David Thewlis Biography
Summary
"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, the son of Maureen (née Thewlis) and Alec Raymond Wheeler. Both of his parents worked at his father's shop, which sold toys in the summer and wallpaper and paint in the winter. 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.
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. 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'. He reprised the role in the fifth and sixth films in the series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", is slated to play the character again in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" which is to be split into two films. 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.
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. Together they have one daughter, Gracie Ellen Mary Friel. 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.
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'. 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.' 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".
Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor (1993)
"Evening Standard" British Film Awards: Best Actor (1994)
London Critics Circle Film Awards ALFS Award: British Actor of the Year (1994)
National Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Actor (1994)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Best Actor (1993)
Thewlis has also received the following awards:
British Independent Film Awards: Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film (2008)
Other award nominations include:
BAFTA Award for Best Short Film (1996): "Hello, Hello, Hello" (1995)
British Independent Film Awards for Best Performance by a British Actor in an Independent Film (1998): "Divorcing Jack" (1998)
Bibliography
"The Late Hector Kipling" (2007)
External links
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about David Thewlis.
