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David Thewlis

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David Thewlis
Born
David Wheeler
SpouseSara Sugarman (1992-1993)
PartnerAnna Friel (2001-present)

David Thewlis (né Wheeler; born 20 March 1963) is an English film, television and stage actor, as well as a writer.

Early life

Thewlis, second of three children, was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, the son of Maureen (née Thewlis) and Alec Raymond Wheeler.[1] Both of his parents worked at his father's shop, which sold toys in the summer and wallpaper and paint in the winter.[1][2] As a teenager, he played in a rock band called QED, in which he, Cliff Ashcroft and Chris Swift wrote much of their own music and lyrics. QED played at some of the Blackpool Hotels to earn money for equipment and their first recording session at Storm Studios in Blackpool. Later, Thewlis played lead guitar with a punk-rock band called Door 66. As a musician he was "doing nicely, doing good" and did not want to be an actor. He enrolled in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London only because his friends did.[2]

Thewlis graduated in 1984. When he went to register with the actors union, he intended to use Wheeler as his stage name, but a "David Wheeler" already existed. His mother's maiden name was the first that came to mind.

Career

His first acting job was in a play entitled Buddy Holly at the Regal in Greenwich.[2] Thewlis' first major film role was as the rambling street philosopher Johnny in Naked (1993; dir. Mike Leigh), for which he was named best actor by the National Society of Film Critics (United States), the London Film Critics Circle, the Evening Standard, the New York Film Critics Circle and the Cannes Film Festival. Despite the dark nature of the film, he has been critically acclaimed for the role and it is seen as one of his best roles. The same year he appeared on television as the sexual predator James Jackson in Prime Suspect 3, opposite Helen Mirren and Ciaran Hinds. Prior to this Thewlis' first television appearance was alongside the Ken Jones in Valentine Park.

Through the 1990s, Thewlis appeared in a variety of films, mostly fantasy and period, including Restoration (1995), Black Beauty (1994), Total Eclipse (1995) with Leonardo DiCaprio, The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), Dragonheart (1996), and Seven Years in Tibet (1997), opposite Brad Pitt (because of this film, Thewlis is barred from entering China). He was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Divorcing Jack (1998), and played Clov in a (2000) television film of Samuel Beckett's Endgame. Notable appearances also include Bernardo Bertolucci's Besieged (1998) and Paul McGuigan's Gangster No. 1 (2000), opposite Malcolm McDowell.

He auditioned for the role of Professor Quirrell in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but the role was given to Ian Hart. Despite missing out for the first film, in 2004, he was cast as Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Thewlis did not have to audition for the part as he was director Alfonso Cuarón's first choice for the role. He accepted it on advice from Ian Hart, who told him that Lupin was "the best part in the book".[3] He reprised the role in the fifth film in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and will appear again in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.[4] and in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He also appears in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

His acting talent also led him to a part in the Dinotopia movie as the villain, Cyrus Crabb.

Recent credits include Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Terrence Malick's The New World (2005) and The Omen (2006). As a director, he was nominated for a BAFTA for best short film for Hello, Hello, Hello (1995); he has also written, directed and starred in the feature Cheeky (2003). When researching for his role in Kingdom of Heaven, Thewlis went to the Hospitaller museum near his home, and the first thing he saw was a mannequin wearing the exact same costume that he wore in the film.[2]

Personal life

In 1992, Thewlis married director Sara Sugarman; they divorced in 1993. In 2001 he began a relationship with actress Anna Friel, whom he met on a flight to Cannes. They both starred in the 2003 film Timeline although they shared no scenes together. Their daughter, Gracie Ellen Mary Friel, was born on 9 July 2005 in London. Thewlis noted that he was "excited" and "not at all scared" by fatherhood, and that he loves children. If he was not an actor he would be a teacher as he believes "the most beautiful sound is a child laughing". During Friel's pregnancy he gave up smoking, began jogging and eating more healthily and lost weight as well as only taking on roles that were over three weeks before Gracie's expected birth date.[2] Thewlis owns a converted Victorian ballroom in Clerkenwell, whilst Friel owns a house in Windsor, so the couple divide their time in each property. Their house in Windsor is located near the Long Walk and Windsor Castle; Thewlis once recounted that he "can lie in bed and watch the Queen ride by".[2] He also is often mistaken for fellow actor Rhys Ifans: "Twice a week, people come up to me and say, 'You were great in Notting Hill'. The public seem to think we are the same person."[2] Thewlis has also recently published a novel called The Late Hector Kipling (2007).

Awards and nominations

Thewlis has been praised for his performance in Naked, which, despite its dark tone, is considered by critics and fans alike to be his best role to date. He has won the following awards for his work in Naked.

Other award nominations include:

Filmography

Directorial filmography

  • Hello, Hello, Hello (1995)
  • Cheeky (2003)

List of written works

Films and screenplays

  • Hello, Hello, Hello (1995)
  • Cheeky (2003)

Novels

References

  1. ^ a b "David Thewlis Biography (1963-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "'Anna has changed me for the better'". The Telegraph. 2005-05-04. Retrieved 2007-08-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Clint Morris (2004-06-09). "Interview : David Thewlis". Movie Hole. Retrieved 2007-08-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Interview from the Set of the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas". David Thewlis.net. 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-08-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Variety.com". Das Films teams for adaptation. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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