Joe Alwyn

Joseph Matthew Alwyn (born 21 February 1991) is an English actor. While studying English literature and drama at the University of Bristol, he performed in student productions at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Alwyn obtained a second degree in acting from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2015, and made his feature film debut as the titular character in Ang Lee's 2016 war drama Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. Throughout 2018 and 2019, he played supporting roles in the period comedy The Favourite, the historical drama Mary Queen of Scots, and the biopics Boy Erased and Harriet. He was awarded the Trophée Chopard at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. During his six-year romantic relationship with American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, Alwyn co-wrote and co-produced several of her songs under the pseudonym William Bowery. For his work on Swift's eighth studio album, Folklore (2020), he won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2021. Alwyn starred in three adaptations in 2022—the drama television series Conversations with Friends, the romantic thriller Stars at Noon, and the period comedy Catherine Called Birdy—and was included on Time's 100 Next list of rising stars. Early life and education Joseph Matthew Alwyn was born on 21 February 1991 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Raised in North London, Alwyn is the son of a psychotherapist mother and a documentary filmmaker father. He is the great-grandson of composer William Alwyn. Alwyn was educated at the City of London School. He briefly took guitar lessons, and was part of the school band called Anger Management. He later played football and rugby in school. Although an "introverted" child, Alwyn pursued a desire to become an actor. He auditioned for a small role in Love Actually, a 2003 Christmas romantic comedy film, but did not get the role. He became a member of the National Youth Theatre in his late teens. While pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English literature and drama at the University of Bristol, he acted in two student productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He graduated in 2012, and applied for four drama schools, but got rejected by all except one—the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, where he completed a BA in acting. During the third year of the course, Alwyn signed with an agent who had come across Alwyn at a student showcase.