If you were born between the late 1980s and the mid 1990s, you probably first fell in love with Nicholas Hoult as Tony Stonem in cult TV show Skins. The groundbreaking series catapulted him to fame, and since then, he’s worked with brilliant directors and starred alongside big names like Nicholas Cage, Toni Collette, Jude Law, or Angelina Jolie, to name a few. Tomorrow, December 7th, the British actor turns thirty-five years old — happy birthday! With three major movies out this year, it feels like 2024 is treating him better than any horoscope could’ve predicted. To celebrate his birthday, we look back at his best roles to date.
Thomas Hutter in Nosferatu (2024)
Ok, I’ll admit I’m cheating on this one because the movie isn’t even on theatres yet — can’t wait though! But after watching the first two trailers of Robert Eggers’ much-awaited remake of F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, I’m sure Nicholas will be brilliant in it. In this film he plays Thomas Hutter, a real estate agent that has to leave his wife, Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), to meet Count Orlok despite everyone’s efforts to stop him.
Justin Kemp in Juror #2 (2024)
Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Nicholas (as the main character), Toni Collette, and J.K. Simmons, this HBO Max movie has been highly praised by both the audience and the critics. Playing Just Kemp, the infamous juror number two, Nicholas is a family man who finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma while serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial.
Bob Mathews in The Order (2024)
Expect action, shootings, thrilling persecutions, mental games, and lots of bigotry in the new movie by Justin Kurzel. Based on a true story, Nicholas Hoult steps into Bob Mathews’ shoes, a domestic terrorist plotting to overthrow the US government. He became the leader of The Order, a white supremacist militant group that bombed and robbed banks in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1980s. Oh, and Jude Law is the FBI agent in charge of finding and arresting him — don’t miss it!
Tyler in The Menu (2022)
This movie by Mark Mylod was wild and unexpected, and Nicholas’ character played a huge role in it — he was one of the people the script aimed at criticising with a mix of gore and dark humour. Obsessed with all things culinary, especially conceptual and high-end, Tyler is an enthusiastic young man who brings a girlfriend (Anna Taylor-Joy) – she’s actually his second option, as she later finds out – to a one-in-a-lifetime gastronomic event. And even if the food is delicious, dessert is not as sweet as they’d expected.
Robert Harley in The Favourite (2018)
The much celebrated film by Yorgos Lanthimos showcased an incredible female cast — led by Olivia Coleman, who won her first Academy Award for her role as Queen Anne, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz. But in addition to them, Nicholas Hoult played one of the only male leads, Robert Harley, the Leader of the Opposition, who tried to get his way and influence in between the ups and downs of the monarch and her love triangle. Truly remarkable to make yourself noticed among such bright stars.
Nux in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Welcome on board to the Nuxcar! The crazy, reckless Nux played a pivotal role in the action-filled George Miller movie. Nicholas Hoult’s transformation (it included eight different facial prothesis) allowed him to let his imagination fly to step into the driver’s shoes, who aims to die in a grand way and finally enter Valhalla.
Matt Steiner in The Banker (2020)
George Nolfi’s luminous film starring Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson brought tears and joy to our hearts. As these two devise a risky plan to take on the racist establishment of the 1960s by helping other African Americans pursue the American dream, they enroll Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult), a working class white man, to pose as the rich and privileged face of their real estate and banking empire — which draws the attention of the federal government and complicates things.
Kenny in A Single Man (2009)
Just a year after he left Skins, so still a teenager, Nicholas got this great role in the debut film of Tom Ford, starring Colin Firth and based on 1964 Christopher Isherwood’s novel of the same title. He plays Kenny, a student of Professor George Falconer (who starts his day aiming to commit suicide) who shows interest in him beyond his teachings. Expect seduction, confusion, and flirtation.