George MacKay (actor)

George Andrew J. MacKay (/məˈkaɪ/;[2][3][4] born 13 March 1992) is a British actor. He began his career as a child actor. MacKay was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2014.

Not to be confused with George McKay (actor) or George Mackay Brown.

George MacKay
Born
George Andrew J. MacKay[1]

(1992-03-13) 13 March 1992
London, England
NationalityEnglish
EducationThe Harrodian School
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present

Early life and education

MacKay was born in Hammersmith, London to Kim Baker, a British costume designer from London, and Paul MacKay, an Australian working in lighting and stage management. He grew up in Barnes with his younger sister.[5][6][7][8] He is of Irish descent on his mother's side, his maternal grandmother being from Cork.[9]

MacKay attended the Harrodian School.[10] When he was 17, he unsuccessfully auditioned for RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) and LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art).[11]

Career

2002–2012: Child acting

In 2002, MacKay was spotted at school when he was 11 by an acting scout who asked him to audition for a role in P.J. Hogan's 2003 film adaptation of Peter Pan. He attended a workshop and won the role of one of the Lost Boys, Curly, in what was his first professional acting job.

In 2005, at the age of 13, he won the role of Riccio in The Thief Lord, the film adaptation of Cornelia Funke's best-selling children's novel. He was also cast in the lead role in Johnny and the Bomb, a BBC three-part television drama adapted from Terry Pratchett's novel of the same name. MacKay also had some work in television, including roles in Rose and Maloney, Footprints in the Snow and The Brief. In the 2008 film Defiance, MacKay played Aron, the youngest of the four Bielski brothers. In 2009 he portrayed Harry in The Boys Are Back starring Clive Owen. MacKay co-starred in the Marc Evans-directed musical film Hunky Dory opposite Minnie Driver, Aneurin Barnard and Kimberley Nixon, which is set in 1970s Swansea.[12] In 2012, he played the main character, Private Tommo Peaceful, in Private Peaceful, and appeared as a paralyzed soldier in the inspirational film The Best of Men.[13]

2013–present: Young adult career

In 2013, MacKay portrayed Eddie in How I Live Now opposite Saoirse Ronan and directed by Kevin Macdonald, and starred as Davy in the musical film Sunshine on Leith, featuring songs by The Proclaimers, directed by Dexter Fletcher. In 2014, MacKay played the role of Joe, a 20-year-old struggling to come out in a homophobic Britain in 1984 in the film Pride (based on a true story) also starring Bill Nighy. In 2015, Mackay took the lead role as Richard Miller in Eugene O'Neill's coming-of-age play, Ah, Wilderness! directed by Natalie Abrahami at The Young Vic.

In July 2015, MacKay filled the title role of Lewis Aldridge in the BBC's two-part television adaptation of Sadie Jones' debut novel The Outcast.[14] In February 2016, he portrayed the part of Bill Turcotte in the Hulu production of Stephen King's sci-fi/suspense thriller 11.22.63.

From 29 March to 14 May 2016, MacKay performed the part of Mick in Harold Pinter's play The Caretaker directed by Matthew Warchus at The Old Vic Theatre in London opposite Timothy Spall and Daniel Mays. In the 2016 film Captain Fantastic, MacKay portrayed Bodevan, eldest son of Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen).

In 2017, he played Jack, the main character in Marrowbone, a psychological horror film directed and written by Sergio G. Sánchez, and also starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton and Mia Goth. MacKay portrayed Prince Hamlet in Ophelia, a 2018 film retelling the story of Shakespeare's play from the perspective of the young female character Ophelia. The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and included Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, and Tom Felton in the cast.

In the 2018 film Where Hands Touch, MacKay portrayed Lutz, a member of the Hitler Youth in Nazi Germany who falls in love with a biracial girl, portrayed by Amandla Stenberg.

In a 2019 release, MacKay interpreted the role of outlaw Ned Kelly in True History of the Kelly Gang directed by Justin Kurzel.[15] Adapted from the Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name by Peter Carey, the film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[16]

MacKay played the lead role of Lance corporal William Schofield, a young British World War I soldier in 1917, directed by Sam Mendes.[17] 1917 was nominated for Best Picture in the 92nd Academy Awards, along with nominations in nine other categories, winning three technical awards.[18]

MacKay will star in Nathalie Biancheri's film Wolf alongside Lily-Rose Depp, being shot in Ireland in 2020,[19] and in Christian Schwochow's film Munich, with shooting beginning in November 2020.[20]

Filmography and performances

Film
Year Title Role Director Notes Refs.
2003 Peter Pan Curly P.J. Hogan
2006 The Thief Lord Riccio Richard Claus
2008 Defiance Aron Bielski Edward Zwick
2009 The Boys Are Back Harry Scott Hicks
2011 Hunky Dory Jake Zeppi Marc Evans
2012 Private Peaceful Private Tommo Peaceful Pat O'Connor
2012 The Devil's Dosh Marcus Zachary Guerra Short Film [21]
2013 How I Live Now Edmund 'Eddie' Kevin Macdonald
2013 Pieces Son Jack Weatherly Short Film [22]
2013 Sunshine on Leith Davy Dexter Fletcher
2013 For Those in Peril Aaron Paul Wright [23]
2013 Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson Jake Simon Sprackling [24]
2014 Pride Joe "Bromley" Cooper Matthew Warchus
2014 Bypass Tim Duane Hopkins [25]
2015 Fuel to Fire Tomas Gant Sam McMullen Short Film [26]
2016 Captain Fantastic Bodevan Cash Matt Ross
2016 Narrated By Bill Sipowitz Gur Benshemesh Short Film [27]
2017 French Exchange Jack Jacob Perlmutter Short Film [28]
2017 Infinite Sid Connor O'Hara Short Film [29]
2017 Marrowbone Jack Sergio G. Sánchez
2018 Doublethink Hope/Hate Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard Short Film [30]
2018 Where Hands Touch Lutz Amma Asante
2018 Been So Long Gil Tinge Krishnan
2018 Ophelia Hamlet Claire McCarthy
2019 True History of the Kelly Gang Ned Kelly Justin Kurzel
2019 A Guide to Second Date Sex Ryan Rachel Hirons [31]
2019 1917 LCpl.William Schofield Sam Mendes
2020 Nuclear Boy Catherine Linstrum [32]
TBA Wolf Jacob Nathalie Biancheri Post-production
TBA Munich Hugh Legat Christian Schwochow Post-production [33]

Television
Year Title Role Notes Refs.
2004 Rose and Maloney Young Calum Episode 1: "Rose and Maloney — Part 1"
2005 Footprints in the Snow Nathan Hill TV movie [34]
2005 The Brief Zak Farmer Series 2; Episode 1: "Blame," Episode 2: "Lack of Affect"
2006 Johnny and the Bomb Johnny Maxwell Miniseries
2006 Tsunami: The Aftermath Adam Peabody Miniseries
2007 The Old Curiosity Shop Kit Nubbles TV movie
2012 Birdsong Private Douglas TV movie
2012 The Best of Men Private William Heath Credited as "Richard Mackay"
2015 The Outcast Lewis Aldridge Miniseries
2016 11.22.63 Bill Turcotte Miniseries
2016 Neil Gaiman's Likely Stories Simon Powers Episode: "Foreign Parts" [35]
2018 To Provide All People Father TV movie [36]
2020 Ataraxia Boy Miniseries [37]

Stage
YearTitleRoleAuthorTheatreRefs.
2014The Cement GardenJackIan McEwanHeritage Arts Company
2015Ah, Wilderness!RichardEugene O'NeillThe Young Vic Company
2016The CaretakerMickHarold PinterThe Old Vic

Audio
Year Title Role Author Station Refs.
2017 Living Room Milo Part of the BBC POD PLAY1 short-form audio drama series [38]
2020 The Glass Menagerie Tom Tennessee Williams BBC Radio 3 [39]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2010 London Critics Circle Film Awards Young British Actor of the Year Nominated
2013 BAFTA Scotland Best Actor / Actress – Film For Those in Peril Won [40]
2014 British Academy Film Awards Rising Star Award Nominated [41]
Berlin International Film Festival Shooting Stars Award – Actor Won [42]
London Critics Circle Film Awards Young British Actor of the Year Nominated
2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Captain Fantastic Nominated [43]
Cannes Film Festival Trophée Chopard Won [44]
2019 Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama 1917 Nominated [45]
2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award Won [46]
Georgia Film Critics Association Breakthrough Award Nominated [47]
Online Film & Television Association Best Breakthrough Performance: Male Won [48]
London Critics Circle Film Awards British / Irish Actor of the Year Nominated

References
  1. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV41-3TBH
  2. Wells, John C. (2008). "Mackay, McKay". Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0. (i) mə ˈkaɪ [...] In British English usually (i).
  3. Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). "Mackay(e), MacKay(e)". Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6. məˈkaɪ, məˈkeɪ Note: /məˈkeɪ/ mainly in the US.
  4. "'1917' Cast & Creators Discuss Making The Ambitious One-Shot Film". Entertainment Weekly. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  5. Brown, Emma (14 December 2015). "The Lost Boy". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  6. Aftab, Kaleem (27 June 2018). "'I'm trying to be more political': George MacKay on how acting in NHS drama 'To Provide All People' was a wake-up call". Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. Siobhan Synnot (30 September 2013). "Interview: George MacKay, star of Sunshine on Leith". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  8. "IN PERSON: GEORGE MACKAY". Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  9. Brady, Tara (26 February 2020). "George MacKay: 'My influences? Conor McGregor and wallabies'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  10. "The Harrodian Eye – December 2010". Harrodian.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  11. Charles Gant (3 October 2013). "George MacKay: yours sincerely". The Guardian.
  12. "It's All Hunky Dory as Graduates Come Home". rwcmd.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  13. "The Best of Men, BBC Two, review". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  14. "BBC One: The Outcast: Episode 1 credits". BBC. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  15. McNary, Dave. "Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, George MacKay Join 'True History of the Kelly Gang'". Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  16. "True History of the Kelly Gang". tiff.net. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  17. "DREAMWORKS PICTURES TO BEGIN PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON 1917". FilmInk. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  18. "Oscars: The Complete Winners List". Hollywood Reporter. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  19. "George MacKay & Lily-Rose Depp To Star In Genre Film 'Wolf'". Deadline. 12 February 2020.
  20. Grater, Tom (3 November 2020). "Jeremy Irons, George McKay Starring In Robert Harris Adaptation 'Munich' For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  21. "The Devil's Dosh (2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  22. "Pieces (2013)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  23. Bradshaw, Peter (18 May 2013). "Cannes 2013: For Those In Peril – first look review". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  24. Bradshaw, Peter (21 November 2013). "Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  25. "Bypass (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  26. "Fuel to Fire (2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  27. "Narrated By (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  28. "French Exchange (2017)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  29. "Infinite (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  30. "Doublethink (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  31. Aftab, Kaleem (20 April 2020). "Review: A Guide to Second Date Sex". Cineuropa. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  32. "Nuclear (2019)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  33. Grater, Tom (3 November 2020). "Jeremy Irons, George McKay Starring In Robert Harris Adaptation 'Munich' For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  34. "Footprints in the Snow (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  35. "Neil Gaiman's Likely Stories". IMDb. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  36. "To Provide All People (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  37. "Ataraxia". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  38. "Pod Play1: Living Room". Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  39. "The Glass Menagerie". Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  40. Ferguson, Brian (17 November 2013). "Scottish Baftas: For Those In Peril wins big". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  41. "BAFTA EE Rising Star in 2014". BAFTA. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  42. "European Shooting Stars Awards 2014". Eye Film Institute Netherlands. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  43. "SAG Awards 2017: The Complete List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  44. "Chopard Names Trophy Award Winners". WWD. 21 May 2017.
  45. "2019 Winners – International Press Academy". 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2020 – via www.pressacademy.com.
  46. Lattanzio, Ryan. "Santa Barbara Film Fest Names 2020 Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  47. Neglia, Matt. "The 2019 Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  48. "FILM: 24th Annual Film Award Winners". OFTA. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
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