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Charlie Hunnam

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Charlie Hunnam
Hunnam in 2024
Born
Charles Matthew Hunnam

(1980-04-10) 10 April 1980 (age 44)
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Alma materCumbria College of Art and Design
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present
Spouse
Katharine Towne
​
​
(m. 1999; div. 2002)​
PartnerMorgana McNelis (2005–present)

Charles Matthew Hunnam (/ˈhʌnəm/; born 10 April 1980) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Jax Teller in the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014). His portrayal was nominated twice for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor.

Hunnam has been featured as the lead in numerous films, including Green Street (2005) , Nicholas Nickleby (2002), Pacific Rim (2013), Crimson Peak (2015), Triple Frontier (2019), and The Gentlemen (2019). He has also portrayed Percy Fawcett in The Lost City of Z (2016) and Arthur Pendragon in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017).

His notable television projects include the Channel 4 drama Queer as Folk (1999–2000), the Fox series Undeclared (2001–2002) and the Apple TV+ series Shantaram (2022).

Early life

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Charles Matthew Hunnam was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 10 April 1980,[1] the son of Jane Bell, a ballet dancer and business owner, and William Hunnam. One of his grandmothers was a portrait artist.[2] He has said that his mother "did a very good job" of being a single parent.[3][4][5][6] He has an older brother named William and two younger half brothers on his mother's side named Oliver and Christian.[7][non-primary source needed][8]

At age 12, when his mother remarried, the family moved to Melmerby in Cumbria. He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith, which he was later expelled from. During his adolescence, he played rugby and fought with his classmates.[9][10][11] After that, instead of going to university, he decided to go to the Cumbria College of Art and Design in Carlisle (now part of the University of Cumbria) to study performing arts. He graduated with a dual degree in film theory and film history with a side in performing arts. He planned to write and direct his own films.[12][13]

Career

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1997–2007

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Hunnam was discovered at the age of 17 in a branch of JD Sports on Christmas Eve, while playing around with his brother during a trip to buy shoes. A production manager for the Newcastle-based teen drama Byker Grove approached Hunnam and he was later cast in his first role as Jason for three episodes of the show. He also had a brief modelling career where he did a photo shoot for Kangol Caps and then decided modelling was not for him.[14][2][13][15] Hunnam's first major role came at age 18 when he was cast by Russell T Davies as 15-year-old schoolboy Nathan Maloney in Davies' Channel 4 drama Queer as Folk.[16] He followed this up with his role as Daz in the film Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? (1999) and then moved to the United States.

His career expanded to include a recurring role as Gregor Ryder in the WB series Young Americans. He then appeared in the short-lived Fox series Undeclared as a British drama student called Lloyd Haythe. Despite critical acclaim, the series was cancelled after one season. Hunnam then appeared on the large screen in Abandon (2002), Nicholas Nickleby (2002), and Cold Mountain (2003). Hunnam stated he did not wish to simply take any role offered to him, saying, "I have 60 years to make the money, but the choices I make in the next five years are really going to define my career."

This decision resulted in his return to the UK to take the lead role of Pete Dunham in the film Green Street (2005); however, his attempt at delivering a Cockney accent resulted in his inclusion in many critics' "worst accents in movie history" lists.[17] Hunnam said his role as Patric, a member of "The Fishes" in Children of Men (2006), was the final part in his "trilogy of mad men": "I played the psycho in Cold Mountain, my character in Green Street Hooligans is fairly psychotic and now I've got this role."[18]

2008–2012

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Hunnam at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2010

From 2008 to 2014, Hunnam starred in Sons of Anarchy as Jackson "Jax" Teller leader of SAMCRO, a prominent motorcycle club set in the fictional town of Charming, California. Hunnam was cast after Kurt Sutter, the creator of the show, saw him in Green Street Hooligans.[19] His portrayal as Jax Teller has led Hunnam to receive a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination, two EWwy Award nominations for Best Lead Actor in a Drama series, and a PAAFTJ Award nomination for Best Cast in a Drama Series.[20]

In 2011, Hunnam played the role of Gavin Nichols in the philosophical drama/thriller The Ledge by Matthew Chapman.[21] In 2012, he starred as the title character in the indie comedy 3,2,1... Frankie Go Boom alongside his Sons of Anarchy co-star Ron Perlman.[22] Hunnam said he considered the day he filmed scenes with Perlman the best and funniest day of filming he's had in his career.[23] He also appeared as Jay, an ex-boxer, in Stefan Ruzowitzky's crime drama Deadfall (2012).[24][25]

2013–2019

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Hunnam at San Diego Comic-Con in 2016

Hunnam starred as Raleigh Becket in Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi film Pacific Rim,[26] which opened in July 2013 and grossed $411 million worldwide. It was announced on 2 September 2013 that Hunnam would play the lead role of Christian Grey in the film adaptation of E. L. James' novel Fifty Shades of Grey.[27] However, on 12 October 2013, Universal Pictures announced that Hunnam had withdrawn from the film due to conflicts with the schedule of his series Sons of Anarchy.[28]

On 2 June 2014, Hunnam was awarded a Huading Award for Best Global Emerging Actor, for his role as Raleigh in Pacific Rim due to the film performing well in Asian markets.[29] Hunnam reunited with del Toro in the horror film Crimson Peak,[30] alongside Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain. The film began shooting in February 2014 and was released on 16 October 2015.[31]

Hunnam starred as geographer Percy Fawcett in James Gray's adaptation of author David Grann's 2009 book, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon. Gray dubbed his adventure drama The Lost City of Z, which filmed from August–October 2015. The film had its world premiere 15 October 2016 as the closing night selection at the New York Film Festival. It was released in the United States on 14 April 2017.[32][33][34][35] Hunnam played the eponymous title role in Guy Ritchie's action-adventure film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, which was filmed between March and July 2015. It was released in May 2017.[36] He next starred in Guy Ritchie's 2019 film The Gentlemen alongside Matthew McConaughey.

2020–present

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Hunnam portrayed Charlie Waldo in the 2022 mystery/thriller Last Looks which also featured Mel Gibson. His first feature for Apple TV+, Shantaram, premiered 14 October 2022. Hunnam leads the cast of characters as Dale Conti/Lindsay "Linbaba" Ford. The series is based on Gregory David Roberts' 2003 autobiographical novel.

On 9 February 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported that Hunnam joined Zack Snyder's Netflix project Rebel Moon. The project reunited Hunnam with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword co-star Djimon Hounsou. The epic space opera, Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire had a limited theatrical release on 15 December 2023. On 21 December 2023, the film was released worldwide via Netflix's streaming service. Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver was released worldwide 14 April 2024 on Netflix.

In May 2024, Hunnam was cast in the lead role for Amazon Prime Video's adaptation of the comic series by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, Criminal. Hunnam will star as Leo, "a brilliant master thief."[37]

Personal life

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Hunnam met actress Katharine Towne, daughter of actress Julie Payne and filmmaker Robert Towne, in 1999 when they both auditioned for roles on Dawson's Creek.[38][39] After dating for three weeks, they married in Las Vegas; they divorced in 2002.[16] He dated model Sophie Dahl, actress Stella Parker and film producer Georgina Townsley.[40] He has been in a relationship with artist Morgana McNelis since 2005.[41][42][43][44]

In 2016, he began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rigan Machado,[45] and received his blue belt in October 2018.[46]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? Daz
2002 Abandon Embry Larkin
Nicholas Nickleby Nicholas Nickleby
2003 Cold Mountain Bosie
2005 Green Street Pete Dunham
2006 Children of Men Patric
2011 The Ledge Gavin Nichols
2012 3,2,1... Frankie Go Boom Frankie
Deadfall Jay
2013 Pacific Rim Raleigh Becket
2015 Crimson Peak Alan McMichael
2016 The Lost City of Z Percy Fawcett
2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword King Arthur
2018 Papillon Henri Charrière
2019 A Million Little Pieces Bob Frey Jr.
Triple Frontier William 'Ironhead' Miller
True History of the Kelly Gang Sergeant O'Neill
Jungleland Stanley Kaminski
The Gentlemen Raymond Smith
2022 Last Looks Charlie Waldo
2023 Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire Kai

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Byker Grove Jason Chuckle 3 episodes
1999 My Wonderful Life Wes Episode: "Moving On"
1999–2000 Queer as Folk Nathan Maloney 10 episodes
1999 Microsoap Brad Episode: "2.6"
2000 Young Americans Gregor Ryder 3 episodes
2001–2002 Undeclared Lloyd Haythe Main Role; 17 episodes
2008–2014 Sons of Anarchy Jackson 'Jax' Teller Main Role; 92 episodes
2022 Shantaram Lin Ford Main Role
TBA Criminal Leo Main role[37]
Monster Ed Gein Main role[47]

Awards and nominations

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Film

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Year Award Category Work Result
2002 National Board of Review Best Acting by an Ensemble Nicholas Nickleby Won
2013 Huading Awards Huading Award for Best Global Emerging Actor Pacific Rim Won
2017 CinemaCon Award Male Star of the Year King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Won

Television

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Year Award Category Work Result Reference
2012 EWwy Award EWwy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series Sons of Anarchy Nominated [48]
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2013 Pan-American Association of Film & Television Journalists Best Cast in a Drama Series Nominated
2014 EWwy Award EWwy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [49]
2015 People's Choice Awards[50] Favorite Cable TV Actor Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Charlie Hunnam: Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b Topel, Fred (2 September 2013). "Charlie Hunnam on Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, and Henry David Thoreau". Showbizjunkies.com. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  3. ^ Rivkin, Annabell (2 September 2005). "Hollywood Blonde". Evening Standard.
  4. ^ "High Street card shop one of the best in UK". Kent and Sussex Courier. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Nerdist Podcast: Charlie Hunnam". Nerdist. 8 July 2013. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Person Details for Charles Matthew Hunnam, "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Charlie Hunnam Facebook fansite". Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Charlie Hunnam Talks 3,2,1... Frankie Go Boom, Internet Piracy, More". 11 October 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Who is Charlie Hunnam?". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  10. ^ Coleman, Phil. "Charlie Hunnam Who Grew Up in North Cumbria Lands Lead Role in Fifty Shades of Grey Movie". News & Star. Carlisle. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Charlie Hunnam coming home for new movie role". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle Upon Tyne. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Meet the Alumni". University of Cumbria. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Appearance". The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. NBC. 17 July 2013.
  14. ^ Roth, Jon (21 February 2016). "Charlie Hunnam on His Calvin Klein Campaign, Leaving Sons of Anarchy, and His Next Not-So-Big Role". GQ.
  15. ^ "Charlie Hunnam Q&A". Female First. 11 July 2013.
  16. ^ a b Holmes, Barry J (25 April 2010). "Charlie Hunnam: The Queer as Folk star has grown into a burly biker with a top-rated cable show". The Independent. London. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  17. ^ "Worst Cockney Accent Film Set". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  18. ^ "Homesick in Hollywood". IC Newcastle. 25 June 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2012.[dead link‍]
  19. ^ Gilbert, Gerard (8 May 2009). "Sons of Anarchy – Wheels on fire". The Independent. London. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  20. ^ "2nd PAAFTJ Television Awards nominations announced; "Arrested Development" leads". Pan-American Association of Film & Television Journalists. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew (8 April 2011). ""The Ledge," Featuring Charlie Hunnam, Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Terrence Howard, Due in July". Playbill. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014.
  22. ^ Zakarin, Jordan (3 May 2012). "'Frankie Go Boom' Poster Features a Transgender Ron Perlman (Photo)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  23. ^ Lesnick, Silas (11 October 2012). "Interviews: 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom". Comingsoon.
  24. ^ Stewart, Andrew (5 December 2012). "'Deadfall' preems at Arclight". Variety.
  25. ^ Nelson, Rob (25 April 2012). "Review: 'Deadfall'". Variety.
  26. ^ "Casting Call: Charlie Hunnam to Star in Guillermo del Toro's PACIFIC RIM; Amber Heard and Shiloh Fernandez Like SYRUP". Collider. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  27. ^ Schillaci, Sophie (2 September 2013). "Charlie Hunnam to Play Christian Grey in 'Fifty Shades of Grey'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  28. ^ Kroll, Justin (12 October 2013). "Charlie Hunnam Falls Out of 'Fifty Shades of Grey'". Variety. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  29. ^ Charlie Hunnam Talks Sons of Anarchy Final Season & Starring in New Movie: Crimson Peak!. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2015 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ Kit, Borys (18 January 2013). "Charlie Hunnam in Early Talks to Join Guillermo Del Toro's 'Crimson Peak'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  31. ^ Kroll, Justin (30 January 2014). "Legendary, Universal Date Guillermo del Toro's 'Crimson Peak' for October 2015". Variety.
  32. ^ Carpenter, Perry (29 July 2015). "Robert Pattinson Spotted with Brad Pitt, while FKA Twigs tries on Wedding Dresses". Inquisitr. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  33. ^ "Charlie Hunnam on 'Sons,' 'Fifty Shades' fallout, and what's next". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  34. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. "'Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam Is Guy Ritchie's Choice For King Arthur". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  35. ^ Ford, Rebecca. "Charlie Hunnam, Margot Robbie Eyed for 'The Mountain Between Us'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  36. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (21 December 2015). "Guy Ritchie's King Arthur Film Gallops To 2017, 'Lights Out' On July 22, 2016: WB Release Date Changes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  37. ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley; Kit, Borys (31 May 2024). "Charlie Hunnam to Star in Ed Brubaker's Criminal for Amazon". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Charlie Hunnam Recalls 'Terrible, Painful, Expensive' Three-Year Marriage To Actress Katharine Towne". Us Weekly. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  39. ^ "Hunnam Credits Failed Marriage For Helping Him Find Fame". Contactmusic.com. 7 November 2003. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  40. ^ "Charlie Hunnam: Nació el 10 de abril de 1980 en Newcastle Upon Tyne (Inglaterra)" (in Spanish). 2005.
  41. ^ Kimble, Lindsay (10 March 2016). "Who Is Morgana McNelis? Five Things to Know About Charlie Hunnam's Girlfriend". People. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  42. ^ Sieczkowski, Cavan (10 March 2016). "Charlie Hunnam Has A Message For Fangirls Bullying Longtime Girlfriend". HuffPost. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  43. ^ Rice, Lynette (9 March 2016). "Charlie Hunnam asks fans to stop attacking his girlfriend". Entertainment Weekly.
  44. ^ "Charlie Hunnam Asks Fans to Stop Attacking His Girlfriend: 'She Is an Intelligent, Beautiful, Kind Person'". People. 9 March 2016.
  45. ^ "Charlie Hunnam Talks Learning Jiu-Jitsu, His Work Out Regimen For King Arthur & More". BJJ Eastern Europe. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  46. ^ Kaye, Kimberly (27 October 2018). "Rigan Machado Promotes Charlie Hunnam (and Joel Kinnaman)". Jiu Jitsu Times. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  47. ^ O'Connell, Mikey (17 September 2024). "Charlie Hunnam to Star as Serial Killer Ed Gein in Season 3 of Ryan Murphy's 'Monster'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  48. ^ "EWwys 2012: Meet Your Winners!". EW.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  49. ^ "EWwy Awards 2014: Meet Your Winners". EW.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  50. ^ "Who Was Nominated for the 2015 People's Choice Awards (Full List)". The Wall Street Journal. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
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