Joe Alwyn‘s rise to stardom has been marked by a string of compelling performances in movies and TV shows. Alwyn’s innate ability to breathe life into his roles and characters and evoke genuine emotion has garnered acclaim from critics and audiences. The English actor has undoubtedly become one of Hollywood’s youngest, sought-after actors.
Interestingly, Joe Alwyn, whose professional career began in 2016, has worked with and co-starred alongside some of Hollywood’s top filmmakers and actors. His relationship and split from Taylor Swift, which lasted for about 7 years, also brought him publicity and fame. This, in no way, dwarfed his talent as an actor. Here are Joe Alwyn’s best roles through the years.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
Joe Alwyn auditioned for Taiwanese director Ang Lee‘s 2016 war drama Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk despite knowing he wasn’t the “right fit.” The casting call was for a 19-year-old U.S. Army grunt. Besides looking a lot skinnier and having long blonde hair, Ang Lee chose Alwyn above others because of his “ability to communicate the book’s paradox of war with just his facial expressions.”
Cast as the titular character, Joe Alwyn led the cast of the 2016 movie, which also included Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin, Chris Tucker, and Garrett Hedlund. Alwyn’s Billy Lynn’s character is suddenly catapulted into an American hero after brazenly jumping into a gunfight in Iraq to rescue a wounded Sergeant Virgil “Shroom” Breem. The movie follows his struggles with PTSD back in the United States as his squad members become local celebrities. For a screen debut role, Joe Alwyn delivered a believable performance.
The Favourite
In Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2018 period black comedy The Favourite, Joe Alwyn joined the cast in a supporting role. However, this was more than enough to prove his amazing acting talents. Alwyn portrayed Queen Anne’s courtier and later husband of the Queen’s favorite, Abigail, Lady Masham. Before The Favourite, Alwyn had played the “boy-next-door” roles or anything that expounded his looks. In The Favourite, he proved he was much more than a pretty face, delivering several silly performances alongside two-time Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone. As part of the ensemble cast, Joe Alwyn received several nominations and wins for his performance.
Mary Queen of Scots
Joe Alwyn played the lover boy in Josie Rourke’s historical drama and directorial debut, Mary Queen of Scots. Portraying Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, Alwyn’s character is historically known as Queen Elizabeth I’s favorite. Besides being the Queen’s lover, Robert Dudley was also a childhood friend and counselor. The movie centered around the rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots (Saoirse Ronan), and her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie). Although it was criticized for its historical inaccuracies, Mary Queen of Scots performed well at the Box Office and also received two nominations at the 91st Academy Awards.
Harriet
In Kasi Lemmons’ 2019 biographical movie Harriet, Joe Alwyn played the antagonist and slave owner Gideon Brodess. The character is introduced as the son of Edward Brodess (Mike Marunde), who outrightly tears up the lawyer’s letter for Araminta “Minty” Ross/Harriet Tubman’s (Cynthia Erivo) freedom. After Minty prays for Edward’s death, Gideon becomes the new owner of the Brodess plantation. After Minty’s escape, Gideon pursues her relentlessly. Even after he discovers she’s alive, his disdain and anger for her leads him to chase after her.
The Last Letter from Your Lover
Joe Alwyn is cast in a supporting role in the British romantic drama The Last Letter from Your Lover. He played Laurence Stirling, a wealthy, scorned husband whose wife begins an illicit affair with a financial journalist who was writing a story about his success. Alwyn co-starred alongside Felicity Jones, the movie’s protagonist, Callum Turner, and Shailene Woodley. The movie received average reviews, but it was interesting to watch Joe Alwyn play the jealous husband.
In movies, Joe Alwyn has continued to play supporting roles, delivering superb performances. He appeared in two movies in 2022, Stars at Noon and Catherine Called Birdy. In Stars at Noon, Alwyn co-led the cast with Margaret Qualley, who played his romantic interest. He’s also one of the main cast of Hulu’s Irish TV serial Conversations with Friends. Joe Alwyn returned to acting in the 2024 Kinds of Kindness, where he plays three different characters in Yorgos Lanthimos’ absurdist dark comedy anthology movie. If you enjoyed reading about Joe Alwyn’s best performances, read about these 6 best films directed by Kinds of Kindness’ Yorgos Lanthimos.
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