George MacKay (actor)

Early life

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. He is of Irish descent on his mother's side, his maternal grandmother being from Cork.

MacKay attended The Harrodian School, a private school in London. When he was 17, he unsuccessfully auditioned for entrance to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Career

2002–2012: Beginnings as a child actor

In 2002, MacKay was spotted at school 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.

2012–2018: Rising popularity

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. 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 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. In February 2016, he portrayed the part of Bill Turcotte in the Hulu production of Stephen King's sci-fi/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.

2019–present:

In a 2019 release, MacKay interpreted the role of outlaw Ned Kelly in True History of the Kelly Gang, directed by Justin Kurzel. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Peter Carey, the film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. That same year, MacKay played the lead role of lance corporal William Schofield, a young British World War I soldier in 1917, directed by Sam Mendes. 1917 was nominated for Best Picture in the 92nd Academy Awards, along with nominations in nine other categories, winning three technical awards. MacKay stars in Nathalie Biancheri's film Wolf alongside Lily-Rose Depp, for which principal photography began in Ireland in August 2020. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2021 as the entry for Ireland, and was theatrically released in December 2021. His acting in Wolf was called by IndieWire as "the best performance of his still-rising career".

In October 2021, MacKay was cast in the apocalyptic musical film The End along with Tilda Swinton and Stephen Graham, directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, and in 2022, he starred in Christian Schwochow's film Munich – The Edge of War for Netflix. In 2023, Mackay starred in LGBT revenge thriller Femme alongside Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, for which he won Best Joint Lead Performance in the British Independent Film Awards. Also in 2023 MacKay starred in the science fiction film The Beast.

Artistry and media reception

MacKay cites actors Eddie Marsan and Viggo Mortensen as influences for his work. He credits Marsan as an influence in pursuing acting full-time. MacKay describes acting as being "done ultimately in a very safe environment" and "rooted in some kind of experience." MacKay has been called a method actor by several publications. Flaunt writer Elizabeth Aubrey stated that MacKay's roles are "chosen by a desire to push the boundaries of storytelling, to ask challenging questions about identity, and leave audiences with more questions than answers via stories that start important cultural conversations." The Last Magazine writer Jonathan Shia called MacKay's body of work "notable for both its length and its breadth." The Independent writer Alexandra Pollard wrote that MacKay's roles are tactically "chosen to broaden his perspective on the world" and that he is "clearly intensely thoughtful, in both conversation and in his career."

Personal life

In November 2023, MacKay married his long-term girlfriend Doone Forsyth, a makeup artist and hair stylist whom he met on the set of 1917. The couple have two children.

In January 2023, MacKay was one of almost 100 film and TV industry figures in the UK to sign a letter calling on the government to take "immediate action" against Iran's executions.

Works

Film

Television

Stage

Audio

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

1. (13 May 2020). "GEORGE MACKAY: "YOU CAN'T DREAM UP SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T FELT"".
2. {{cite LPD. 3. Mackay, McKay. mə ˈkaɪ''' [...] In British English usually (i).
3. {{cite EPD. 18. Mackay(e), MacKay(e). məˈkaɪ, məˈkeɪ Note: {{IPA. /məˈkeɪ/ mainly in the US.
4. (23 December 2019). "'1917' Cast & Creators Discuss Making The Ambitious One-Shot Film".
5. Brown, Emma. (14 December 2015). "The Lost Boy".
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".
7. Siobhan Synnot. (30 September 2013). "Interview: George MacKay, star of Sunshine on Leith". The Scotsman.
8. "IN PERSON: GEORGE MACKAY".
9. Brady, Tara. (26 February 2020). "George MacKay: 'My influences? Conor McGregor and wallabies'". The Irish Times.
10. "The Harrodian Eye – December 2010". Harrodian.com.
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.
13. (16 August 2012). "The Best of Men, BBC Two, review". Telegraph.
14. "BBC One: The Outcast: Episode 1 credits". BBC.
15. "George MacKay: 'My influences? Conor McGregor and wallabies'". [[The Irish Times]].
16. "True History of the Kelly Gang".
17. (29 March 2019). "DREAMWORKS PICTURES TO BEGIN PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON 1917".
18. (9 February 2020). "Oscars: The Complete Winners List". [[Hollywood Reporter]].
19. (12 February 2020). "George MacKay & Lily-Rose Depp To Star In Genre Film 'Wolf'".
20. (29 July 2021). "Irish film Wolf to world premiere at 2021 Toronto International Film Festival".
21. Stanger, Joseph. (29 May 2021). "Focus Features Sets December Release Date for George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp Drama, 'Wolf'".
22. Erbland, Kate. (17 September 2021). "'Wolf' Review: George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp Give Full-Bodied Performances in Identity Drama".
23. "Tilda Swinton, George MacKay and Stephen Graham Starring in Musical 'The End' for Neon".
24. Grater, Tom. (3 November 2020). "Jeremy Irons, George McKay Starring In Robert Harris Adaptation 'Munich' For Netflix".
25. (6 May 2022). "'1917's' George MacKay, 'Candyman's' Nathan Stewart-Jarrett Set to Star in Drag Queen Revenge Thriller 'Femme'".
26. Croll, Ben. (3 September 2023). "Director Bertrand Bonello Explains the Shocking, Incel Inspiration for 'The Beast,' Starring Lea Seydoux, George MacKay (EXCLUSIVE)".
27. "Interview: George MacKay, star of ''The True History of The Kelly Gang''". [[The Scotsman]].
28. "George MacKay - A Forging of Contexts, A Conceding of Knowledge".
29. (6 October 2014). "Britain's hard-working, soulful MacKay keeps films coming". [[Reuters]].
30. (22 April 2020). "George Mackay Lived in Ned Kelly's Mind for ''True History of the Kelly Gang''".
31. (15 September 2021). "''Wolf'': How George MacKay Totally Transformed Himself for a 'Universal' Exploration of Personal Identity". [[IndieWire]].
32. (29 February 2016). "George MacKay - Interview".
33. (26 January 2020). "George MacKay interview: 'I didn't realise there was a gender imbalance, because that imbalance served me'". [[The Independent]].
34. (19 November 2023). "The best day celebrating the perfect pair".
35. Maher, Kevin. (2023-11-29). "George MacKay: I question what it means to be a man".
36. Ritman, Alex. (16 January 2023). "Olivia Colman, Martin McDonagh, Jessie Buckley Among 90-Plus Names Calling on U.K. to Take "Immediate Action" Against Iran Over Executions".
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38. Smith, Neil. (23 May 2006). "The Thief Lord (2006)". [[BBC]].
39. (11 November 2008). "''Defiance'' (15)". [[British Board of Film Classification]].
40. "BBC - Film Network - Features - the Boys Are Back: Interviews".
41. "It's All Hunky Dory as Graduates Come Home". rwcmd.ac.uk.
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43. "How I Live Now". TIFF.
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46. Bradshaw, Peter. (21 November 2013). "Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson – review".
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48. (7 December 2015). "Sundance Institute Completes Feature Film Lineup For 2016 Sundance Film Festival". sundance.org.
49. (10 May 2016). "Cannes: Lionsgate Intl. Rolls Out 'Marrowbone' Across the World (EXCLUSIVE)". [[Penske Business Media]].
50. Barraclough, Leo. (8 February 2017). "First Look: Amandla Stenberg, George MacKay in Amma Asante's 'Where Hands Touch' (EXCLUSIVE)". [[Variety (magazine).
51. (7 May 2017). "Cannes: First Look at British Musical 'Been So Long' (EXCLUSIVE)".
52. Wiseman, Andreas. (15 August 2019). "Daisy Ridley Starrer 'Ophelia' Gets UK Distribution Deal With Blue Finch Film". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
53. McNary, Dave. (6 November 2017). "Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, George MacKay Join 'True History of the Kelly Gang'". [[Penske Business Media, LLC.]].
54. Aftab, Kaleem. (20 April 2020). "Review: A Guide to Second Date Sex".
55. (21 December 2019). "It Was Part Of Me": Director Sam Mendes On The Family History In '1917'". [[KTEP]].
56. (5 November 2020). "Nuclear review – escape to the post-apocalyptic country". [[The Guardian]].
57. (29 July 2021). "Irish film Wolf to world premiere at 2021 Toronto International Film Festival".
58. "Wolf".
59. Moore, Kasey. (22 October 2021). "Netflix Originals Coming to Netflix in January 2022".
60. (20 July 2021). "George Mackay, Kelly Macdonald & Hugh Bonneville Lead Cast In Netflix Thriller 'I Came By' For Director Babak Anvari".
61. (21 July 2021). "Line Of Duty Fans Will Love Netflix's New Thriller 'I Came By'".
62. Keslassy, Elsa. (16 May 2022). "George MacKay, Lea Seydoux to Star in Bertrand Bonello's Sci-Fi Romance 'The Beast' (EXCLUSIVE)".
63. (4 October 2021). "Tilda Swinton, George Mackay And Stephen Graham Board Neon Musical ''The End''".
64. (6 February 2025). "George MacKay & Callum Turner Lead Film4 & BFI-Backed Mystery-Drama 'Rose Of Nevada'; Protagonist Aboard For Sales — EFM". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
65. Wiseman, Andreas. (2024-05-17). "Bill Nighy, Noah Jupe, George MacKay & Matt Smith To Star In Pablo Trapero's English-Language Film Debut '& Sons' From Oscar Winner Sarah Polley's Script — Cannes Market Hot Project".
66. (30 August 2025). "‘Broken English’ review: Marianne Faithfull’s life explored in inventive documentary with starry cast". [[Screen international]].
67. Shafer, Ellise. (2025-07-21). "'Sense and Sensibility': George MacKay, Caitríona Balfe, Fiona Shaw and More Join Daisy Edgar-Jones in Jane Austen Adaptation".
68. (November 12, 2025). "Tom Ford Sets 'Cry To Heaven' As Next Film; Taps All-Star Cast With Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Adele, Owen Cooper & More".
69. Calnan, Ellie. (14 August 2024). "2024 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates".
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83. (21 December 2019). "Best Lead Performer in a Movie in 2019". [[IGN]].
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86. (2 February 2020). "FILM: 24th Annual Film Award Winners". OFTA.
87. Cline, Rich. (12 January 2021). "Female Filmmakers Lead Nominees for Critics Circle Film Awards". [[London Film Critics' Circle]].