Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Caradoc Hoult is an English actor known for his performances in both mainstream studio productions and independent films. Born on 7 December 1989 in Wokingham, Berkshire, England, he began performing in local theatre productions as a child before making his screen debut at age six in the 1996 feature film Intimate Relations. Over his career, Hoult has earned nominations for a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2012, he was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Hoult was raised in the village of Sindlesham by his mother, Glenis, a piano teacher, and his father, Roger, a commercial pilot. He attended Coombes Infant and Nursery School and Arborfield Church of England Junior School. During his early years, he sang in a local choir, played the trombone, played basketball for the Reading Rockets, and performed as a dancer in Swan Lake and The Nutcracker with the English National Ballet. At age 12, he enrolled at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, later attending Ranelagh School and Farnborough Sixth Form College before leaving his studies to focus entirely on acting.

After early television appearances on shows such as Casualty, Silent Witness, and The Bill, Hoult achieved his breakthrough at age eleven playing Marcus in the 2002 comedy-drama About a Boy. He subsequently appeared in Wah-Wah (2005) and The Weather Man (2005). Hoult achieved wider recognition for his role as Tony Stonem in the E4 teen drama series Skins (2007–2008), which earned him a nomination for a Golden Nymph Award.

Hoult transitioned to adult roles with the 2009 drama A Single Man, earning a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. That same year, he made his West End theatre debut in New Boy. He followed this with a role in the fantasy film Clash of the Titans (2010) and voiced Elliot in the video game Fable III (2010). In 2011, Hoult joined the X-Men franchise as the mutant Hank McCoy / Beast in X-Men: First Class, a role he reprised in later instalments.

Hoult starred in the romantic comedy Warm Bodies (2013) and the adventure film Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), and portrayed the war boy Nux in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). His later credits include playing historical figures such as Robert Harley in the black comedy The Favourite (2018) and Peter III, Emperor of Russia in the series The Great (2020–2023), the latter earning him nominations for two Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy Award. He has also starred in The Menu (2022), Juror #2 (2024), Nosferatu (2024), and Superman (2025).

Beyond acting, Hoult supports the charitable organisations Teenage Cancer Trust and Christian Aid. He is also a trained racing driver who competes in the Ferrari Challenge racing series.