Andrew Garfield

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Andrew Garfield
BornAndrew Russell Garfield
8/20/1983
BirthplaceLos Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityBritish, American
OccupationActor
EducationRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
AwardsTony Award for Best Actor in a Play (2018), Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy (2022)

Andrew Russell Garfield (born 20 August 1983) is an English and American actor. His work spans stage, television, and film across virtually every genre imaginable. Born in Los Angeles, he was raised in Surrey, England, where he trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. What followed was a climb from London's fringe theatre to Hollywood blockbusters and Broadway's biggest stages. He first caught major attention playing a young convict in the Channel 4 film Boy A (2007), a role that won him a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor. International recognition came next: he played Eduardo Saverin in David Fincher's The Social Network (2010), then landed the lead in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man films (2012–2014). His later choices show real range. He received Academy Award nominations for Hacksaw Ridge (2016), directed by Mel Gibson, and Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021), directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. On Broadway, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for playing Prior Walter in the 2018 revival of Angels in America. He's also got a Golden Globe, three BAFTA Film nominations, and a Primetime Emmy nomination. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.

Early Life

Andrew Russell Garfield came into the world on 20 August 1983 in Los Angeles, California.[1] His father, Richard Garfield, is American. His mother, Lynn, is English. Richard worked as a swimming coach before heading up a small interior design business, while Lynn worked as a teaching assistant at a nursery school.[2] When Garfield was three, the family relocated from Los Angeles to Surrey, England. He grew up in Epsom.[3]

He's held both British and American citizenship throughout his life. Garfield's been vocal about his pride in his Jewish heritage. His father comes from Eastern European Jewish descent. His mother is English.[4] In 2025, he opened up about diving deeper into his Jewish ancestry. He called it "being in a treasure hunt."[5]

In Epsom, young Garfield attended Priory Preparatory School. The school later featured him among notable alumni.[6] Early on, he developed a taste for performing. He's credited gymnastics and swimming with shaping his body awareness and sense of movement. That mattered. Growing up American-born in England left him caught between two worlds, something he's discussed openly as contributing to his sense of living between identities.[3]

Education

Garfield studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. It's one of the UK's oldest drama schools.[3] He graduated and went straight into professional work. The school's training in classical and contemporary theatre gave him a strong foundation for both stage and screen. He's spoken often about how drama school shaped his approach to character work and his commitment to the craft itself.[7]

Career

Early stage and television work (2004–2009)

Right after drama school, Garfield threw himself into theatre. London's Royal Court Theatre and the Manchester Royal Exchange both saw him perform. By the mid-2000s, he'd built a solid reputation in British theatre.[8]

Television came early too. In 2007, he guest-starred in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, appearing in the two-part episodes "Daleks in Manhattan" and "Evolution of the Daleks." He's called it an honour. The show matters in Britain. [9]

Then came Boy A in 2007. That was the breakthrough. Garfield played Jack Burridge, a young man trying to rebuild his life after juvenile detention for a violent crime he'd committed as a child. Critics loved it. He won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor. Suddenly, casting directors in both Britain and America were paying attention.[10]

That same year, 2007, he appeared in Lions for Lambs, directed by Robert Redford. He played a college student opposite Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. The film wasn't a hit, but his performance caught attention and marked his Hollywood entrance.[11]

Film breakthrough and The Social Network (2010)

2010 changed everything. He starred in Never Let Me Go, based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel. The film, directed by Mark Romanek, featured Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley. It portrayed young people raised in an alternate England for organ donation. Garfield played Tommy, one of three central characters. In interviews, he talked about the emotional demands.[12]

Later that year came The Social Network. David Fincher directed. Garfield played Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder caught in a bitter legal battle with Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg. This performance got him BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. It established him as a major talent of his generation. Fincher later discussed casting him, highlighting Garfield's ability to convey vulnerability and intelligence at once.[13] The Guardian even identified him as a top emerging British film talent.[14]

The Amazing Spider-Man films (2012–2014)

In 2010, Sony announced Garfield would play Peter Parker. Marc Webb was directing the reboot. He'd be taking over from Tobey Maguire.[15] The Amazing Spider-Man came out in 2012 and grossed over $750 million worldwide. Garfield starred opposite Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. Their on-screen chemistry impressed both critics and audiences. Garfield brought more emotional intensity and physical energy to the character. He discussed this extensively in interviews.[16]

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 arrived in 2014. Box office was solid enough. Critical reception was messier. Sony eventually shelved sequels and partnered with Marvel Studios instead. They recast the part. But years later, in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Garfield came back. It was a Marvel Cinematic Universe film directed by Jon Watts. The multiverse concept brought together three Spider-Men: Garfield, Tobey Maguire, and Tom Holland. Audiences and critics embraced his return. A 2025 Collider piece argued his version was the strongest performance of the three, despite the Amazing Spider-Man films' uneven quality.[17] By 2026, Sony confirmed the Spider-Man series would be recast after Brand New Day. All three actors' eras were ending.[18]

Broadway debut and Death of a Salesman (2012)

While filming the first Spider-Man film, Garfield made his Broadway debut. It was 2012. Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman was being revived, directed by Mike Nichols. Garfield played Biff Loman opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman as Willy Loman. The production earned strong reviews. He got a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

Hacksaw Ridge and Silence (2016)

2016 brought two major films showcasing his depth. Hacksaw Ridge came first, directed by Mel Gibson. Garfield played Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who served as a combat medic at the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. He became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. Garfield prepared intensely, both physically and emotionally. The performance earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He addressed concerns about working with Gibson, who'd made antisemitic remarks in the past. Garfield said he was "proud to be Jewish" and chose the role for its story's importance.[19] In another interview, he explored the film's themes of war and faith. The absurdity of war mattered to him.[20]

Then there was Silence, also 2016, directed by Martin Scorsese. Garfield played a seventeenth-century Jesuit priest in Japan during Christian persecution. The preparation was intense. He fasted. He did Jesuit spiritual exercises. Critics and collaborators noticed his commitment. The film asked difficult questions about faith.[21]

Angels in America and Tony Award (2017–2018)

In 2017, Garfield starred in the National Theatre's revival of Tony Kushner's Angels in America in London's West End. He played Prior Walter. The two-part play is set during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. It's considered one of the defining works of twentieth-century American drama. Prior is a young man with AIDS who receives prophetic visions. Garfield's performance earned him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor.

The production transferred to Broadway in 2018. Garfield repeated the role. Critics loved it again. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. That's one of theatre's highest honours. The role showed real artistic achievement. It proved he could carry a demanding, physically and emotionally exhausting two-part, seven-hour production.

Tick, Tick... Boom! and later film work (2021–present)

In 2021, Garfield played Jonathan Larson, the composer and lyricist of Rent, in Tick, Tick... Boom!. The film was based on Larson's autobiographical musical. Lin-Manuel Miranda directed, making his feature debut. It depicted Larson's struggles as a young artist in 1990s New York City. Garfield learned to sing and play piano. His performance earned a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Also in 2021, Garfield appeared in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, playing televangelist Jim Bakker opposite Jessica Chastain in the title role. And he returned as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

In 2022, Garfield starred in the FX on Hulu crime miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven. It was based on Jon Krakauer's book. He played a devout Mormon detective investigating a murder that forces him to question his faith. He got a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

His film work since has ranged widely. Under the Silver Lake (2018), directed by David Robert Mitchell, was a neo-noir mystery. We Live in Time (2024) was a romantic drama. In 2025, he worked on After the Hunt, playing a Yale philosophy professor. His character's first scene involves an explosive encounter. Garfield discussed the film's thematic depths in an interview with The Cut.[22]

In early 2026, Garfield was spotted in Las Vegas with Jude Law. Both were transformed into Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn for an upcoming biographical film about the famous illusionists. The first-look images showed dramatic physical transformations for both.[23]

Personal Life

Garfield's kept his personal life largely under wraps. He dated Emma Stone for several years after meeting on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man. The two were frequently photographed together from roughly 2011 to 2015. Stone rarely discusses him publicly, but in August 2025, she called their time working together "a special time in my life."[24]

In May 2025, paparazzi photographed Garfield at a Malibu beach with actress Monica Barbaro. Neither has publicly confirmed anything about their relationship.[25]

Citizenship-wise, he's held both British and American status his whole adult life. Born in Los Angeles, he grew up in England, and he's expressed feeling connected to both countries. His father's side of the family is Jewish, and he's spoken openly about exploring that heritage.[26] He's also discussed spirituality's influence on his work, especially for Silence and Hacksaw Ridge, both demanding engagement with faith questions.[27]

Recognition

Work across stage, film, and television has brought Garfield substantial recognition. Major awards and nominations include:

  • Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (2018) — for Angels in America
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (2022) — for Tick, Tick... Boom!
  • BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor (2008) — for Boy A
  • Academy Award nominations for Best Actor — for Hacksaw Ridge (2017) and Tick, Tick... Boom! (2022)
  • Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor — for Angels in America (2017)
  • Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play — for Death of a Salesman (2012)
  • Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie — for Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
  • BAFTA Film Award nominations — including for The Social Network (2011)

In 2022, Time magazine included Garfield on its Time 100 list. They recognized his artistic achievements and cultural impact.

Legacy

Garfield's career stands out for its range. He moves between commercial blockbusters and smaller, artistically ambitious projects seamlessly. He's played superheroes, conscientious objectors, Jesuit priests, composers, televangelists, and men confronting AIDS. That diversity has set him apart among his generation. His commitment to theatre work, including demanding runs like Angels in America, shows an actor who values artistic challenge over commercial appeal.

The Spider-Man role remains endlessly discussed. Critics and fans debate it constantly. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 got mixed reviews, and the series ended. Still, his interpretation has aged well. His return in Spider-Man: No Way Home brought new appreciation. The emotional depth and physicality he brought defined his version.[28]

His Tony-winning Prior Walter in Angels in America ranks among the role's defining interpretations. Several prominent actors have played it since the play's early 1990s premiere. His approach to roles requiring intensive preparation is notable. He learned to sing for Tick, Tick... Boom!. He did Jesuit spiritual exercises for Silence. He physically transformed for Hacksaw Ridge. That dedication is his hallmark.

As of 2026, Garfield continues working across film and stage. The Siegfried and Roy film with Jude Law is upcoming,[29] as is After the Hunt.[30]

References

  1. ↑ "Andrew Garfield". 'The List}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  2. ↑ "Andrew Garfield's Parents On How Their Son Is Handling Spider-Man Fame". 'Access Hollywood}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man: who is he?". 'The Daily Telegraph}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  4. ↑ "Actor Andrew Garfield Says He's 'Proud to Be Jewish'". 'Algemeiner Journal}'. 2016-10-30. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  5. ↑ "The Story of Andrew Garfield's Jewish Ancestry Is Like a Hollywood Epic".Hey Alma.2025-05-02.https://www.heyalma.com/the-story-of-andrew-garfields-jewish-ancestry-is-like-a-hollywood-epic/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  6. ↑ "Priory Preparatory celebrates 90 year anniversary". 'Your Local Guardian}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  7. ↑ "Andrew Garfield interview". 'IndieLondon}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  8. ↑ "Andrew Garfield". 'Broadway.com}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  9. ↑ "Spider-Man Star Andrew Garfield 'Honoured' to Be Part of Doctor Who". 'Digital Spy}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  10. ↑ "Boy A — Movie Review". 'The Seattle Times}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  11. ↑ "Lions for Lambs – Andrew Garfield interview". 'IndieLondon}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  12. ↑ "Andrew Garfield Never Let Me Go Interview". 'MTV}'. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  13. ↑ "David Fincher: A Life in Pictures". 'BAFTA}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  14. ↑ "Andrew Garfield: British film talent".The Guardian.2010-10-07.https://web.archive.org/web/20101029224900/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/07/andrew-garfield-british-film-talent.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  15. ↑ "Andrew Garfield is Your New Spider-Man". 'ComingSoon.net}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  16. ↑ "Spider-Man Stars". 'USA Weekend}'. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  17. ↑ "Andrew Garfield Is My Favorite Spider-Man, and Here Are 10 Reasons Why He Should Be Yours, Too".Collider.2025-11-14.https://collider.com/andrew-garfield-favorite-spider-man-should-be-yours-too-reasons/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  18. ↑ "'Spider-Man' Film Series Will Be Recast After 'Brand New Day', Sony Confirms".Inside the Magic.2026-03-08.https://insidethemagic.net/2026/03/several-actors-spiderman-will-be-recast-sony-confirms-dr1/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  19. ↑ "Actor Andrew Garfield Says He's 'Proud to Be Jewish'". 'Algemeiner Journal}'. 2016-10-30. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  20. ↑ "Andrew Garfield on Hacksaw Ridge, Silence, and the Absurdity of War". 'Fandango}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  21. ↑ "Andrew Garfield on Hacksaw Ridge, Silence, and the Absurdity of War". 'Fandango}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  22. ↑ "The Temptations of Andrew Garfield".The Cut.2025-10-10.https://www.thecut.com/article/andrew-garfield-interview-after-the-hunt-me-too-2025-fall-fashion-issue.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  23. ↑ "Jude Law and Andrew Garfield Transform Into Siegfried and Roy in First Look — See the Photos".People.2026-01-15.https://people.com/jude-law-and-andrew-garfield-transform-into-siegfried-and-roy-in-first-look-11886707.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  24. ↑ "Emma Stone Makes Rare Comment About Working with Ex Andrew Garfield: 'Special Time in My Life'".People.2025-08-16.https://people.com/emma-stone-makes-rare-comment-about-working-with-ex-andrew-garfield-special-time-in-my-life-11792189.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  25. ↑ "I Want What They Appear to Have: Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield".Vogue.2025-05-27.https://www.vogue.com/article/i-want-what-they-appear-to-have-monica-barbaro-and-andrew-garfield.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  26. ↑ "The Story of Andrew Garfield's Jewish Ancestry Is Like a Hollywood Epic".Hey Alma.2025-05-02.https://www.heyalma.com/the-story-of-andrew-garfields-jewish-ancestry-is-like-a-hollywood-epic/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  27. ↑ "Andrew Garfield on Hacksaw Ridge, Silence, and the Absurdity of War". 'Fandango}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  28. ↑ "Andrew Garfield Is My Favorite Spider-Man, and Here Are 10 Reasons Why He Should Be Yours, Too".Collider.2025-11-14.https://collider.com/andrew-garfield-favorite-spider-man-should-be-yours-too-reasons/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  29. ↑ "Jude Law and Andrew Garfield Transform Into Siegfried and Roy in First Look — See the Photos".People.2026-01-15.https://people.com/jude-law-and-andrew-garfield-transform-into-siegfried-and-roy-in-first-look-11886707.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  30. ↑ "The Temptations of Andrew Garfield".The Cut.2025-10-10.https://www.thecut.com/article/andrew-garfield-interview-after-the-hunt-me-too-2025-fall-fashion-issue.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
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