Will Poulter

William Jack Poulter was born on 28 January 1993{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Mike |date=28 January 2023|title=Today's famous birthdays list for January 28, 2023 includes celebrities Ariel Winter, Will Poulter|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/01/todays-famous-birthdays-list-for-january-28-2023-includes-celebrities-ariel-winter-will-poulter.html |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Cleveland.com}} in Hammersmith, London, the son of Neil Poulter, a professor of preventive cardiovascular medicine at Imperial College London,{{cite web |url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/n.poulter|title=Professor Neil Poutler|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-date=22 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094858/https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/n.poulter|url-status=live|website=Imperial College London}} and Caroline (née Barrah), a former nurse who was brought up in Kenya.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3672031/Son-of-Rambow-ready-for-action.html| title=Son of Rambow: ready for action| first=Sally| last=Williams| date=22 March 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090359/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3672031/Son-of-Rambow-ready-for-action.html| archive-date=27 March 2019| newspaper=The Daily Telegraph| location=London| access-date=24 October 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.flaunt.com/content/people/will-poulter-detroit-movie|title=Will Poulter|website=Flaunt Magazine|access-date=30 April 2019|archive-date=30 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430183232/https://www.flaunt.com/content/people/will-poulter-detroit-movie|url-status=live}}

He was a pupil at Harrodian School, whose well-known acting graduates include George MacKay and Robert Pattinson.{{cite news |title=Will Poulter: 'I'm a white, straight, middle-class male. I'm aware I take things for granted' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/sep/25/will-poulter-the-little-stranger-white-straight-middle-class-male |first=Ryan |last=Gilbey |date=25 September 2018 |access-date=24 October 2021 |archive-date=26 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426204538/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/sep/25/will-poulter-the-little-stranger-white-straight-middle-class-male |url-status=live |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}} He struggled in school due to dyslexia and developmental coordination disorder, but found that he loved drama, which "gave [him] a sense of purpose".{{cite web |last1=May |first1=Rebecca April |title=Will Poulter: "I'm a scaredy cat – I'll always avoid confrontation" |url=https://www.nme.com/features/film-interviews/will-poulter-interview-black-mirror-midsommar-2703843 |website=NME |access-date=10 September 2023 |date=9 July 2020}}

Poulter began studying drama at the University of Bristol in 2012,{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/PoulterWill/status/244933676868202497|title=I'm going to Bristol to study Drama, whilst {{as written|pu|rsuing [sic]}} my career in exactly the same way. |number=244933676868202497 |user=PoulterWill |first=Will |last=Poulter |date=9 September 2012 |access-date=12 August 2022}} before leaving after a year{{cite web | url=https://thetab.com/uk/2019/01/03/meet-will-poulter-the-bristol-grad-starring-in-the-latest-episode-of-black-mirror-88726 |title=Meet Will Poulter, the Bristol dropout starring in the latest episode of Black Mirror | date=3 January 2019 }} when he got offered a part in The Maze Runner.{{cite web|author=Poulter, Will |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juDHDx68GAs|title=Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Star Will Poulter Answers Your Question: Actually Me|magazine=British GQ|via=YouTube|language=en|url-status=bot: unknown|date=1 May 2023|access-date=3 May 2023|archive-date=2 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502150445/https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=380&v=juDHDx68GAs}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

Poulter played the role of Lee Carter in the 2007 film Son of Rambow, alongside his co-star Bill Milner. He performed with other young comedic actors in School of Comedy,{{cite news|url=http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/3954-school-of-comedy|title=School of Comedy|last=Lee|first=Robin|date=16 August 2007|work=The List|access-date=24 January 2014|archive-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105014300/http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/3954-school-of-comedy/|url-status=live}} which aired its pilot on Channel 4's Comedy Lab on 21 August 2008, before being commissioned for a full series in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/comedy-lab|title=Comedy Lab: Comedy Lab|website=Channel 4|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802112037/https://www.channel4.com/programmes/comedy-lab|url-status=live}}

In 2010 he played the role of Eustace Scrubb in the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which was filmed in Queensland, Australia, and was accompanied by some members of his family.[http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=1878&dl=20066430 Will Poulter Cast as Eustace Scrubb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113232240/http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=1878&dl=20066430 |date=13 January 2009 }} at www.narniaweb.com (accessed 22 June 2008)[https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46179 Will Poulter Cast in Narnia 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190651/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46179 |date=29 October 2013 }} at www.comingsoon.net (accessed 22 June 2008) In 2010 he appeared in the BBC Three pilot The Fades, a 60-minute supernatural thriller written by Jack Thorne. The pilot was picked up as a six-part series in 2011, of which Poulter was not included.{{cite journal |last=Sibayan |first=Genevieve |url=http://frostmagazine.com/2010/08/touch-a-new-supernatural-drama-series-for-bbc3-tv/2441 |title=Touch – A new supernatural drama series for BBC3 {TV} |journal=Frost Magazine |date=29 August 2010 |access-date=17 April 2013}}

In 2011 Poulter starred alongside Charlie Creed-Miles as Bill's son Dean, in the British independent film Wild Bill, directed by Dexter Fletcher.{{cite web |url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2010/11/09/narnia-stars-switch-londons-christmas-lights/ |title=Narnia stars switch on London's Christmas lights! |website=The Hollywood News |date=9 November 2010 |access-date=17 April 2013 |archive-date=14 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314163103/http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2010/11/09/narnia-stars-switch-londons-christmas-lights/ |url-status=live }} The cast included a host of British talent with Leo Gregory, Neil Maskell, Liz White, Iwan Rheon, Olivia Williams, Jaime Winstone, Andy Serkis, and Sean Pertwee, and scored a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer.{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wild_bill_2011 |title=Wild Bill - 2011, Drama, 1h 38m |work=rottentomatoes.com |access-date=29 March 2023}} In 2012 Poulter began studying drama at the University of Bristol where he lived in Badock Hall. He dropped out after a year in order to pursue acting full-time.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/06/will-poulter-interview-maze-runner |title=Will Poulter: 'Hanging out in Soho House LA, that's my worst nightmare' |first=Tom |last=Lamont |date=6 October 2014 |access-date=24 October 2021 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |archive-date=23 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023195229/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/06/will-poulter-interview-maze-runner |url-status=live}}

File:Will Poulter 2013.jpg in 2013]]

In 2013 Poulter played Kenny in We're the Millers, starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis. He also appeared as a caretaker in the music video for Rizzle Kicks' song "Skip to the Good Bit".{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a522603/rizzle-kicks-unveil-skip-to-the-good-bit-music-video-watch/|title=Rizzle Kicks unveil 'Skip To The Good Bit' music video - watch|work=Digital Spy|first=Sam|last=Rigby|date=10 October 2013}} Additionally, he unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars.{{cite journal|url=https://www.gq.com/story/will-poulter-detroit-interview-calvin-klein-jeans-first-look|title=Detroit's Will Poulter Talks Making Out with Jennifer Aniston and Being Miserable with Leonardo DiCaprio|first=Anna |last=Peele|date=20 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|journal=GQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222143203/https://www.gq.com/story/will-poulter-detroit-interview-calvin-klein-jeans-first-look|url-status=live}}

In 2014 he played Fordy in the crime film Plastic, directed by Julian Gilbey and starring Ed Speleers, Alfie Allen, Sebastian De Souza and Emma Rigby. The same year, he played Gally in the film adaptation of The Maze Runner, alongside Dylan O'Brien and Kaya Scodelario. Poulter went on to describe the film, and his role in it, as "a turning point" in his career.

In 2015 Poulter starred as Shane in the Irish indie film Glassland, directed by Gerard Barrett and co-starring Jack Reynor and Toni Collette.{{cite news|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/will-poulter/credits/3030028617/ |title=Will Poulter Credits |work=TV Guide |date=14 December 2023}}

In 2014 Poulter won the BAFTA Rising Star Award, voted for by the public.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26218678|title=Bafta Film Awards 2014: Full list of winners|work=BBC News|date=16 February 2014|access-date=9 March 2014|archive-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915224845/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26218678|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a541988/bafta-film-awards-2014-nominations-in-full.html|title=BAFTA Film Awards 2014 – nominations in full|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|author2=Harris, Jamie|date=8 January 2014|work=Digital Spy|access-date=8 January 2014|archive-date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108131537/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a541988/bafta-film-awards-2014-nominations-in-full.html|url-status=live}} The same year, he also won the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with his co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts) for his performance in We're the Millers.{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/04/13/will-poulter-emma-roberts-jennifer-aniston-win-mtv-movie-award-best-kiss-2014/|title=Will Poulter, Emma Roberts & Jennifer Aniston Win MTV Best Kiss|date=13 April 2014|website=Hollywood Life|access-date=24 June 2014|archive-date=19 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419181338/http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/04/13/will-poulter-emma-roberts-jennifer-aniston-win-mtv-movie-award-best-kiss-2014/|url-status=live}}

In 2014 Poulter was chosen as one of 23 upcoming actors to feature in July's issue of Vanity Fair, with all actors being named "Hollywood's Next Wave".{{cite journal|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/up-and-coming-actors-jaden-willow-smith|title=Hollywood's Next Wave|last=Smith|first=Krista|date=11 June 2014|journal=Vanity Fair|access-date=24 June 2014|archive-date=28 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628203341/http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/up-and-coming-actors-jaden-willow-smith|url-status=live}}

File:Will Poulter 2016 3.jpg in 2016]]

Poulter played Jim Bridger in the revenge-thriller The Revenant (2015), directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. The film centres on an 1820s frontiersman on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.{{cite journal|url=https://www.variety.com/2014/film/news/will-poulter-revenant-leonardo-dicaprio-1201190212|title=We're the Millers' Will Poulter Joins Leonardo DiCaprio in 'The Revenant' (Exclusive)|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=25 June 2014|journal=Variety|access-date=7 July 2014|archive-date=6 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706163730/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/will-poulter-revenant-leonardo-dicaprio-1201190212/|url-status=live}} In 2017 he played the racist police officer Philip Krauss in the film Detroit, about the 1967 Detroit riots. His performance was praised by Metro{{'}}s Matt Prigge, who called him "terrifyingly confident".{{cite news|url=https://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/detroit-review-kathryn-bigelow-john-boyega|title='Detroit' is a nightmarish history lesson about trauma|last=Prigge|first=Matt|date=23 July 2017|newspaper=Metro|location=London|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613084614/https://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/detroit-review-kathryn-bigelow-john-boyega|url-status=live}}

Poulter was originally cast as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the two supernatural horror films It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), both based on Stephen King's 1986 epic supernatural horror novel of the same name. However, it was announced in June 2016 that Bill Skarsgård had been cast instead as Poulter became unavailable after the departure of its initial director Cary Fukunaga.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/stephen-kings-adaptation-finds-pennywise-898993 |title=Stephen King's 'It' Adaptation Finds Its Pennywise the Clown (Exclusive) |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |first1=Borys |last1=Kit |first2=Tatiana |last2=Siegel |date=2 June 2016 |access-date=22 May 2017 |archive-date=22 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622160247/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/stephen-kings-adaptation-finds-pennywise-898993 |url-status=live }}

In 2018 Poulter reprised his role as Gally in Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the third and final instalment of the Maze Runner film series. Later that year, he starred in the film The Little Stranger, as Roderick "Roddy" Ayres, a facially disfigured, haunted war veteran; and as game developer Colin Ritman in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, a standalone interactive film of the Black Mirror television series.{{cite news|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2018-12-31/bandersnatch-cast-black-mirror/|title=Meet the cast of Black Mirror's interactive film Bandersnatch|journal=Radio Times|first=Ben|last=Allen|date=31 December 2018|language=en|access-date=24 October 2021|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100457/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2018-12-31/bandersnatch-cast-black-mirror/|url-status=live}} In 2019 he played the character of Mark in Ari Aster's horror film Midsommar. That year, he and Asim Chaudry presented Lee Mack with the Best Entertainment Performance award at the BAFTA TV awards for Would I Lie to You.{{Citation |title=Lee Mack Wins Entertainment Performance for Would I Lie To You? {{!}} BAFTA TV Awards 2019 | date=12 May 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNqQbdVCBI |access-date=2024-02-13 |language=en}} In 2020 he participated in filming The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, an interactive choice game created by Supermassive Games, in which he portrays Andrew, Anthony, and Abraham.

Poulter played the role of OxyContin sales representative Billy Cutler in Hulu's 2021 drama miniseries Dopesick. Poulter's performance was nominated for a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for this role.{{Cite web |title=Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie Nominees / Winners 2022 |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2022/outstanding-supporting-actor-in-a-miniseries-or-a-movie |access-date=4 September 2022 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}

In October 2021, Poulter was cast as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which released on 5 May 2023.{{cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=11 October 2021 |title=Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Will Poulter To Play Adam Warlock In The Next Installment Of The Marvel Franchise |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-will-poulter-1234853679/url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011224038/https://deadline.com/2021/10/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-will-poulter-1234853679/|archive-date=11 October 2021|access-date=11 October 2021|journal=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |last=Davids |first=Brian |date=2023-05-12 |title='Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Star Will Poulter Talks Adam Warlock's Arc and His "Momentous" Scene with Chris Pratt |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/guardians-of-the-galaxy-will-poulter-adam-warlock-1235486794/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

In September 2024, Poulter was named as an Ambassador of dementia charity Alzheimer's Research UK.{{cite news |url=https://thecareruk.com/ruth-wilson-and-will-poulter-mamed-ambassadors-of-alzheimers-research-uk/|title=Ruth Wilson and Will Poulter Named Ambassadors of Alzheimer's Research UK|date=19 September 2024|work=The Carer UK|access-date=19 September 2024}}

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Category:1993 births

Category:21st-century English male actors

Category:Actors from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Category:Actors with dyslexia

Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol

Category:BAFTA Rising Star Award winners

Category:BAFTA winners (people)

Category:English actors with disabilities

Category:English expatriate male actors in the United States

Category:English male child actors

Category:English male film actors

Category:English male radio actors

Category:English male stage actors

Category:English male television actors

Category:English male video game actors

Category:Living people

Category:Male actors from London

Category:People educated at The Harrodian School

Category:People from Hammersmith

Category:People with developmental coordination disorder