Summary
- Joe Alwyn's first film was directed by Ang Lee, and his association with Taylor Swift brought attention to his personal life.
- Joe met his childhood hero, Antonio Banderas, at an event and had to resist the urge to challenge him to a sword fight.
- Joe attended the City of London School, the same school as Daniel Radcliffe, and later studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama before landing his first movie role.
Joe Alwyn was not always a well-known name. Without the association with Taylor Swift, most people would probably not have been able to place him. Being an artist in his own right, Joe has appeared in numerous Oscar-nominated films. But in recent years, it was dating the pop star that placed Joe more and more in the spotlight, even as the pair tried their hardest to remain elusive.
Joe's first film was directed by three-time Academy Award-winning director, Ang Lee. Private as Joe may have wanted to be, dating Taylor meant that facts surrounding his personal life would surface. A fact that would eventually allegedly lead to the end of Joe and Taylor's relationship.
Here are some surprising facts about Joe Alwyn before he met Taylor Swift.
Updated February 2024: After Joe Alwyn and Taylor Swift split, Alwyn took a breather from the media. Alwyn was not heard from until September 2023, nearly six months after the two broke up when he posted an update of his travels. Not only was this a return to the public eye but to social media. The last time Alwyn had posted anything was in May 2022. But that did not last long as Alwyn has posted nothing since and has remained quiet on who he is dating and his professional life as well. Something that is looking to change in 2024 and beyond with several projects in various stages of production, meaning that Alwyn will likely be hitting the red carpet in the future.
20 Zorro Was Joe Alwyn's Childhood Hero
Joe Alwyn met Antonio Banderas in 2019
- Joe had to hold himself back from challenging Antonio to a duel
Joe can go ahead and check “meeting your childhood hero” off of his list. This is because, in 2019, Joe met the masked hero of Zorro, Antonio Banderas, at the Academy’s Annual Governors Awards.
Joe has always been a huge fan of The Legend of Zorro movies. He said it took self-control not to challenge him to a sword fight.
19 Joe Alwyn's Father Is In The Industry, Too
Joe Alwyn's father, Richard, is a documentary filmmaker
- Richard's films center around crisis areas throughout the world
Joe has credited both of his parents for inspiring his love of theater and film. With a father who is a documentary filmmaker, it’s easy to see how a child can come to appreciate cinematic art.
His father, Richard, is known for making films that center around crisis areas.
18 Joe Alwyn Met Gigi Hadid Before He Met Taylor Swift
Joe Alwyn modeled with Gigi Hadid before knowing Taylor Swift
- It is rumored that Gigi introduced Joe to Taylor after working with him
Gigi Hadid is known for being a model, but also for being part of Taylor Swift’s “squad.” However, Joe knew Gigi before he knew Taylor.
In August of 2016, he busted out the green suit and did a photoshoot in Copenhagen, with Gigi and Imaan Hammam. For the Vogue shoot, he was photographed on a boat, on the streets, and in a city square.
17 Joe Alywn Auditioned For Sam In Love Actually
Joe Alwyn was on the shortlist to play Sam in Love Actually
- Joe lost the role to Thomas Sanger
Perhaps one of the more well-known facts about Joe...he almost won the part of Sam in Love Actually. At the time, losing the role stung. Now, as a famous actor, it may be a bit easier to joke about losing the role.
Joe lost the role in Love Actually to Thomas Sanger but says he remembers reading lines with Richard Curtis.
16 Joe Alwyn Went To The Same School As Daniel Radcliffe
Joe Alwyn went to The City of London School
- Skandar Keynes also attended The City of London School
The City of London School is a boys-only independent school right on the Thames River. The school has gained some notable credibility in recent years, for cranking out British actors.
Both Daniel Radcliffe and Skandar Keynes (Edmund from The Chronicles of Narnia) attended school there.
15 Joe Alwyn Was Born in Crouch End, North London
Joe Alwyn may have left home to audition but always came back to Crouch End
- Crouch End is an artsy area of London
Crouch End is known for being an artsy area, which probably contributed some to Joe’s love of the performing arts. He has lived in Crouch End his whole life and has been spotted a few times, showing Taylor his hometown.
Taylor reportedly even spent Thanksgiving at Joe’s home with his family, in 2019.
14 Joe Alwyn Celebrated His 24th Birthday Alone In The U.S.
Joe Alwyn auditioned for a film on his birthday
- Joe got the best birthday present and landed the role in Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Home
While a 24th birthday is not necessarily a milestone birthday, it’s still not something that most people choose to celebrate alone. That is unless they are actors.
When Joe’s birthday rolled around on February 21, 2015, he was busy auditioning for his first film with the famous director, Ang Lee. Every time he thought they would let him go, he was asked to read again, with different producers and actors.
13 Joe Alwyn Traveled A Lot
Joe Alwyn loved international travel
- Of the few pictures Joe has on Instagram, many are dedicated to his travel
It’s hard to keep tabs on Joe's travel plans, but he has posted a few times about his travel on social media. There are a mere 50 photos on his Instagram and several of them highlight international trips. Some of the photos include men running through sand in Morocco, a picture of a cityscape in China, a picture standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, a beautiful view of Argentina, and more.
12 Joe Alwyn Was An Adult When He Moved Out Of His Parents' House
Joe Alwyn did not move out of his parents' house until after his mid-twenties
- Joe later moved in with Taylor Swift in an $8.7 million mansion
Joe is definitely a “London Boy” through and through. He grew up in a house in North London and lived with his parents until 2018.
Taylor Swift’s song, “London Boy”, basically tells us more about Joe than Joe himself does. The two lived in a sprawling $8.7 million London mansion while together. A location that helped the two remain out of the spotlight as much as possible.
11 Joe Alwyn's First Movie Was Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Joe Alwyn graduated from school and landed his first movie role
- Despite not being what Ang Lee had envisioned for the role, Joe won the director over with his audition
Joe’s first movie was the first time he’d ever been on camera. He auditioned two weeks before graduation and within 10 days, he had booked the part.
After the audition in Atlanta, Joe was sent to get beefed up through military training. Joe was not at all what Ang Lee had pictured for the role, but Lee knew he was the right choice the minute he heard him read.
