-Man 2, TheThe Amazing Spider-Man 2
	99 Homes	Dennis Nash
2016	Hacksaw Ridge	Desmond Doss
	Silence	Sebastião Rodrigues
2017	Breathe	Robin Cavendish
2018	Under the Silver Lake	Sam
2020	Mainstream	Link	Also producer
2021	The Eyes of Tammy Faye	Jim Bakker
	Tick, Tick... Boom!	Jonathan Larson
	Spider-Man: No Way Home	Peter Parker / Spider-Man
2024	We Live in Time	Tobias
2025	After the Hunt	Henrik	Post-production
TBA	The Magic Faraway Tree	Tim

Television

Theatre

Discography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Andrew Garfield para niños

• Pritha garfieldi, a spider named after Garfield