Taron Egerton
Welsh actor (born 1989)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taron Egerton (/ˈɛdʒərtən/ ⓘ EJ-ər-tən;[1] born 10 November 1989) is a Welsh actor, singer, and producer. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he performed in stage plays before gaining recognition for his starring role as a spy in the action comedy films Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017). He has also voiced characters in animated projects like the Sing franchise (2016–present) and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019).
- Actor
- singer
- producer
Taron Egerton | |
|---|---|
Egerton in 2026 | |
| Born | 10 November 1989 Birkenhead, Merseyside, England |
| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Awards | Full list |
Egerton has starred in several biographical films, portraying military officer Edward Brittain in the drama Testament of Youth (2014), the titular ski-jumper in the sports film Eddie the Eagle (2016), and singer Elton John in the musical Rocketman (2019). The last of these earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He has also starred as Jimmy Keene in the miniseries Black Bird (2022), for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, as Henk Rogers in the biopic Tetris (2023), and as art gallery employee Adam Samuels in Everybody Wants to Fuck Me (2026). He has had major roles in the Netflix original thriller films Carry-On (2024) and Apex (2026), portraying protagonist Ethan Kopek in the former and villain Ben in the latter.
Early life and education
Egerton was born on 10 November 1989 in Birkenhead.[2][3] His mother Christine worked in social services, while his father David ran a bed-and-breakfast near Liverpool;[4] both of them are Liverpool natives.[5] He has two younger half-sisters.[6] Although born in England, to English parents and English grandparents, Egerton considers himself to be Welsh "through and through" and is fluent in both Welsh and English.[7][8]
His parents divorced when he was two, and he subsequently moved with his mother to the Welsh island of Anglesey, where he went to primary school.[3][5] The family then relocated to Aberystwyth when he was twelve years old.[3] According to Egerton, he became lonely and was bullied for being "artsy" and "feminine" at that age; in 2026, he said on the Armchair Expert podcast that the bullying from his childhood caused insecurities that continue to affect his personal views on masculinity and his romantic relationships.[9][10] In his mid-teens, he received therapy due to anxiety symptoms "bordering on OCD", such as obsessively washing his hands.[11]
He also questioned his sexual orientation in this period; he has attributed this to his lack of interest in traditionally masculine activities such as football when he was growing up.[11] He began acting at age fifteen,[12] which he later explained was "as much about trying to be social and make friends as it was an interest in acting".[9] He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 2012.[12] Egerton has described his background as working-class.[13]
Career
2012–2018: Early work and Kingsman films
Egerton performed in a stage production of the play The Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre in London in 2012.[14] After appearing in the crime drama series Lewis, he was cast as the lead role in Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Secret Service, an action comedy film adaptation of the comic book The Secret Service by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, in 2013.[5][15] He portrayed British Army officer Edward Brittain in the 2014 biographical drama film Testament of Youth, earning a nomination for Best British Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival.[16][17]
In December that year, Kingsman: The Secret Service premiered at the film event Butt-Numb-A-Thon in Texas, United States.[18] The film later received a wide release in the United Kingdom in January 2015, garnering favourable reviews that described it as "fun, stylish and subversive" as well as grossing over $400 million.[19][20] Writing for TheWrap, James Rocchi deemed Egerton to be "a naturally charismatic presence with smarts behind his smile" as Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, a recruit for an espionage organisation.[21] Egerton rose to fame with the role;[5] in 2026, he revealed that filming had been a difficult process with Vaughn repeatedly sending him home and threatening to fire him, as he had recently broken up with his girlfriend and had been "aggressively partying" to cope.[4] Later in 2015, he played Edward "Mad Teddy" Smith in the biographical crime film Legend, with Tom Hardy starring as both Kray twins. According to Egerton, he considered it his "job" to "subvert" the hyper-masculinity in the film, as he was portraying one of the twins' lovers.[22] The Hollywood Reporter's Leslie Felperin gave Legend a negative review and criticised its "incoherent" tone and acting, though she remarked that Egerton's performance as Smith is "admittedly[...] one of the film's brighter sparks".[23]
At the 69th British Academy Film Awards in 2016, Egerton received a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award.[24] In the same year, he played ski-jumper Eddie the Eagle in the eponymous biopic and voiced Johnny, a passionate gorilla, in the animated musical film Sing.[5][25] Egerton reprised the role of Eggsy in the film Kingsman: The Golden Circle, a sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service, released the following year. It drew a mixed response from critics.[26] In 2018, he starred in the crime drama film Billionaire Boys Club and played the title character in the action-adventure film Robin Hood.[27][28] Both films were commercial failures and panned by critics.[9] In the following year, Egerton claimed that Robin Hood had been pitched to him differently and that the film "lost its vision".[28] He attributed his involvement in Billionaire Boys Club and Robin Hood to monetary reasons.[9]
2019–2023: Career expansion
Egerton starred as singer Elton John in the biographical musical film Rocketman. He learned to play the piano for the part and sang live in each take during filming.[12] The film was released in 2019, receiving positive reviews, and the actor's portrayal of John earned praise.[29][30] The Washington Post's Ann Hornaday opined that Egerton "exerts a steadying, singularly charismatic force" in the role, while Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair described his portrayal as "nuanced and emotionally intelligent while still loose, carried with verve and agility".[31][32] Egerton won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance.[33] He also garnered a British Academy Film Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for his work on the film's soundtrack.[34][3][35] That same year, Egerton narrated the audiobook version of John's autobiography, Me, and the two performed on stage together several times.[36][37]
Also in 2019, Egerton voiced Moomintroll in the animated series Moominvalley and Rian in the fantasy series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.[38][39] He reprised the role of Johnny in Sing 2, which released in 2021.[40] Egerton starred in the play Cock by Mike Bartlett. Directed by Marianne Elliott and held at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End, the production marked his West End debut.[41] After missing performances due to fainting on stage during the first night of performances in March 2022 and testing positive for COVID-19 later that month, Egerton exited for "personal reasons" the following month.[42][43] The production of Cock garnered mixed critical reception, with Egerton's performance gaining praise.[44] The Guardian's Arifa Akbar wrote he "is especially affecting in his romantic desperation".[45]
Egerton executive produced and portrayed American drug dealer Jimmy Keene in the miniseries Black Bird, an adaptation of Keene's memoir In with the Devil. It premiered on Apple TV+ in 2022.[9] Reviewing the series, Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club wrote that Egerton "aces Jimmy's duality while switching from being overtly confident to silently breaking down".[46] He received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.[47] The following year, Egerton portrayed entrepreneur Henk Rogers in the biographical film Tetris, about the video game of the same name, which also released on Apple TV+.[48] Lovia Gyarke of The Hollywood Reporter commended him for playing Rogers with an "earnest goofiness".[49]
2024–present: Breakthrough with Netflix and AppleTV+
In the Netflix thriller film Carry-On (2024), Egerton starred as Ethan Kopek, a TSA agent blackmailed by a mysterious traveller.[50] He deemed it a rare opportunity to lead a film aimed at a wide audience.[51] Nick Schager of The Daily Beast wrote that "Egerton exudes the right mix of stuck-in-a-rut defeatism and harried determination to hold the film together".[52] On Netflix, Carry-On became the fifth-most-watched English-language film of all time.[53] In 2025, he starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries Smoke (2025) and the crime thriller film She Rides Shotgun.[54][55]
In April 2026, he portrayed the villain Ben in the Netflix original survival thriller film Apex, with Charlize Theron in the lead role. As of August, it was reportedly the year's third most-watched film on the streaming service so far. In the week following its release, the 2015 song "Go" by The Chemical Brothers saw a 429% surge in its streaming numbers, which media outlets attributed to the virality of an Apex clip in which Egerton's character dances to it.[56][57][58] Critics were enthusiastic about his performance as well; Empire and The Hollywood Reporter both opined that his "boyish" appeal provided an effective contrast to his character's sadistic behaviour.[59][60]
Later in the year, Egerton starred in the dark comedy thriller film Everybody Wants to Fuck Me. He portrays Adam Samuels, an art gallery employee in London who uses his seemingly progressive persona to seduce and manipulate women. Following a strange night with vengeful Sofia (Jessica Henwick), he is suddenly subjected to uncontrollable sexual interest from the women around him. The film premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and is awaiting wider distribution. Early reviews criticised the film's execution of its themes, though Egerton received acclaim for his acting, with Mandatory reporting that he "has made a stronger impression [on critics] than the movie itself".[61][62]
He will next appear in a major role in the upcoming crime film Kockroach,[63] and in a guest role in season two of the American comedy programme I Love LA.[64]
Public image
In a 2019 interview with British GQ, Egerton said that he didn't consider himself a "bro" or "stunt guy", with writer Chris Mandle saying that the actor felt "misrepresented" by his reputation as an action film star.[65] He has also spoken to the media about his body image issues multiple times,[66][67] stating on the Armchair Expert podcast that he has experienced "self-loathing" due to his workout routines across films, from Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) to Apex (2026).[68] Despite this, Egerton has earned sustained media attention for his physical fitness[69] and perceived good looks,[70][71] particularly the square or "geometric" shape of his jaw.[a] In 2026, JoBlo.com's Chris Bumbray characterised Egerton as "handsome in a kind of non-threatening way".[61]
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Various media outlets have also noted Egerton's perceived charisma.[71][78][79] In a BBC Radio 1 review of Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Ali Plumb described him as "appallingly charming" and opined that he stands out even when surrounded by other "walking charm machines" such as Jeff Bridges and Channing Tatum.[78] Karen Han of SlashFilm called Egerton an "endlessly charming presence".[79] Egerton was named one of the 50 best-dressed British men in 2015 and 2016 by British GQ.[80][81] Having lost a grandmother to motor neurone disease, he is an ambassador for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.[8][82] Egerton is particularly popular in South Korea, with the country's media giving him the Korean name 김태론 ("Kim Tae-ron") in the 2010s.[83][84][85]
Personal life
Egerton has repeatedly expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community, though he has clarified that he is heterosexual, following widespread speculation about his sexuality in 2018.[86][87] In 2019, it was reported that he resided in West London.[6] As of 2026, he has been estranged from his father for "a number of years".[4]
Acting credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Testament of Youth | Edward Brittain | [16] | |
| 2014 | Kingsman: The Secret Service | Gary "Eggsy" Unwin | [72] | |
| Legend | Edward "Mad Teddy" Smith | [22] | ||
| 2016 | Eddie the Eagle | Michael "Eddie" Edwards / Eddie the Eagle | [5] | |
| Sing | Johnny (voice) | [25] | ||
| 2017 | Kingsman: The Golden Circle | Gary "Eggsy" Unwin | [26] | |
| 2018 | Billionaire Boys Club | Dean Karny | [27] | |
| Robin Hood | Robin Hood | [28] | ||
| 2019 | Rocketman | Elton John | [12] | |
| 2021 | Sing 2 | Johnny (voice) | [40] | |
| 2023 | Tetris | Henk Rogers | Also executive producer | [48] |
| 2024 | Sing: Thriller | Johnny (voice) | Short film | [88] |
| Carry-On | Ethan Kopek | [50] | ||
| 2025 | She Rides Shotgun | Nate McClusky | Also executive producer | [55] |
| 2026 | Apex | Ben | [58] | |
| Everybody Wants to Fuck Me | Adam Samuels | [62] | ||
| TBA | Kockroach | TBA | [63] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Lewis | Liam Jay | 2 episodes | [15] |
| 2014 | The Smoke | Dennis "Asbo" Severs | [17] | |
| 2018 | Watership Down | El-Ahrairah | Miniseries; voice role | [89] |
| 2019 | The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance | Rian | Voice role | [39] |
| 2019–2020 | Moominvalley | Moomintroll | Voice role | [38] |
| 2022 | Black Bird | Jimmy Keene | Miniseries; also executive producer | [9] |
| 2025 | Smoke | Dave Gudsen | Miniseries; also executive producer | [54] |
| TBA | I Love LA | TBA | In production; guest role in season two | [64] |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Last of the Haussmans | Danny | Royal National Theatre | [14] |
| 2013 | No Quarter | Tommy | Royal Court Theatre | [90] |
| 2022 | Cock | M | Ambassadors Theatre | [44] |
Music videos
| Year | Song | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "The Breach" | Lazy Habits | [91] |
| 2019 | "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" | Elton John, Taron Egerton | [92] |
Audio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Me | Narrator | Audiobook | [36] |
| 2020 | The Sandman | John Constantine | Audio series | [93] |
Discography
Soundtrack albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [94] |
AUS [95] |
AUT [96] |
FRA [97] |
GER [98] |
ITA [99] |
NLD [100] |
NZ [101] |
SWI [102] |
US [103] | ||||||||||||||||
| Rocketman (with Elton John) |
|
5 | 6 | 38 | 55 | 67 | 80 | 81 | 9 | 32 | 50 | ||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Thrill Me" | 2016 | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Hugh Jackman | Fly (Songs Inspired by the Film Eddie the Eagle) |
| "The Way I Feel Inside" | None | Sing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| "I'm Still Standing" | |||
| "Let's Go Crazy" | 2022 | Tori Kelly, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll | Sing 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| "Where the Streets Have No Name" | Tori Kelly, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll | ||
| "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" | Tori Kelly | ||
| "A Sky Full of Stars" | None | ||
| "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | Keke Palmer, Tori Kelly, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson |
Accolades
Egerton won a Golden Globe Award for his role in Rocketman.[33] He has also garnered a Grammy Award nomination for his work on its soundtrack.[3] He has been nominated by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for the BAFTA Rising Star Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[24][34]
