Alex Lawther

Alex Lawther
Born 1995 (age 21)[1]
Petersfield, Hampshire, England [2]
Nationality English
Education Churcher's College[3]
Occupation Actor
Known for The Imitation Game, X+Y
Relatives

Alex Lawther (born 1995) is an English actor who has performed in film, television, theatre and radio. He is best known for portraying the young Alan Turing (Turing as an adult is played by Benedict Cumberbatch) in the Oscar-winning film The Imitation Game (2014).[6][7][8] The role won him the London Film Critics' Circle Award for "Young British Performer of the Year" in January 2015.[9]

Early life

The youngest of three, Lawther has said that his aspiration to be an actor came from having to make up his own games to entertain himself as a child.[10] His parents both work in law;[11] however, Lawther’s oldest brother, Cameron Lawther, is a film producer (X-Men: First Class, World War Z, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). In 2010, Cameron and Alex worked together in The Fear; the former producing and the latter acting. A similar set up will be seen in the upcoming picture Yussef is Complicated. Alex's sister, Ellie, works in neuroscience.[12]

In 2009, Lawther wrote and put together an amateur play entitled Rejected Fairy Tales[13] as part of a drama club project at Churcher's College. During his school productions, Lawther also played Ratty in The Wind in the Willows.[14]

Lawther did not study drama at GCSE or A level.[15] Until his first professional acting performance, Alex was set to study History at King's College London.[16]

The actor's professional debut came at the age of sixteen[17] when he appeared as John Blakemore in David Hare's South Downs at Chichester Festival Theatre. Alex made his feature-film debut in The Imitation Game.[18]

In 2015, Lawther appeared in a supporting role in the critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama film X+Y, alongside Asa Butterfield, Sally Hawkins, Rafe Spall and Eddie Marsan.

Selected credits

Theatre

Year Play Role Venue
2011 South Downs John Blakemore Chichester Festival Theatre[19]
2012 South Downs John Blakemore Harold Pinter Theatre[20]
2013 Fault Lines Ryan Hampstead Theatre[21]
2014 The Glass Supper Jamie Hampstead Theatre[22]
October 2015 Crushed Shells and Mud Derek Southwark Playhouse[23]

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2013 Benjamin Britten: Peace and Conflict Benjamin Britten[24] "Documentary-Drama"
2014 The Imitation Game Young Alan Turing Nominated - BFI London Film Festival Award for "Best British Newcomer"[25]

Winner - London Film Critics' Circle Award for "Young British Performer of the Year" [26]

2014 X+Y Isaac Cooper[27]
2015/2016? Departure Elliot [28]
2016 Freak Show Billy Bloom Filming

Television

Year Program Role Notes
2014 Holby City Fred Bamber Series 16; Episode 38 of 52[29]
2016 (?) (Pilot shot Spring 2015[30]) Virtuoso [31] Battista Gallo [32]

Radio

Year Program Role Notes
2013 South Downs (Radio Adaptation) John Blakemore
2014 How to Say Goodbye Properly Toby[33]
2014 Rock Me Amadeus Charlie[34] BBC Radio 4[35]
2015 Decline and Fall[36] Peter

Miscellaneous

Lawther has been praised by Dame Maggie Smith for his work: "Most of us spend our lives trying to do what you've achieved," she is reported to have said.[37]

The actor often kayaks down Camden Lock in his spare time with co-star, Amanda Fairbank-Hynes.[38] He also spends most of his money on books and theatre and film tickets.[39]

Following a performance in South Downs, Lawther went out to dinner with co-star, Anna Chancellor, who asked if she could bring along a friend. Highly acclaimed actor Ben Whishaw then stepped through the door.[40] Whishaw is an idol to Alex, and the Evening Standard has even likened the two performers.[41]

References

  1. ↑ Bellotti, Alex. "Teenage prodigy Alex Lawther following footsteps of Ben Whishaw and Benedict Cumberbatch". Ham & High. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "25 Under 25s to Look Out For".
  3. ↑ "Old Churcherian Alex Lawther has continued to enjoy a successful and varied acting career since leaving Churcher’s". Churcher's College.
  4. ↑ cite web| name=Actor Profile|url= https://katiestrick.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/profile-alex-lawther/
  5. ↑ cite web| name=Actor Profile|url= https://katiestrick.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/profile-alex-lawther/
  6. ↑ Bellotti, Alex. "Teenage prodigy Alex Lawther following footsteps of Ben Whishaw and Benedict Cumberbatch". Ham & High. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Zakarin, Jordan. "Meet the Actor Who Plays a Young Benedict Cumberbatch in 'The Imitation Game'". Yahoo. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Barnard, Linda. "Alex Lawther’s performance as teen Turing gave director goosebumps". The Star. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "‘Boyhood’ Wins at U.K. Critics’ Awards as U.S. Talent Triumphs". Variety.
  10. ↑ http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/teenage_prodigy_alex_lawther_following_footsteps_of_ben_whishaw_and_benedict_cumberbatch_1_3656007
  11. ↑ http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/teenage_prodigy_alex_lawther_following_footsteps_of_ben_whishaw_and_benedict_cumberbatch_1_3656007
  12. ↑ cite web| name=Actor Profile|url= https://katiestrick.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/profile-alex-lawther/
  13. ↑ http://m.chichester.co.uk/what-s-on/entertainment/first-class-debut-for-theatrical-whiz-kid-1-702310
  14. ↑ http://www.nouse.co.uk/2015/02/16/new-star-in-the-game/
  15. ↑ cite web| name=Actor Profile|url= https://katiestrick.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/profile-alex-lawther/
  16. ↑ cite web| name=Actor Profile|url= https://katiestrick.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/profile-alex-lawther/
  17. ↑ http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/teenage_prodigy_alex_lawther_following_footsteps_of_ben_whishaw_and_benedict_cumberbatch_1_3656007
  18. ↑ http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/teenage_prodigy_alex_lawther_following_footsteps_of_ben_whishaw_and_benedict_cumberbatch_1_3656007
  19. ↑ "South Downs/The Browning Version, Minerva Theatre, Chichester, review". The Telegraph.
  20. ↑ "South Downs/ The Browning Version, Harold Pinter Theatre - review". London Evening Standard.
  21. ↑ "Fault Lines Cast and Crew". Hampstead Theatre.
  22. ↑ "The Glass Supper, Hampstead Downstairs - theatre review". London Evening Standard.
  23. ↑ "Crushed Shells and Mud Official site". Southwark Playhouse.
  24. ↑ "Alex Lawther: Actor". The Stage.
  25. ↑ "Alex Lawther: Actor". British Film Institute.
  26. ↑ "Alex Lawther: Actor". The Critics Circle.
  27. ↑ "Alex Lawther: Actor". The Stage.
  28. ↑ "Alex Lawther: Actor". Peccadillo Pictures.
  29. ↑ "Holby City". BBC.
  30. ↑ "Hollywood Reporter".
  31. ↑ "Virtuoso".
  32. ↑ "Deadline:Virtuoso".
  33. ↑ "Afternoon Drama on BBC R4". BBC Radio 4.
  34. ↑ "Rock Me Amadeus". BBC Radio 4.
  35. ↑ "Rock Me Amadeus". BBC Radio 4.
  36. ↑ "Afternoon Drama".
  37. ↑ http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/teenage_prodigy_alex_lawther_following_footsteps_of_ben_whishaw_and_benedict_cumberbatch_1_3656007
  38. ↑ http://www.atgtickets.com/artists/alex-lawther/
  39. ↑ http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/teenage_prodigy_alex_lawther_following_footsteps_of_ben_whishaw_and_benedict_cumberbatch_1_3656007
  40. ↑ http://www.atgtickets.com/artists/alex-lawther/
  41. ↑ http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/teenage_prodigy_alex_lawther_following_footsteps_of_ben_whishaw_and_benedict_cumberbatch_1_3656007

External links

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