Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Early life

Aaron Perry Johnson was born in High Wycombe on 13 June 1990. His father, Robert, was a civil engineer and his mother, Sarah, "stayed at home [and] worked odd jobs here and there so [they] could get by." He has a sister named Gemma, who later had a small role in his film Tom & Thomas (2002). Johnson is Jewish.

He went to Holmer Green Senior School and attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, studying drama, tap, jazz, acrobatics, and singing. He left school at 15.

Career

Beginnings and rise to fame (1999–2015)

Johnson began acting at the age of six. On stage, he appeared in a London production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, playing the son of Macduff alongside Rufus Sewell, who played Macbeth, in 1999. He appeared in Arthur Miller's All My Sons in 2000. His television roles have included Niker in the 2004 BBC adaptation of the novel Feather Boy, Aaron in Danny Brocklehurst's ITV1 serial Talk to Me, and Owen Stephens in Nearly Famous. In 2003, Johnson appeared as a young Charlie Chaplin in Shanghai Knights alongside Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, with Chaplin depicted as a member of a London gang of street hooligans. That year, he guest starred in "Fatal Consequences", a special live episode of the ITV drama The Bill. In 2006, he appeared in The Illusionist, appearing in the early flashback scenes as Edward Norton's character, Eduard Abramovicz, as a teenager. The scenes show the young Eduard as he first learns magic. To do this, Johnson had to learn how to perform the ball trick that his character performs. He learned how to balance the egg on the stick, although that was mechanically effected. Also in 2006, he starred in the film The Thief Lord as Prosper.

Johnson appeared as John Lennon in the 2009 biographical film Nowhere Boy, directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, whom he later married. His performance won him the Empire Award for Best Newcomer, and he was nominated for Young British Performer of the Year by the London Film Critics' Circle. In 2010, Johnson appeared as David "Dave" Lizewski/Kick-Ass, the lead character in Kick-Ass, based on the superhero comic book of the same name by Scottish writer Mark Millar. His performance in Kick-Ass saw him nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. He has also appeared as the central character, William, in Hideo Nakata's Chatroom. Johnson starred in R.E.M.'s 2011 music video "Überlin", which was directed by his then-fiancée.

In 2012, Taylor-Johnson played Count Vronsky in Anna Karenina. Later that year, he starred as Ben in Oliver Stone's Savages. HitFix film critic Drew McWeeny was positive of the bond between Johnson and co-star Taylor Kitsch, which "seems not only credible but lived in and authentic throughout the film," and noted the evolution in maturity of Johnson since Kick-Ass. Taylor-Johnson starred in the Godzilla reboot, released in May 2014. Taylor-Johnson played Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), the sequel to 2012's The Avengers, as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Taylor-Johnson first appeared as the character in a post-credits scene of the film Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). The role reunited him with Elizabeth Olsen, who played his wife in Godzilla.

Career progression (2016–present)

In 2016, he played Ray, a menacing Texan, in Tom Ford's thriller Nocturnal Animals. For the role, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Taylor-Johnson also became first Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor winner since Richard Benjamin who did not receive an Academy Award nomination. For the role, he received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In 2017, he played an American soldier in Doug Liman's thriller The Wall, and in 2018, he appeared in Outlaw King, a British-American historical action drama about Robert the Bruce and the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In 2020, Taylor-Johnson had a supporting role in Christopher Nolan's film Tenet. In 2022, he appeared in David Leitch's Bullet Train, an action-thriller film based on the novel Mariabītoru by Kōtarō Isaka. In 2023, he appeared in a commercial for Armani's Acqua di Giò fragrance, shot in Telašćica Nature Park. He reunited with Leitch in the 2024 action film The Fall Guy. Also in 2024, Taylor-Johnson played another Marvel character in Kraven the Hunter, as part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe. He featured in Robert Eggers' horror film Nosferatu.

Taylor-Johnson starred in 28 Years Later, a sequel to the 2002 film 28 Days Later, directed by Danny Boyle.

Personal life

Johnson met filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood in 2008 when he auditioned for her film Nowhere Boy. He was 18 and she was 41 at the time. They began dating soon after filming wrapped and became engaged in October 2009. Johnson stated he asked her to marry him a year after they met.

They married in the chapel at Babington House on 21 June 2012. They changed both their surnames to Taylor-Johnson. They have two daughters, born in 2010 and 2012, and Johnson is stepfather to Sam's two daughters from her previous marriage.

Taylor-Johnson was named one of GQs 50 best dressed British men in 2015. In a 2019 interview with GQ Australia, he defined his style as "elegant" and "timeless".

Taylor-Johnson lives with his wife and their two daughters on a farm near Bruton, Somerset, and he spends his time vegetable farming.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. Rafanelli, Stephanie. (8 May 2014). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson: 'I was raised by women. Now I'm raising women. And Sam's the best woman I know'".
2. "Aaron Johnson biography". [[The New York Times]].
3. "Aaron Johnson profile". Uk-tv-guide.com.
4. Maher, Kevin. (3 October 2009). "Aaron Johnson: Beatle mania". The Times.
5. "Aaron Johnson".
6. Coe, Kairi. (2011). "10 Things to Know About Aaron Johnson".
7. Shoard, Catherine. (25 March 2024). "George Lazenby backs Aaron Taylor-Johnson for Bond". The Guardian.
8. "Hgss.co.uk".
9. Cain, Rebecca. (3 January 2010). "Another successful year for the Jackie Palmer Stage School and agency". [[Bucks Free Press]].
10. (15 February 2023). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson reflects on relationship with social media: 'Things still hurt'".
11. "Catching up with Aaron Taylor-Johnson".
12. "Sewell to Return to Stage in Macbeth".
13. Gray, Sadie. "The Times: Entertainment". [[The Times]].
14. Writer/director [[Neil Burger]] explains this on the film's DVD commentary.
15. "Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news".
16. Gholson, John. (2 May 2011). "'Kick-Ass' Kicks Ass at BNAT – The Moviefone Blog". Scifisquad.com.
17. Sneider, Jeff. (6 December 2010). "Aaron Johnson Joins Mia Wasikowska in 'Albert Nobbs'". Thewrap.com.
18. (2 March 2011). "Watch REM's Uberlin, starring Aaron Johnson – video". The Guardian.
19. McWeeny, Drew. (30 June 2012). "Review: Oliver Stone turns Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, and Blake Lively into 'Savages'". [[HitFix]].
20. Kroll, Justin. (6 February 2013). "Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston circling 'Godzilla'". [[Variety (magazine).
21. Gettell, Oliver. (25 February 2014). "'Godzilla' trailer: Bryan Cranston panics, destruction rains down". [[Los Angeles Times]].
22. (25 November 2013). "Official: Elizabeth Olsen & Aaron Taylor-Johnson Join 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'". Marvel.
23. Milly, Jenna. (14 March 2014). "'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' premiere: Crossover is the word".
24. (9 May 2016). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Eyed for Lead in Doug Liman's 'The Wall' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
25. Hipes, Patrick. (22 May 2019). "Christopher Nolan's New Movie Gets A Title, Final Cast As Shooting Begins".
26. (22 October 2020). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins Brad Pitt on 'Bullet Train' at Sony". [[Variety (magazine).
27. H. L.. (2025-09-04). "Hrvatska je bila vječna inspiracija Giorgia Armanija, kadrovi reklame iz Dalmacije obišli su svijet".
28. (28 October 2022). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins Ryan Gosling In ''The Fall Guy''".
29. Verhoeven, Beatrice. (26 May 2021). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Play Spider-Man Villain Kraven the Hunter in Solo Movie".
30. (3 March 2023). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins Robert Eggers' ''Nosferatu'' Movie For Focus".
31. (April 24, 2024). "Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson And Ralph Fiennes To Star In ''28 Years Later'' For Danny Boyle And Sony Pictures".
32. Wiseman, Andreas. (5 March 2021). "'Rothko': Sam Taylor-Johnson To Direct Art-World Drama With Russell Crowe, Aisling Franciosi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, More — EFM Hot Package".
33. "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Responds to Criticism Over Age Gap With Wife Sam".
34. (2023-09-11). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Blasts 'Bizarre' Criticism of His Personal Life".
35. (2009-10-30). "Sam Taylor-Wood to marry actor, 19".
36. Standard, Felix Allen, Evening. (2012-04-11). "We don't mind the age gap say family of Sam Taylor-Wood's fiancé".
37. (2019-11-12). "Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson Open Up About Why They're One of Hollywood's Most Private Couples".
38. (22 June 2012). "Aaron Johnson, Sam Taylor-Wood Marry".
39. (22 June 2012). "Aaron Johnson Marries Sam Taylor-Wood". [[People (magazine).
40. (23 April 2015). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson: 'Changing my name felt beautiful'". [[The Guardian]].
41. (5 January 2015). "50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2015". [[British GQ]].
42. Chekoufi, Farouk. "Aaron Taylor-Johnson On Style, Storytelling And Staying Creative".
43. (2024-03-19). "The anti-James Bond: Why kale-growing Aaron Taylor-Johnson would be a 007 like no other".
44. Vivarelli, Nick. (8 July 2022). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson to be Honored With Locarno Film Festival Excellence Award".