Nicholas Caradoc Hoult (born 7 December 1989) is an English actor.
His filmography includes supporting work in big-budget mainstream productions and starring roles in
independent projects in the American and British film industries. He has received several accolades, including nominations for a
BAFTA, two
Golden Globe Awards, and a
Primetime Emmy Award. He was included in the 2012 edition of
Forbes 30 Under 30.
Hoult performed in local theatre productions as a child. He made his screen debut at age seven in the 1996 film
Intimate Relations, and appeared on several British television series' between 1998 and 2001. His breakthrough came in 2002 with a prominent role in the comedy-drama film
About a Boy, for which he earned a
Critics' Choice Award nomination for
Best Young Actor. He went on to achieve wider recognition for playing
Tony Stonem in the
E4 teen drama series
Skins (2007–2008), receiving a
Golden Nymph Award nomination. His transition to adult roles began with the 2009 period drama
A Single Man, for which he earned a
BAFTA Rising Star nomination, and the fantasy film
Clash of the Titans (2010). He played the mutant
Hank McCoy in the 2011 superhero film
X-Men: First Class, a role he reprised in later instalments of
the series.
Hoult starred as
Jack in the fantasy adventure film
Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), as a zombie in the romantic comedy
Warm Bodies (2013), and had a supporting role in 2015's action epic
Mad Max: Fury Road. He starred in a number of independent films before portraying various historical figures such as
Robert Harley in the black comedy
The Favourite (2018), writer
J. R. R. Tolkien in
Tolkien (2019), and
Peter III in the
Hulu comedy-drama series
The Great (2020–present). His work on the latter earned him nominations for two
Golden Globes and an
Emmy Award. He has since starred in the 2021 action thriller
Those Who Wish Me Dead, black comedy
The Menu (2022), and horror comedy
Renfield (2023).
Outside of film, Hoult voiced Elliot in the 2010
action role-playing game Fable III, and appeared in the 2009
West End play
New Boy. He supports the charitable organisations
Teenage Cancer Trust and
Christian Aid.
