Aaron Taylor-Johnson

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Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron Taylor-Johnson SDCC 2014 (cropped).jpg
Taylor-Johnson at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con
Born
Aaron Perry Johnson

(1990-06-13) 13 June 1990 (age 31)
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
Other namesAaron Johnson
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active1996–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2012)​
Children2

Aaron Perry Taylor-Johnson (né Johnson; born 13 June 1990)[1][2] is an English[3] actor. He is best known for his portrayal of the title character in Kick-Ass (2010) and its 2013 sequel, and the Marvel Comics character Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Taylor-Johnson began performing at age six and has appeared in such films as Shanghai Knights (2003), The Illusionist (2006), The Thief Lord (2006), and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008).

He had his breakthrough performance in the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (2009). Taylor-Johnson went on to portray Ben in the Oliver Stone-directed crime thriller Savages (2012), Russian aristocrat Count Vronsky in Joe Wright's adaptation of Anna Karenina (2012), and Lt. Brody in Gareth Edwards' monster movie Godzilla (2014).

For his performance as psychopathic drifter Ray Marcus in Tom Ford's thriller Nocturnal Animals (2016), he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Taylor-Johnson later starred as military commander Ives in Christopher Nolan's spy action epic Tenet (2020). He will portray another Marvel character, Kraven the Hunter, in a 2023 standalone film as part of the Sony's Spider-Man Universe.

Early life[]

Aaron Perry Johnson was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire,[4] the son of Sarah and Robert Johnson, a housewife mother and civil engineer father, respectively.[2][5] He has a sister, Gemma, who appeared in a small role in his 2002 film Tom & Thomas.[6] He is Jewish.[7] He was educated at Holmer Green Senior School,[8] and attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe between 1996 and 2008, where he studied drama, tap, jazz, acrobatics, and singing.[9]

Career[]

Taylor-Johnson began acting at the age of six. On stage, he appeared in a London production of Shakespeare's Macbeth, playing the son of Macduff alongside Rufus Sewell, who played Macbeth, in 1999.[10] He appeared in Arthur Miller's All My Sons in 2000. His television roles have included Niker in the 2004 BBC adaptation of the novel Feather Boy, Aaron in Danny Brocklehurst's ITV1 serial Talk to Me, and Owen Stephens in Nearly Famous.[1] In 2003, Taylor-Johnson appeared as a young Charlie Chaplin in Shanghai Knights, with Chaplin depicted as a member of a London gang of street thugs. In 2006, he appeared in The Illusionist, appearing in the early flashback scenes as Edward Norton's character, Eduard Abramovicz, as a teenager. The scenes show the young Eduard as he first learns magic, and to do this, Johnson had to learn how to perform the ball trick displayed by his character. He learned how to perform the balancing of the egg on the stick, although that was effected mechanically.[11] Also in 2006, he starred in the film The Thief Lord, as Prosper.

Taylor-Johnson at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con promoting Godzilla

Taylor-Johnson appeared as John Lennon in the 2009 biographical film Nowhere Boy, directed by Sam Taylor-Wood. His performance saw him receive the Empire Award for Best Newcomer and he was also nominated for Young British Performer of the Year by the London Film Critics' Circle. In 2010, Taylor-Johnson appeared as David "Dave" Lizewski/Kick-Ass, the lead character in Kick-Ass, based on the superhero comic book of the same name by Scottish writer Mark Millar.[12][13] His performance in Kick-Ass saw him nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. He has also appeared as the central character, William, in Hideo Nakata's Chatroom.[1] In December 2010, Taylor-Johnson joined the cast of Albert Nobbs as a replacement for Orlando Bloom, who dropped out of the production due to his wife's pregnancy.[14] Taylor-Johnson starred in R.E.M.'s 2011 music video "Überlin", which was also directed by his then-fiancée.[15]

In 2012, Taylor-Johnson played Count Vronsky in Anna Karenina. Later that year, he starred as Ben in Oliver Stone's Savages. HitFix film critic Drew McWeeny was positive of the bond between Johnson and co-star Taylor Kitsch, which "seems not only credible but lived in and authentic throughout the film", and noted the evolution in maturity of Johnson since Kick-Ass.[16] Taylor-Johnson starred in the Godzilla reboot, released in May 2014.[17][18] Taylor-Johnson played Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), the sequel to 2012's The Avengers, as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[19] Taylor-Johnson first appeared as the character in a post-credits scene of the film Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).[20] The role reunited him with Elizabeth Olsen, who played his wife in Godzilla.[18][19]

In 2016, he played Ray, a menacing Texan, in Tom Ford's thriller Nocturnal Animals. For the role, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Taylor-Johnson also became first Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor winner since Richard Benjamin who did not receive an Academy Award nomination. For the role he also received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In 2017, he played an American soldier (alongside John Cena) in Doug Liman's thriller The Wall,[21] and in 2018, he appeared in Outlaw King, a British-American historical action drama about Robert the Bruce and the Wars of Scottish Independence. In May 2019, Taylor-Johnson was cast in Christopher Nolan's Tenet.[22]

Taylor-Johnson will star in the West End production of the play The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh at the Duke of York's Theatre, which is scheduled to take place in 2021.[23] He is also set to join the ensemble cast of Bullet Train, a film based on the novel Mariabītoru by Kōtarō Isaka.[24] In March 2021, Taylor-Johnson signed on as a co-star and producer on the biographical drama film , directed by his wife, Sam Taylor-Johnson.[25] In May 2021, Taylor-Johnson was cast as Kraven the Hunter, another Marvel character, to star in a standalone film set to be released in January 2023, as part of the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters.[26]

Personal life[]

Taylor-Johnson, with Sam Taylor-Johnson, in September 2010

Aaron Johnson began a relationship with director Sam Taylor-Wood, after meeting on the 2009 set of the film Nowhere Boy when he was 18 and she was 42.[27] They married at Babington House, Somerset, England on 21 June 2012.[28] The two subsequently changed their surnames to Taylor-Johnson.[29] The couple have two daughters, and he has two stepdaughters from his wife's previous marriage.[30]

Taylor-Johnson was named one of GQ's 50 best dressed British men in 2015.[31]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Key
Not yet released Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Director Notes
2000 The Apocalypse Johanan Raffaele Mertes
2002 Tom & Thomas Tom Sheppard / Thomas Esmé Lammers
2003 Behind Closed Doors Sam Goodwin Louis Caulfield
Shanghai Knights Charlie Chaplin David Dobkin
2004 Dead Cool George David Cohen
2006 The Thief Lord Prosper Richard Claus
The Illusionist Young Eisenheim Neil Burger
Fast Learners Neil Christoph Röhl Short film
The Best Man Michael (Aged 15) Stefan Schwartz
2007 The Magic Door Flip Paul Matthews
2008 Dummy Danny Matthew Thompson
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging Robbie Jennings Gurinder Chadha
2009 The Greatest Bennett Brewer Shana Feste
Nowhere Boy John Lennon Sam Taylor-Johnson
2010 Kick-Ass David "Dave" Lizewski / Kick-Ass Matthew Vaughn
Chatroom William Collins Hideo Nakata
2011 Albert Nobbs Joe Mackins Rodrigo García
2012 Savages Ben Oliver Stone
Anna Karenina Count Vronsky Joe Wright Final time credited as Aaron Johnson
2013 Kick-Ass 2 David "Dave" Lizewski / Kick-Ass Jeff Wadlow First time credited as Aaron Taylor-Johnson
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver Anthony and Joe Russo Uncredited cameo
Godzilla Lt. Ford Brody Gareth Edwards
2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver Joss Whedon
2016 Nocturnal Animals Ray Marcus Tom Ford
2017 The Wall Sgt. Allen "Ize" Isaac Doug Liman
2018 Outlaw King James Douglas, Lord of Douglas David Mackenzie
A Million Little Pieces James Frey Sam Taylor-Johnson Also writer
2020 Tenet Ives Christopher Nolan
2021 The King's ManNot yet released Lee Unwin Matthew Vaughn Completed
2022 Bullet Train Not yet released Tangerine David Leitch Post-production
2023 Kraven the HunterNot yet released Sergei Kravinoff / Kraven the Hunter J.C. Chandor In development
TBA Rothko Not yet released Sam Taylor-Johnson Also producer; filming

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Armadillo Young Lorimer Black
2003 The Bill Zac Clough Episode: "162"
2004 Family Business Paul Sullivan 1 episode
Feather Boy Niker 3 episodes
2006 I Shouldn't Be Alive Mark 4 episodes
Casualty Joey Byrne Episode: "Silent Ties"
2007 Talk to Me Aaron 4 episodes
Coming Up Eoin Episode: "99,100"
Nearly Famous Owen Stephens 6 episodes
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars Finch Television film

Video games[]

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Kick-Ass: The Game Kick-Ass (voice)

Awards and nominations[]

Year Association Work Category Result
2009 30th London Film Critics Circle Awards Nowhere Boy and Dummy Young British Performer of the Year Nominated
12th British Independent Film Awards Nowhere Boy Best Actor Nominated
2010 15th Empire Awards Best Newcomer Won
2010 Scream Awards Kick-Ass Best Breakout Performance - Male Nominated
Best Fantasy Actor Nominated
Best Superhero Nominated
2010 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Male Breakout Star Nominated
2011 16th Empire Awards Best Actor Nominated
64th British Academy Film Awards Rising Star Award Nominated
2012 2012 EDA Awards Anna Karenina Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction (shared with Keira Knightley) Nominated
2016 21st San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Nocturnal Animals Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2017 74th Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Won
32nd Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award Won
70th British Academy Film Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Gray, Sadie. "The Times: Entertainment". The Times. London. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Aaron Johnson profile". Uk-tv-guide.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  3. ^ Rafanelli, Stephanie (8 May 2014). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson: 'I was raised by women. Now I'm raising women. And Sam's the best woman I know'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 May 2020. 'I went into the audition looking like a nerd. My hair was really crazy, curly and wacky. Then they got me to meet Matthew. At the end, when I finally admitted I was English, he said. "Nah, your accent’s not that good." I was like, "Dude. I'm from High Wycombe."'
  4. ^ "Aaron Johnson biography". The New York Times. Baseline. All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  5. ^ Maher, Kevin (3 October 2009). "Aaron Johnson: Beatle mania". The Times. London. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  6. ^ Gavilanes, Grace (8 July 2012). "10 Things to Know About Aaron Johnson".
  7. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (23 April 2015). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson: 'Changing my name felt beautiful'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2015. He liked it recently when someone said he resembled a fashionable Hasidic Jew. "That was nice because I have really curly hair and also I'm Jewish," he explains.
  8. ^ "Hgss.co.uk". Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
  9. ^ Cain, Rebecca (3 January 2010). "Another successful year for the Jackie Palmer Stage School and agency". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  10. ^ "Sewell to Return to Stage in Macbeth". Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  11. ^ Writer/director Neil Burger explains this on the film's DVD commentary.
  12. ^ "Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news". Aintitcool.com. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  13. ^ Gholson, John (2 May 2011). "'Kick-Ass' Kicks Ass at BNAT – The Moviefone Blog". Scifisquad.com. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  14. ^ Sneider, Jeff (6 December 2010). "Aaron Johnson Joins Mia Wasikowska in 'Albert Nobbs'". Thewrap.com. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Watch REM's Uberlin, starring Aaron Johnson – video". The Guardian. London. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  16. ^ McWeeny, Drew (30 June 2012). "Review: Oliver Stone turns Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, and Blake Lively into 'Savages'". HitFix. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  17. ^ Kroll, Justin (6 February 2013). "Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston circling 'Godzilla'". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Gettell, Oliver (25 February 2014). "'Godzilla' trailer: Bryan Cranston panics, destruction rains down". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Official: Elizabeth Olsen & Aaron Taylor-Johnson Join 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'". Marvel. 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  20. ^ Milly, Jenna (14 March 2014). "'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' premiere: Crossover is the word". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  21. ^ Kroll, Justin (9 May 2016). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Eyed for Lead in Doug Liman's 'The Wall' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  22. ^ Hipes, Patrick (22 May 2019). "Christopher Nolan's New Movie Gets A Title, Final Cast As Shooting Begins". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  23. ^ Gans, Andrew (5 June 2020). "West End Staging of Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman, Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Steve Pemberton, Postponed". Playbill. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  24. ^ McNary, Dave (22 October 2020). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins Brad Pitt on 'Bullet Train' at Sony". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  25. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (5 March 2021). "'Rothko': Sam Taylor-Johnson To Direct Art-World Drama With Russell Crowe, Aisling Franciosi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, More — EFM Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  26. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (26 May 2021). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Play Spider-Man Villain Kraven the Hunter in Solo Movie". TheWrap. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  27. ^ Jessen, Monique; Chi, Paul (3 May 2010). "She's Having His Baby!". People. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  28. ^ Buchanan, Kyle (22 June 2012). "Aaron Johnson, Sam Taylor-Wood Marry". Vulture. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  29. ^ Shira, Dahvi (22 June 2012). "Aaron Johnson Marries Sam Taylor-Wood". People. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  30. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (23 April 2015). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson: 'Changing my name felt beautiful'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  31. ^ "50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2015". GQ. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015.

External links[]

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