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Nicholas Hoult
A young, Caucasian man with short, dark hair and facial stubble wearing a black tuxedo jacket paired with a white pocket square, a white shirt with black buttons and a black bow tie, as he looks directly into the camera.
Hoult in 2024
Born
Nicholas Caradoc Hoult

(1989-12-07) 7 December 1989 (age 35)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1996 (1996)–present
Works
Full list
Spouse(s) Bryana Holly (2016–present)
Children 2
Relatives Anna Neagle (grand-aunt)
Awards Full list

Nicholas Caradoc Hoult (born December 7, 1989) is an English actor. He has won several awards and nominations. These include nominations for a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Nicholas started acting at age three. His big break came at 11 when he played Marcus in About a Boy (2002). At 17, he starred as Tony Stonem in the British TV series Skins (2007–2008). This role helped him move from being a child star to playing more complex characters.

He returned to TV years later as Emperor Peter III of Russia in The Great (2020–2023). His well-known films include X-Men: First Class (2011) and its sequels, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Favourite (2018), The Menu (2022), and Renfield (2023).

Nicholas Hoult also uses his voice for characters. He has narrated audiobooks and voiced characters in video games and animated films. For example, he was Elliot in Fable III (2010) and Ace in Underdogs (2013). He also voiced Jon Arbuckle in The Garfield Movie (2024).

In 2009, he acted in the play New Boy in London. Forbes magazine included him in their "30 Under 30" list in 2012. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Early Life and Education

Nicholas Caradoc Hoult was born on December 7, 1989, in Wokingham, England. His mother, Glenis, was a piano teacher. His father, Roger, was a commercial pilot. His middle name, Caradoc, means "beloved one." His great-aunt, Anna Neagle, was a famous actress in the 1930s and 1940s. Nicholas has three siblings: James, Rosanna, and Clarista.

Nicholas grew up in Sindlesham, a village near Wokingham. His older siblings loved acting and dancing. Nicholas often went with them to classes and auditions. This made him interested in acting too. He described his childhood as "pretty outdoorsy" and "normal." He enjoyed playing outside and building tree houses.

He went to The Coombes Infant and Nursery School. Then he attended Arborfield Church of England Junior School.

Ballet and Acting Training

Nicholas also loved ballet when he was young. He danced with famous companies in shows like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. At age 12, in 2002, he decided to focus on acting. He then joined the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

At first, acting was just a hobby for him. He told The Daily Telegraph that he "just enjoyed it." He compared it to playing for a football team. It was an "exciting new world" where he met new people.

At 14, he left Sylvia Young Theatre School. He went to Ranelagh School in Bracknell. In 2006, he studied English Literature, Biology, and Psychology at Farnborough Sixth Form College. While studying, he got the role of Tony Stonem in Skins. After the first season, he left school to focus on acting full-time.

Nicholas also played the trombone and sang in his local choir. He played basketball for the Reading Rockets team. Later, he became an ambassador for the club.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles (1996–2005)

Nicholas Hoult was discovered at age three by a theater director. The director saw him in a play with his brother. He was impressed by Nicholas's focus. Nicholas got a role in the play The Caucasian Chalk Circle. At age five, he was cast in his first film, Intimate Relations (1996).

He also appeared in TV shows like Casualty, Silent Witness, and The Bill. Nicholas saw acting as a fun activity, not a career.

His next big film was About a Boy (2002). He played Marcus, a lonely schoolboy. Nicholas was not sure about auditioning at first because it took a long time. But he got the part. The film was a huge success, earning over $130 million. Critics praised Nicholas's performance.

After About a Boy, Nicholas went to Sylvia Young Theatre School. He found it hard to adjust and preferred regular school. He still did not want to be a professional actor.

He then appeared in Wah-Wah (2005) and The Weather Man (2005). These films did not do well at the box office.

Skins and Stage Debut (2006–2010)

In 2006, Nicholas was cast as Tony Stonem in Skins. He was unsure about playing Tony, who was a tricky and self-centered character. The show became very popular. Nicholas's performance was well-received, and he gained a lot of attention. Skins won a BAFTA award. Nicholas was nominated for a Golden Nymph Award for Best Actor.

During Skins, Nicholas felt overwhelmed by the attention. He even thought about quitting acting. Instead, he left school after the first season to focus only on acting.

He made his West End theatre debut in the play New Boy in 2009. The play sold many tickets, partly because of Nicholas's popularity from Skins. He also filmed Clash of the Titans (2010), which earned nearly $500 million worldwide.

Nicholas then starred in A Single Man (2009). He played Kenny Potter, a college student who helps a grieving professor. This was his first adult role. He worked on his American accent for the part. The film was a success. Nicholas was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2010. In 2010, he voiced Elliot in the video game Fable III.

X-Men and Mad Max Success (2011–2016)

Nicholas was cast as Hank McCoy / Beast in the X-Men film series. He prepared by studying the character and gaining weight. He also learned to speak like Kelsey Grammer, who played Beast before him. The first film, X-Men: First Class (2011), was praised by critics.

He then played Nux in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). For this role, he shaved his head and followed a strict diet. He also performed many stunts. The film was a huge success, earning over $378 million. Critics praised Nicholas's "fabulously unhinged" performance. In 2012, Forbes magazine included him in their "30 Under 30" list.

In 2013, Nicholas starred in Warm Bodies, a romantic comedy about a zombie. He played R, a zombie who falls in love. He prepared by practicing with performers from Cirque du Soleil. Critics liked his performance.

His next film, Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), did not do well. He played the hero, Jack. In 2014, he appeared in the science-fiction film Young Ones. He played Flem Lever in a future world where water is scarce.

Nicholas returned as Beast in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). He enjoyed playing the character, especially with the makeup. The film earned over $747 million, becoming his highest-grossing film at the time.

In 2015, he had three more films: Dark Places, and Equals. Equals was a romantic drama. Critics praised Nicholas and his co-star Kristen Stewart for their performances. He also returned for X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), which earned about $540 million worldwide.

Biographical and Independent Films (2017–2019)

In 2017, Nicholas starred in the action film Collide. It did not do well. He then starred in the romance drama Newness, about a couple who meet through online dating.

Nicholas also played real-life figures in biographical films. He played American author J. D. Salinger in Rebel in the Rye. He read Salinger's books and biographies to prepare. He found it challenging to play a character people had strong feelings about.

He co-starred in The Current War, playing Nikola Tesla. He grew a mustache and learned about science for the role. He also starred as an American soldier in Sand Castle, a war film released on Netflix.

In The Favourite (2018), a period drama about Anne, Queen of Great Britain, Nicholas played Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. He also voiced Fiver in the animated TV series Watership Down. In 2019, he played author J. R. R. Tolkien in the film Tolkien. He also reprised his role as Hank McCoy in Dark Phoenix.

The Great and Darker Roles (2020–2024)

In 2020, Nicholas began starring as Peter III of Russia in the comedy-drama series The Great on Hulu. Both the series and his performance received great reviews. He was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

In 2021, Nicholas played a villain in the thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead. He then starred in the black comedy film The Menu (2022), which received positive reviews. Nicholas also played the main role in the comedy-horror film Renfield (2023). In June 2023, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In 2024, Nicholas voiced Jon Arbuckle in The Garfield Movie. He also starred in the crime thriller The Order and the courtroom drama Juror #2. Nicholas also played Thomas Hutter in Nosferatu (2024).

Future Projects: Lex Luthor (2025)

Nicholas Hoult is set to appear as Lex Luthor in Superman (2025). Lex Luthor is the CEO of LuthorCorp and Superman's main enemy. Nicholas described Luthor as very focused and determined. He wanted the character to feel like a real threat to Superman.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Nicholas Hoult (47519169471) (cropped)
Hoult at the 2019 WonderCon

Nicholas Hoult lives in both London and Huntington Beach, California. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf. He also trains in jiu-jitsu and boxing. He is a big fan of Grand Prix motorcycle racing and Formula One. He has attended many Grand Prix events. In 2022, Nicholas graduated from Ferrari’s Corso Pilota driving school. He has competed in several Ferrari Challenge events. In 2024, he won the "Track Attack" at Watkins Glen.

Nicholas dated his X-Men: First Class co-star Jennifer Lawrence from 2010 to 2014.

He has two children with model Bryana Holly. They have been together since 2016. Their first child was born in 2018, and their second in 2022. Nicholas referred to Bryana Holly as his "wife" in November 2024.

Philanthropy and Charity Work

Tolkien (47014503684) (cropped)
Hoult in 2019

Nicholas Hoult supports many charities, especially those helping children. He was the first Young Person Ambassador for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). He supports their work for children and young people.

Since 2009, he has worked with the Teenage Cancer Trust. He visits patients and helps promote their campaigns, like "Shunburn" for sun safety. Nicholas designed sweaters for Save the Children's and Selfish Mother's "Christmas Jumper Day" campaign. He encouraged people to buy them to help children. He also donated shoes for an auction by Small Steps Project, which helps homeless children. In 2010, he was added to the NSPCC Hall of Fame.

Nicholas visited Nairobi, Kenya, for a Christian Aid project. He helped provide clean water and sanitation. He said it was "heart-breaking" to see the living conditions. In 2017, he took part in the Rickshaw Run. He drove a tuk tuk 3,000 km across India to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust and World Wide Fund for Nature. He also donated signed jeans to Jeans for Refugees, which helps refugees.

In 2020, he joined Charlize Theron for a screening of Mad Max: Fury Road to raise funds. In 2021, he supported Misan Harriman's campaign for Save the Children UK. This campaign raised awareness about changes children want, like reducing plastic and pollution. In 2022 and 2023, he supported Armani's Acqua for Life campaign for ocean preservation.

In 2025, Nicholas Hoult was named a Save the Children Ambassador. As part of this role, he visited a workshop in London. He talked with children about his role as Lex Luthor in the Superman film. He promoted values like compassion and responsibility. As an ambassador, Nicholas supports the organization's efforts in education, health, and child welfare worldwide.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Nicholas Hoult para niños

  • List of roles and awards of Nicholas Hoult
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