Jeremy William Fredric Smith, better known as Jeremy Irvine (born 18 June 1990) is an English actor.
In late 2011, he starred as the leading character in the epic war film War Horse directed by Steven Spielberg and based on an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's children's novel. War Horse was nominated for six Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and five BAFTAs. The movie became a box office success and turned Irvine into an overnight film star. Irvine is widely regarded as one of the most talented young actors of his generation after his Star-Making Role in War Horse and earning widespread critical acclaim for his role in the independent film Now Is Good. This has led to critics listing him among Hollywood's fastest-rising stars. He received critical praise by earning a reputation as a method actor after he went for two months without food and by performing his own torture scene stunts in the film adaptation of The Railway Man.
Later work included starring as Pip in the 2012 adaptation of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, directed by Mike Newell alongside Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter.
Selected filmography:
- War Horse (2011) as Albert Narracott
- Great Expectations (2012) as Philip "Pip" Pirrip
- The Woman in Black: Angel of Death (2015) as Harry Burnstow
- The Bad Education Movie (2015) as Atticus Hoye
- Stonewall (2015) as Danny Winters
- This Beautiful Fantastic (2016) as Billy Tranter
- Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) as Young Sam Carmichael
- Billionaire Boys Club (2018) as Kyle Biltmore
- Paradise Hills (2019) as Markus
- Treadstone (2019) as J. Randolph Bentley
- Baghead (2023) as Neil
- Green Lantern (TBD) as Alan Scott / Green Lantern
- Return to Silent Hill (TBD) as James Sunderland
Tropes & Trivia related to his works:
- Mr. Fanservice: His character tends to be the "boy next door" and "Bishounen" variety.
- Starmaking Role: As Albert Naracott in War Horse.
- What Could Have Been:
- Was offered the lead role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games, prior to the casting of Debra Zane based on the same titled, best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins. He turned down the role and Josh Hutcherson was cast instead.
- Was considered for the lead role of Tobias 'Four' Eaton in Divergent, based on the novel by Veronica Roth, before Theo James was cast.
