Johnny Flynn

Early life and education

Flynn was born on 14 March 1983 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the son of Eric Flynn, a British actor and singer, and Caroline Forbes. He has a younger sister, Lillie Flynn, who sings with the Sussex Wit.

From his father's first marriage he has two older half-brothers, actors Jerome Flynn and Daniel Flynn, and an older half-sister, Kerry Flynn.

At the age of 2, he moved with his family to the UK. Flynn won a music scholarship to Pilgrims School, an independent school in the city of Winchester in Hampshire, where he sang in the chapel choir. Because of his scholarship, he was required to learn two instruments: the violin and trumpet. Later, he taught himself guitar and won a second music scholarship to Bedales School, another independent school in Hampshire. He next went to Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art to study acting.

Flynn has scars on his face from an attack by a dog when he was a child in South Africa.

Acting career

Film and television

Flynn had parts in the television series Murder in Suburbia, Holby City and Kingdom. He rose to fame in his starring role of Dolf Vega in the film Crusade in Jeans (2006).

In 2011, Flynn's music was used in the film A Bag of Hammers. In 2013, Flynn was cast in Song One, a film starring Anne Hathaway. Flynn plays a musician by the name of James Forester, who becomes involved with Hathaway's character, following an accident involving her brother.

In 2014, Flynn played the lead role of Dylan in the rom-com television series Scrotal Recall which aired on Channel 4. After finding success on Netflix, the streaming network went on to commission a second series of 8 episodes, without Channel 4's involvement, which was made available globally on the streaming network in November 2016 under the new name Lovesick. The show's third series arrived on Netflix on 1 January 2018.

In 2015, he was one of the stars of the Comedy Central sitcom Brotherhood. In it, he played one of two adult brothers who have to raise their younger brother when their mother unexpectedly dies. It was billed as the British version of the US sitcom Two and a Half Men.

In 2017, he played the younger Albert Einstein in National Geographic's show Genius. Also in 2017, he played Pascal Renouf, a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders in director/writer Michael Pearce's debut dark thriller Beast, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the UK on 27 April 2018.

In 2018, Flynn played William Dobbin in the ITV and Amazon Studios television serial adaptation of Vanity Fair. He also played Felix Tholomyès in the BBC miniseries adaptation of Les Misérables.

In 2019, he starred as David Bowie in the drama Stardust, based on a screenplay by Christopher Bell and directed by Gabriel Range.

In early 2020 he was set to star in a heist musical starring Will Poulter and Naomi Ackie, titled The Score. In 2020, he starred in Emma, Autumn de Wilde's adaptation of Jane Austen's novel of the same name, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Nighy, and Josh O'Connor. He wrote the song played over the ending credits, "Queen Bee," which was released as a single alongside the film.

The film Operation Mincemeat, in which Flynn played author Ian Fleming, was released in 2021. Also in 2021, he co-starred in another British film The Dig, which was released on Netflix on 29 January 2021. He plays the character of Rory Lomax.

In 2022, he had a major role in The Outfit, alongside Mark Rylance.

In 2023 he portrayed Nicholas Winton as a young man in the film One Life.

He plays Dickie Greenleaf in the 2024 Netflix series Ripley, opposite Andrew Scott.

Flynn will star in the upcoming historical fiction survival thriller A Prayer for the Dying.

On June 9, 2025, it was announced that Flynn would star as Lucius Malfoy in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

Stage

Flynn performed in Propeller's all-male Shakespeare troupe, playing Curtis (The Taming of the Shrew) and Sebastian (Twelfth Night) in the 2007 season.

He has also performed in several other plays, including Richard Bean's play The Heretic at the Royal Court Theatre (2011). Flynn was cast in the role of Lee in Jerusalem, Jez Butterworth's hit play, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award for best supporting actor.

In summer of 2012, Flynn appeared in Shakespeare's Globe Theatre's productions of Richard III, as Lady Anne, opposite Jerusalem co-star Mark Rylance and then as Viola/Cesario in the Globe's production of Twelfth Night with Rylance as well. The productions transferred to the Apollo Theatre in the West End until February 2013. In March 2013 Flynn played the lead role in Bruce Norris' play The Low Road at the Royal Court.

In September 2015 he played Mooney alongside David Morrissey and Reece Shearsmith also at the Royal Court in Martin McDonagh's new play Hangmen. He joined the transfer to London's West End at Wyndham's Theatre later that year until March 2016. During this run the play was recorded and broadcast for National Theatre Live. He reprised the role again in the 2018 Off-Broadway production in New York at the Atlantic Theatre.

In November 2018 until February 2019, Flynn starred as Lee in the West End Premiere of Sam Shepard’s play, True West. The production was recorded as an audio play, released by Audible, which features original music by Flynn.

In 2023, Flynn played actor Richard Burton in The Motive and the Cue, a new play by Jack Thorne and directed by Sam Mendes at London's National Theatre. The story of how Burton and Sir John Gielgud clashed as they staged Hamlet on Broadway in 1964, the production received rave reviews, particularly the performances of the two leads. It was recorded and broadcast in March 2024 for National Theatre Live during its West End run at Noël Coward Theatre.

Music

Flynn has released several studio albums featuring folk revival songs of his own composition. He released his debut, A Larum, in 2008, and received critical acclaim. His second album Been Listening featured a duet with fellow British folk musician Laura Marling on the track "The Water". This was followed by Country Mile in 2013 and Sillion in 2017. Aside from Been Listening, each of Flynn's albums has charted in the top 100 in the UK. In May 2021, Flynn released Lost in the Cedar Wood, a collaboration with nature writer Robert Macfarlane. The album was influenced by the ancient Mesopotamian poem the Epic of Gilgamesh. In November 2023, Flynn and Macfarlane released a second album, The Moon Also Rises.

Flynn has also written musical scores for films, television shows, and theatre productions. This includes writing the film score for the 2012 film A Bag of Hammers, and the score and theme song of the BBC Four television series Detectorists, which he performed in a cameo appearance as a performer at an open mic night in series one, episode three. In 2015, he also composed the music (on period instruments) for the Globe Theatre's production of As You Like It.

Flynn's version of "Rambleaway" appeared on Shirley Inspired..., a 2015 tribute album to British folk singer Shirley Collins.

Flynn and Joe Zeitlin are the theme music composers for the 2019 Netflix TV Mini Series, The Last Czars.

He co-wrote the song Coins for Eyes with Robert Macfarlane for the 9th series of the BBC archaeology programme Digging for Britain.

Flynn performed Song with No Name at the U.K. national commemoration for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which took place at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France on 6 June 2024.

In 2024, Flynn and Joe Zeitlin composed the score for the Audible original The Mysterious Affair at Styles, as well as the second adaptation in this series from Audible, The ABC Murders in 2025.

Other works

In 2019, Flynn adapted a stage musical called Zog with its director, Mike Shepherd. The musical is based on the children's book Zog by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Flynn composed the music and lyrics. It was toured in the UK and produced by Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston.

In January 2020, Magnitsky the Musical was released by BBC Radio 3. It was written by Flynn and Robert Hudson. Flynn also performed the lead role and composed the music.

Flynn is the co-author of the children's book The World to Come, written with Robert Macfarlane. It was published in the UK on 3 October 2024. The book is based on and inspired by the song of the same name, featured on their 2021 album, Lost in the Cedar Wood. It is illustrated by Emily Sutton.

Flynn has narrated a number of books:

• Macfarlane, R., & Morris, J. (2020). The Lost Spells. Anansi Audio.
• Gibson, J. (2021). The Octopus Man. Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
• Woolf, V. (2021). The Virginia Woolf Collection: The Waves. Audible Audio.
• Palmer, B. (2022). Isaac and the Egg. Headline Publishing Group.
• Page, S. (2022). Mrs. Wickham. Audible Audio.
• Fleming, I. (2024). For Your Eyes Only. HarperAudio.
• Kafka, F. Hofmann, M (translator). (2025). Metamorphosis and Other Stories. Penguin.
• Maurier, D. (2025). The Scapegoat. W.F. Howes Ltd.

Recognition and awards

In 2005, Flynn was one of Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow.

Flynn was longlisted in the Evening Standard Awards and the What's On Stage Awards for best Newcomer for his role in The Heretic in 2012. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role, for his role in Jerusalem the same year. He won a commendation in the 2012 Ian Charleson Awards for his role as Viola in Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre.

In 2018 he won a Theatre World Award for his performance in the Off-Broadway production of Hangmen at the Atlantic Theatre, New York. His radio play Magnitsky the Musical won Best Original Single Drama at the BBC Audio Awards in 2021.

Personal life

In 2011, Flynn married theatre designer Beatrice Minns, whom he had dated on and off since secondary school. They have three children together and live in east London.

Discography

Singles and EPs

• Sweet William EP (2009)
• Home & Dry (For the Fishing Industry Safety Group) (2021)
• Coins for the Eyes (with Robert Macfarlane) (2022)
• Six Signs: Six Songs (with Robert Macfarlane, Hélöise Tunstall-Behrens, and Luisa Gerstein) (2022)

Soundtracks

• A Bag of Hammers (2011)
• Detectorists (2014)
• Song One (2014)
• Emma (2020)
• The Score (2021)
• The Mysterious Affair at Styles (2024)

Albums

• A Larum (2008)
• Been Listening (2010)
• Country Mile (2013)
• Live in Washington DC (2014)
• Sillion (2017)
• Live at the Roundhouse (as Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit) (2018)
• Lost in the Cedar Wood (with Robert Macfarlane) (2021)
• The Moon Also Rises (2023) (with Robert Macfarlane)

Filmography

Film

Television

References

References

1. "Johnny Flynn Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor...".
2. Wollaston, Sam. (3 October 2014). "Scrotal Recall; Detectorists; Peaky Blinders review – two charming comedies about sex and metal-detecting, and the return of the Shelby gang". The Guardian.
3. (27 July 2016). "S'Black Mirror', 'One Day at a Time' & More Get Premiere Dates On Netflix – TCA". Deadline.
4. (10 September 2023). "Review One Life review – Anthony Hopkins moves in stirring second world war drama". The Guardian.
5. (5 April 2024). "Ripley star Johnny Flynn's life off-screen from dog attack to famous family".
6. Purcell, Andrew. (2 December 2010). "Johnny Flynn's special relationship". The Guardian.
7. Patten, Dominic. (28 May 2013). "Mary Steenburgen Joins Anne Hathaway In 'Song One'".
8. "Netflix Has Officially Renewed Scrotal Recall for Season 2". Premiere Date.
9. Virtue, Graeme. (16 November 2016). "A whole new ball game: the unlikely return of STI sitcom Scrotal Recall". The Guardian.
10. "Brotherhood... coming soon to Comedy Central".
11. (13 September 2017). "'Beast' Acquired For North America By 30WEST In Upstart's Third Major Toronto Deal".
12. (3 November 2017). "UK Release Date Confirmed For Beast".
13. (25 September 2017). "'Vanity Fair': Suranne Jones, Michael Palin Join Olivia Cooke in ITV/Amazon Drama".
14. "BBC One – Les Miserables, Series 1, Episode 1".
15. Sneider, Jeff. (31 January 2019). "David Bowie Movie in the Works Starring Actor-Singer Johnny Flynn".
16. Petski, Denise. (22 January 2020). "Johnny Flynn Joins Andrew Scott in Steven Zaillian's Tom Ripley Drama Series at Showtime".
17. "Emma. director Autumn de Wilde explains the film's unusual punctuation".
18. Ehrlich, David. (14 January 2021). "How Johnny Flynn Gave 'Emma' Its Modern Soul (and Its Perfect End Credits Song)". Idie Wire.
19. "Operation Mincemeat (2021) – Full Cast and Crew".
20. Wilner, Norman. (28 January 2021). "Review: The Dig is a simple Netflix drama with surprising depth".
21. (17 March 2022). "'The Outfit' Review: The Violent Measure of a Man". The New York Times.
22. Peng, Cici. (4 April 2024). "Johnny Flynn on Ripley: "We Leaned Into This Yearning Between Them"".
23. Crow, David. (22 January 2020). "''Talented Mr. Ripley'' Series Adds Johnny Flynn to Cast".
24. Ritman, Alex. (2024-09-07). "First Look at Survival Thriller 'A Prayer for the Dying' Starring John C. Reilly and Johnny Flynn (EXCLUSIVE)".
25. (9 June 2025). "'Harry Potter' HBO Series Finds Molly Weasley, Draco and Lucius Malfoy and More Hogwarts Students".
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28. "Theatre information".
29. Bosanquet, Theo. (3 February 2012). "Cast: Spiro is Globe Shrew, Flynn & Barnett support Rylance". What's On Stage.
30. Spencer, Charles. (28 March 2013). "The Low Road, Royal Court". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
31. "Hangmen at The Royal Court Theatre".
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34. Fierberg, Ruthie. (14 February 2019). "Audible to Release Recording of London's True West, Starring Kit Harrington and Johnny Flynn". Playbill Inc..
35. Thompson, Jessie. (3 May 2023). "The Motive and the Cue review: Burton/Gielgud luvvie-off will give you goosebumps".
36. Cavendish, Dominic. (2 May 2023). "The Motive and the Cue: To see or not to see? No question – go". The Telegraph.
37. "National Theatre Live Screens The Motive and the Cue Beginning March 21".
38. (23 August 2008). "Johnny Flynn: Stirring Up 'A Larum'".
39. "A Larum – Johnny Flynn {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic".
40. Schurr, Maria. (22 November 2010). "Johnny Flynn: Been Listening, PopMatters".
41. "JOHNNY FLYNN {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company".
42. (10 May 2021). "Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane – 'Lost in the Cedar Wood' review".
43. Mongredien, Phil. (12 November 2023). "Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane: The Moon Also Rises review – celebratory and thought-provoking".
44. (3 October 2014). "Johnny Flynn – Detectorists (Original Soundtrack from the TV Series) – Out Now". [[Transgressive Records]].
45. "As You Like It starring Michelle Terry as Rosalind / Shakespeare's Globe".
46. (6 March 2015). "Earth Recordings to release 'Shirley Inspired' Triple LP".
47. "The Last Czars (TV Mini Series 2019) - IMDb".
48. Flynn, Johnny. (4 January 2022). "Johnny Flynn".
49. (3 June 2024). "BBC announces top names to star in its coverage of D-Day 80 commemorations on BBC One and iPlayer".
50. Shafer, Ellise. (2 October 2024). "Peter Dinklage, Jessica Gunning, Himesh Patel and More to Star in Audible Adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' (EXCLUSIVE)".
51. "The ABC Murders, An Audible Original".
52. "Cast announced and a first look at ZOG in rehearsal for Rose Theatre Kingston premiere".
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54. (12 January 2020). "Magnitsky the Musical".
55. (7 March 2024). "Magic Cat signs picture book with Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn". The Bookseller.
56. Dean, Jonathan. (6 May 2024). "Johnny Flynn interview: The star of the new Emma adaptation on playing David Bowie in Stardust — and writing a song for him". The Times.
57. "ROYAL COURT THEATRE NOMINATED FOR NINE 2012 WHATSONSTAGE.COM AWARDS at The Royal Court Theatre".
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59. (6 May 2024). "Stars in their eyes". The Sunday Times.
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62. (14 April 2012). "Johnny Flynn: 'I'd just had a kid and started having severe panic attacks'". The Guardian.
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64. Wise, Louise. (30 September 2018). "Kit Harington and Johnny Flynn interview: the boys on True West, Game of Thrones and the traumas of brotherly love". The Times.
65. (20 December 2022). "Six Signs: Six Songs (inspired by Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising) is out now.".
66. (31 March 2017). "StackPath".
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68. "Johnny Flynn returns with the draining, enriching Sillion".
69. Records, Transgressive. "A year on, we're releasing the complete recording of Johnny Flynn at the Roundhouse".
70. (8 October 2018). "Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit Announce New Live Album".
71. (28 June 2023). "Sky Puts Darkly Comic Series 'The Lovers' From 'Doctor Foster' Producer Drama Republic Into Production".