Taron Egerton brought another intense role to life in 2025 with She Rides Shotgun. The father-daughter road movie blends action, drama, and thriller elements, allowing the Welsh actor to explore his eclectic range as a thespian. While he has already showcased his tremendous creative scope throughout his career, this young star is only just getting started.
Egerton has a string of projects lined up where he will share the screen with the likes of Charlize Theron, Eric Bana, and Channing Tatum. So, as his name continues to ascend, let’s journey back through his career so far. Here are 7 interesting facts about Taron Egerton.
The Early Days
Although he was born in Birkenhead, England, Taron Egerton considers himself Welsh “through and through” as his family moved to Wales when he was two years old. His name “Taron” comes from the Welsh word “Taran” meaning “thunder” – but it’s actually a spelling mistake by his mother, who put an “o” instead of the second “a”. In his teenage years, acting was more a way of socializing and making new friends, joining an after-school theatre group and taking part in school productions. However, his natural abilities shined through. He then went on to attend the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, from which he graduated in 2012.
Taron Egerton: Thrown in the Deep End
The casting process for Kingsman: The Secret Service was beyond extensive. For the part of Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin, director Matthew Vaughn reportedly auditioned over 60 young actors, including the likes of Jack O’Connell, Daniel Kaluuya, and John Boyega. At the time, Egerton had no film credits to his name and was working on a television drama when his agent slapped the script in his lap. During his first audition, Vaughn didn’t look at Egerton during the scene, and when Egerton asked if they were done, Vaughn looked up and said “What was your name again?” – that’s when Egerton knew he had a shot. He successfully outshined a wealth of British talent and was about to become a breakout star.
Dedication to Immersion
Following the success of Kingsman, Egerton refused to be confined to the action genre and quickly began branching out. Proving himself as an immersive thespian, he embodied a young Elton John in Rocketman, garnering a wealth of praise and acclaim for his rendition. That year, he was nominated for a BAFTA and took home a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. But his immersion was far from over.
In 2022, Egerton bulked up his frame and did his mental homework to play convicted drug dealer Jimmy Keene in Black Bird. Based on a true story, the series focuses on Keene’s offer of early release if he can illicit a confession from alleged serial killer Larry Hall in a maximum-security prison. Black Bird served up another performance from Egerton that displayed his nuance as an actor, culminating in both a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nomination.
Close Friends with Elton John
Taron Egerton’s friendship with Elton John actually sparked a few years before the biopic, Rocketman. Lending his voice to the animated movie Sing, Egerton’s character performed “I’m Still Standing”, one of John’s greatest hits. John was reportedly beyond impressed with the number, which he told him on the set of Kingsman: The Golden Circle in 2016, where John had a cameo role. Their bond grew during the filming of Rocketman when Egerton lived with John in order to study him for the role. Today, they are still good friends and are regularly spotted together, grabbing lunch or hanging out.
The Wolverine Fan-Casting Saga
For years, fan communities championed Taron Egerton as the perfect successor to Hugh Jackman‘s legendary Wolverine. The speculation reached such heights that Egerton became a favorite among those dreaming of the X-Men’s eventual MCU debut. Initially, the actor seemed intrigued by the possibility, comparing it to playing James Bond and expressing excitement about performing for such a massive audience. The rumors gained traction when Egerton revealed he’d had a general meeting with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, though he later admitted mentioning it was a mistake that fuelled unnecessary speculation.
But there’s an irony here. Egerton’s Eddie the Eagle co-star Jackman himself jokingly told Egerton to “cool his heels a little bit” about the Wolverine talk. Eventually, Egerton pumped the brakes on the idea entirely. He acknowledged that while there was a moment when the fan-casting felt cool, Jackman’s return to the role made it clear who truly owns the character. Egerton also admitted he’s uncertain about wanting that level of attention and recognizes the impossible task of filling such enormous shoes, noting that he and Jackman are “such different vibes.”
Production Duties
It didn’t take long for Egerton to branch out and offer his skills behind the camera. He first took on executive producer duties in 2022 with Black Bird and followed up the next year with Tetris. However, his biggest behind-the-scenes involvement came with She Rides Shotgun. As a producer on the film, he was heavily involved with casting and saw to it that the movie could be shot on a modest budget and only in 25 days. To that, the film used no CGI, instead relying on practical effects and real locations shot across New Mexico.
His commitment extended to a dramatic physical transformation. Egerton shaved his head and bulked up to embody the physique of someone who’d spent five years in prison living on institutional food – bulky but not lean. He even nearly made some of his temporary tattoos permanent, admitting he’d booked an appointment to have the chili peppers behind his ear tattooed for real. While it wasn’t glistened with a great deal of critical praise, She Rides Shotgun serves as another shining example of Egerton’s utter commitment to the craft.
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