David Thewlis

David Wheeler (born 20 March 1963), known professionally as David Thewlis (/ˈθjlɪs/), is an English actor, director, screenwriter, and author.

David Thewlis
Thewlis in 2008
Born
David Wheeler

(1963-03-20) 20 March 1963
Occupation
  • Actor
  • director
  • screenwriter
  • author
Years active1985–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1992; div. 1994)
Partner(s)Anna Friel
(2001–2010)
Children1

He rose to prominence starring in the film Naked (1993), for which he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. His most commercially successful roles to date have been Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter film series (2004–2011) and Sir Patrick Morgan / Ares in Wonder Woman (2017). Other notable film appearances include James and the Giant Peach (1996), Dragonheart (1996), Seven Years in Tibet (1997), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), War Horse (2011), The Theory of Everything (2014), Anomalisa (2015), and I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020). He will appear in Avatar 3 (2024).

On television, Thewlis portrayed Cyrus Crabb in the ABC miniseries Dinotopia (2002) and V. M. Varga in the third season of Fargo (2017), with the latter earning him nominations for an Emmy Award, Critics' Choice Television Award, and Golden Globe Award. He provides the voice of the Shame Wizard in the Netflix animated sitcom Big Mouth (2017–present).

Early life

Thewlis was born David Wheeler in Blackpool on 20 March 1963,[1] the second of three children of Maureen (née Thewlis) and Alec Raymond Wheeler.[2] Both parents worked at his father's shop. As a teenager, he played in a rock band called QED and played lead guitar with a punk rock band called Door 66. He was educated at Highfield High School in Blackpool's Marton area. He later enrolled in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, graduating in 1984.[3]

Career

Acting

Thewlis had a minor role in an episode of the 1980s sitcom Up the Elephant and Round the Castle.[4] He also appeared in an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses (1985) as a friend of Rodney. His first professional role was in the play Buddy Holly at the Regal in Greenwich.[3]

Thewlis's breakout role was Naked (1993; dir. Mike Leigh), as the main character, Johnny, a homeless, highly intelligent, embittered, rambling street philosopher, for which Thewlis 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. That same year, he appeared on television as a sexual predator named James Jackson in Prime Suspect 3, opposite Helen Mirren and Ciarán Hinds. Before that, his first television appearance was in Valentine Park.

During 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. He was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Divorcing Jack (1998), and played Clov in a television film of Samuel Beckett's Endgame (2000). Notable appearances also include Bernardo Bertolucci's Besieged (1998), the Coen brothersThe Big Lebowski (1998), and Paul McGuigan's Gangster No. 1 (2000), opposite Paul Bettany and Malcolm McDowell.

He auditioned for the role of Quirinus Quirrell in the Chris Columbus directed film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but the part went to Ian Hart. Despite missing out on the first film, he was cast in 2004 as Professor Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He did not have to audition as he was director Alfonso Cuarón's first choice for the role.[5] Thewlis reprised the role in four other films in the series.

He appeared as an SS Commandant of a Nazi death camp and father of the main character in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which was well received. Other credits include Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Terrence Malick's The New World (2005), and The Omen (2006).

Thewlis played the late Dr. Michael Aris, husband of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, with Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh as Suu Kyi, in the biopic The Lady directed by Luc Besson. In 2012, he received an International Festival of Independent Cinema Off Plus Camera Award. In the same year, he also played in Separate We Come, Separate We Go, directed by Harry Potter co-star Bonnie Wright.

In June 2015, Thewlis was reported to be filming scenes for a Donald Crowhurst biopic, The Mercy, on the beach at Teignmouth, Devon, playing Donald Crowhurst's press agent, Rodney Hallworth, while Colin Firth is playing Donald Crowhurst.[6] He also starred in Regression, a thriller released in autumn 2015. In September 2015, Thewlis starred as Inspector Goole in Helen Edmundson's BBC TV adaptation of J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls. In October 2015, he played King Duncan in the film Macbeth.

Thewlis portrayed Ares in Wonder Woman (2017), the DC Comics film featuring the character of the same name.[7][8] He briefly reprised his role as Ares in Justice League (2017). That same year, he appeared as V. M. Varga, the main antagonist of the third season of Fargo. His performance was critically acclaimed,[9][10][11] and earned him nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

Thewlis has most recently starred in the 2020 Netflix film I'm Thinking of Ending Things, directed by Charlie Kaufman.

Filmmaking

Thewlis directed Hello, Hello, Hello in 1995, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Short Film. He also wrote, directed and starred in the feature Cheeky (2003).

Writing

Thewlis' debut novel, The Late Hector Kipling, is a black comedy set in the art world and was published by Simon & Schuster in 2007.[12]

Personal life

Thewlis married Welsh actress Sara Sugarman in 1992, and they divorced in 1994. He then had a brief relationship with English actress Kate Hardie. In 2001, he began a relationship with English actress Anna Friel. Their daughter, actress Gracie, was born in 2005.[13] Thewlis and Friel split up in late 2010.[14][15]

Thewlis married his second wife, a French artist whose name has not been publicly revealed, in 2017.[16] They live in Sunningdale, Berkshire. He also owns a converted Victorian ballroom in the London district of Clerkenwell.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Road Joey
The Short and Curlies Clive Short film
1988 Vroom Ringe
Little Dorrit George Braddle
1989 Resurrected Kevin Deakin
1991 Life Is Sweet Nicola's lover
Afraid of the Dark Locksmith
Tom Miller
1992 Swords at Teatime Michael Short film
Damage Detective
1993 The Trial Franz
Naked Johnny Fletcher
1994 Black Beauty Jerry Barker
1995 Total Eclipse Paul Verlaine
Restoration John Pearce
Hello, Hello, Hello N/A Short film; directed and wrote
1996 James and the Giant Peach Earthworm Voice
Dragonheart King Einon
The Island of Dr. Moreau Edward Douglas
1997 American Perfekt Santini
Seven Years in Tibet Peter Aufschnaiter
1998 The Big Lebowski Knox Harrington
Divorcing Jack Dan Starkey
Besieged Jason Kinsky
1999 Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? Nesbit
2000 The Miracle Maker Judas Iscariot Voice
Gangster No. 1 Freddie Mays
2001 Goodbye Charlie Bright Charlie's dad
2002 D.I.Y. Hard Man
2003 Cheeky Harry Sankey Also directed and wrote
Timeline Robert Doniger
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Remus Lupin
2005 Kingdom of Heaven Hospitaller
All the Invisible Children Jonathan Segment: "Jonathan"
The New World Edward Wingfield
2006 Basic Instinct 2 Roy Washburn
The Omen Keith Jennings
2007 The Inner Life of Martin Frost Martin Frost
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Remus Lupin
2008 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Ralf
2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Remus Lupin
Veronika Decides to Die Dr. Blake
2010 Mr. Nice Jim McCann
London Boulevard Jordan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Remus Lupin
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
The Lady Michael Aris
Anonymous William Cecil
War Horse Lyons
2012 Separate We Come, Separate We Go Norman Short film
2013 Red 2 The Frog
The Fifth Estate Nick Davies
The Zero Theorem Joby
2014 The Theory of Everything Dennis Sciama
Stonehearst Asylum Mickey Finn
Queen and Country Bradley
Sunday Roast Dick Puck Short film; also writer
2015 Regression Professor Kenneth Raines
Legend Leslie Payne
Macbeth King Duncan
Anomalisa Michael Stone Voice
2017 Wonder Woman Sir Patrick Morgan / Ares
Justice League Ares Cameo
2018 The Mercy Rodney Hallworth
2019 Rare Beasts Vic
Guest of Honour Jim
Eternal Beauty Mike
2020 I'm Thinking of Ending Things Father
2022 The Amazing Maurice Voice role, in production
2024 Avatar 3 Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Up the Elephant and Round the Castle Mugger Episode: "A Taxing Problem" (Non-speaking role)
Only Fools and Horses Stew Episode: "It's Only Rock and Roll"
Radio Pictures Jim Grams Television film
1986 The Singing Detective Second Soldier 2 episodes
1987–88 Valentine Park Max 12 episodes
1989 A Bit of a Do Paul Simcock 6 episodes
Skulduggery Tony Television film
1990 Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Doctor 3 episodes
1991 Journey to Knock Terry Television film
Shrinks Terry Slater Episode 1.5
Screen One Tim Shanks Episode: "Filipina Dreamgirls"
1992 Black and Blue Crematorium attendant Television film
1993 Frank Stubbs Promotes Mike Bence Episode: "Striker"
Prime Suspect 3 James Jackson Television film
1994 Dandelion Dead Oswald Martin 4 episodes
1999 Love Story Dealer Television film
2000 Endgame Clov Television film
2001 Hamilton Mattress Hamilton Mattress Voice
Television film
2002 Dinotopia Cyrus Crabb 3 episodes
2007 The Street Joe / Harry Jennerson Episode: "Twins"
2014 Family Guy English Father Voice
Episode: "Chap Stewie"
2015 An Inspector Calls Inspector Goole Television film
2017 Fargo V. M. Varga 10 episodes
2018–20 Big Mouth Shame Wizard Voice
9 episodes
2019 The Feed Lawrence Hatfield 6 episodes
2020 Barkskins Claude Trepagny 8 episodes

Video games

Year Title Voice role
2010 World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Lord Darius Crowley

Bibliography

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResult
1993Cannes Film FestivalBest ActorNakedWon
Evening Standard British Film AwardBest ActorWon
London Film Critics' CircleBritish Actor of the YearWon
National Society of Film CriticsBest ActorWon
New York Film Critics CircleBest ActorWon
1995BAFTA AwardBest Short Film
(shared with Helen Booth and James Roberts)
Hello, Hello, HelloNominated
1998British Independent Film AwardBest Performance by a British Actor in an Independent FilmDivorcing JackNominated
2006Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Supporting ActorBasic Instinct 2 / The OmenNominated
2007Monte-Carlo Television FestivalGolden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor – Drama SeriesThe StreetNominated
2008British Independent Film AwardRichard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British FilmWon
2009Scream AwardBest Ensemble
(shared with the entire cast)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceWon
2010Evening Standard British Film AwardPeter Sellers Award for ComedyLondon BoulevardWon
2011Scream AwardBest Ensemble
(shared with the entire cast)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2Nominated
2016Alliance of Women Film JournalistsBest Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction
(shared with Jennifer Jason Leigh)
AnomalisaWon
2017Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or MovieFargoNominated
Critics' Choice Television AwardBest Supporting Actor in a Movie/MiniseriesNominated
Golden Globe AwardBest Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmNominated

References

  1. "Behind The Voice Actors - David Thewlis". Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. "David Thewlis profile at FilmReference.com". Film Reference.com. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  3. Grice, Elizabeth (4 May 2005). "Anna has changed me for the better". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  4. "Up the Elephant and Round the Castle(1983–1985) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  5. Morris, Clint (9 June 2004). "Interview: David Thewlis". Movie Hole. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  6. "PICTURES: Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz on a Teignmouth film set". Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  7. Mendelson, Scott. "Gal Gadot Releases First 'Wonder Woman' Image While Warner Bros. Announces The Cast". Forbes.
  8. Osborn, Alex. "Wonder Woman: Harry Potter Actor David Thewlis Reportedly Cast as Villain Ares". IGN.
  9. Miller, Liz Shannon (26 May 2017). "'Fargo': David Thewlis on the Details and Delight of Playing a Bad Guy Who's 'Out and Out Foul'". Indiewire. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation.
  10. Tallerica, Brian (21 June 2017). "Fargo Season-Finale Recap: The Great American Experiment". Vulture.com. New York City: New York Media.
  11. Ryan, Maureen (13 April 2017). "TV Review: Fargo Season 3 on FX". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation.
  12. ISBN 9781416541219
  13. MacDonald, Marianne (26 September 2005). "Post-natal confession". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  14. David Thewlis is the 'Anonymous' actor who's everywhere, Los Angeles Times, 12 January 2012.
  15. "Friel, David split after nine years". Digital Spy. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  16. Gilbey, Ryan (29 May 2017). "'My brain was on fire': David Thewlis on Naked, Fargo and creeping out the Coens". The Guardian.
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