Charlie Hunnam
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Charles Matthew Hunnam, born April 10, 1980, is an English actor who captured our imaginations as Jax Teller in the FX drama *Sons of Anarchy*. For that iconic role, he earned two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations for Best Actor.
Hunnam has graced the lead in a remarkable array of films, including the gritty *Green Street* in 2005, the compelling *Nicholas Nickleby* in 2002, the colossal *Pacific Rim* in 2013, and the action-packed *Triple Frontier* in 2019. He also brought to life the adventurous spirit of Percy Fawcett in *The Lost City of Z* in 2016, and the legendary King Arthur in *King Arthur: Legend of the Sword* in 2017.
His television presence is just as impactful, with notable projects like the Channel 4 drama *Queer as Folk* from 1999 to 2000, the Fox series *Undeclared* from 2001 to 2002, and the recent Apple TV+ series *Shantaram* in 2022.
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne on April 10, 1980, Charles Matthew Hunnam is the son of Jane Bell, a ballet dancer and business owner, and William Hunnam. His lineage includes a grandmother who was a portrait artist. He credits his mother with doing an "excellent job" as a single parent. He has an older brother, William, and two younger half-brothers, Oliver and Christian, on his mother's side.
At the age of 12, following his mother's remarriage, the family relocated to Melmerby in Cumbria. He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith, from which he was later expelled. During his teenage years, he was passionate about rugby and wasn't afraid to defend himself in schoolyard brawls. Instead of pursuing a university degree, he chose to study performing arts at the Cumbria College of Art and Design in Carlisle, now part of the University of Cumbria. He graduated with a dual degree in film theory and film history, with a specialization in performing arts, harboring ambitions to write and direct his own films.
Hunnam's journey into acting began unexpectedly at the age of 17. On Christmas Eve, while goofing around with his brother in a JD Sports store during a shoe-shopping trip, a production manager from the Newcastle-based teen drama *Byker Grove* spotted him. This chance encounter led to his first role as Jason for three episodes of the show. He also briefly explored modeling, participating in a photoshoot for Kangol Caps, but quickly realized it wasn't his calling. His first significant role arrived at 18 when Russell T Davies cast him as the 15-year-old schoolboy Nathan Maloney in Davies' Channel 4 drama *Queer as Folk*. He followed this with a role as Daz in the film *Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?* in 1999, before making the move to the United States. He was a strong contender for the role of Anakin Skywalker in *Star Wars: Attack of the Clones*, but an awkward in-person interview with George Lucas and the producers ultimately led to Hayden Christensen being cast.
His career then 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 Lloyd Haythe, a British drama student. Despite critical acclaim, the series was canceled after just one season. Hunnam then made his mark on the big screen in *Abandon* (2002), *Nicholas Nickleby* (2002), and *Cold Mountain* (2003). Hunnam expressed a deliberate approach to his career, stating, "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 selective approach led him back to the UK for the lead role of Pete Dunham in the film *Green Street* (2005). While his attempt at a Cockney accent landed him on many critics' "worst accents in movie history" lists, his role as Patric, a member of "The Fishes" in *Children of Men* (2006), marked what he called the final part in his "trilogy of mad men," following his psychotic characters in *Cold Mountain* and *Green Street Hooligans*.
From 2008 to 2014, Hunnam commanded the screen as Jackson "Jax" Teller, the leader of SAMCRO, a prominent motorcycle club in the fictional town of Charming, California, in *Sons of Anarchy*. Creator Kurt Sutter cast him after seeing him in *Green Street Hooligans*. His portrayal of Jax Teller earned him 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.
In 2011, Hunnam took on the role of Gavin Nichols in Matthew Chapman's philosophical drama/thriller *The Ledge*. In 2012, he starred as the titular character in the indie comedy *3,2,1... Frankie Go Boom*, alongside his *Sons of Anarchy* co-star Ron Perlman. Hunnam recounted that filming scenes with Perlman was the "best and funniest day of filming he's had in his career." He also appeared as Jay, an ex-boxer, in Stefan Ruzowitzky's crime drama *Deadfall* in 2012.
Hunnam starred as Raleigh Becket in Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi blockbuster *Pacific Rim*, which premiered in July 2013 and achieved a worldwide gross of $411 million. On September 2, 2013, it was announced that Hunnam would play the lead role of Christian Grey in the film adaptation of E. L. James' novel *Fifty Shades of Grey*. However, on October 12, 2013, Universal Pictures announced Hunnam's withdrawal from the film due to scheduling conflicts with *Sons of Anarchy*.
On June 2, 2014, Hunnam was honored with a Huading Award for Best Global Emerging Actor for his role as Raleigh in *Pacific Rim*, recognizing the film's success in Asian markets. Hunnam reunited with del Toro in the horror film *Crimson Peak*, sharing the screen with Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain. Filming began in February 2014, with the film released on October 16, 2015.
Hunnam portrayed geographer Percy Fawcett in James Gray's adaptation of David Grann's 2009 book, *The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon*. Gray's adventure drama, *The Lost City of Z*, was filmed from August to October 2015 and premiered on October 15, 2016, as the closing night selection at the New York Film Festival, with a U.S. release on April 14, 2017. Hunnam then took on the titular role in Guy Ritchie's action-adventure film *King Arthur: Legend of the Sword*, which was filmed between March and July 2015 and released in May 2017. He next starred in Guy Ritchie's 2019 film *The Gentlemen*, alongside Matthew McConaughey.
Hunnam played Charlie Waldo in the 2022 mystery/thriller *Last Looks*, which also featured Mel Gibson. His first television series for Apple TV+, *Shantaram*, premiered on October 14, 2022, with Hunnam leading the cast as Dale Conti/Lindsay "Linbaba" Ford. The series is based on Gregory David Roberts' 2003 autobiographical novel.
On February 9, 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported that Hunnam had joined Zack Snyder's Netflix project *Rebel Moon*. This project reunited Hunnam with his *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 December 15, 2023, followed by a worldwide release on Netflix's streaming service on December 21, 2023. *Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver* was released worldwide on Netflix on April 14, 2024.
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, titled *Criminal*. Hunnam will portray Leo, "a brilliant master thief."
Hunnam met actress Katharine Towne, daughter of actress Julie Payne and filmmaker Robert Towne, in 1999 during auditions for *Dawson's Creek*. After a whirlwind three-week romance, they married in Las Vegas, divorcing in 2002. He has also dated model Sophie Dahl, actress Stella Parker, and film producer Georgina Townsley. He has been in a committed relationship with artist Morgana McNelis since 2005.
In 2016, he began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rigan Machado, earning his blue belt in October 2018.
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Charles Matthew Hunnam (; born 10 April 1980) is an English actor. He portrayed Jax Teller in the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), for which he was twice nominated 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), Triple Frontier (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 ==
Charles Matthew Hunnam was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 10 April 1980, the son of Jane Bell, a ballet dancer and business owner, and William Hunnam. One of his grandmothers was a portrait artist. He has said that his mother "did a very good job" of being a single parent. He has an older brother named William and two younger half brothers on his mother's side named Oliver and Christian.
At age 12, when his mother remarried, the family moved to Melmerby in Cumbria. He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith, from which he was later expelled. During his adolescence, he played rugby and fought with his classmates. 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.
== Career ==
=== 1997–2007 ===
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. 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. 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. Hunnam was heavily considered by George Lucas for the role of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, but following an awkward in-person interview with George Lucas and producers, ultimately Hayden Christensen was cast in the role instead.
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. 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."
=== 2008–2012 ===
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. 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.
In 2011, Hunnam played the role of Gavin Nichols in the philosophical drama/thriller The Ledge by Matthew Chapman. 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. Hunnam said he considered the day he filmed scenes with Perlman the best and funniest day of filming he's had in his career. He also appeared as Jay, an ex-boxer, in Stefan Ruzowitzky's crime drama Deadfall (2012).
=== 2013–2019 ===
Hunnam starred as Raleigh Becket in Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi film Pacific Rim, 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. 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.
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. Hunnam reunited with del Toro in the horror film Crimson Peak, alongside Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain. The film began shooting in February 2014 and was released on 16 October 2015.
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 was filmed from August to 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. 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. He next starred in Guy Ritchie's 2019 film The Gentlemen alongside Matthew McConaughey.
=== 2020–present ===
Hunnam portrayed Charlie Waldo in the 2022 mystery/thriller Last Looks which also featured Mel Gibson. His first television series for Apple TV+, Shantaram, premiered 14 October 2022. Hunnam led the cast of characters as Dale Conti/Lindsay "Linbaba" Ford. The series was 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."
== Personal life ==
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. After dating for three weeks, they married in Las Vegas; they divorced in 2002. He dated model Sophie Dahl, actress Stella Parker and film producer Georgina Townsley. He has been in a relationship with artist Morgana McNelis since 2005.
In 2016, he began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rigan Machado, and received his blue belt in October 2018.
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
=== Television ===
== Awards and nominations ==
=== Film ===
=== Television ===
== References ==
== External links ==
Charlie Hunnam at IMDb
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