Despite largely being known as Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn achieved a lot in his acting career to date. He's starred in a number of high-profile television shows and films that have caught the eye of fans and critics. And now, it's time to take a closer look at Alwyn's body of work.
Whether he's playing a kindly clerk or a traumatized veteran, the film's lead of or a supporting role on television, Joe Alwyn's performances are all worth checking out. Some, however, stand out above the rest.
- 16 VOTESPhoto: Hulu
What's It About: Based on the Sally Rooney novel of the same name, Conversations with Friends isn't short on drama. The series explores love and friendship as ex-lovers/best friends Frances and Bobbi begin a relationship with an older couple, Nick and Melissa.
Who Alwyn Plays: Alwyn dives into the role of the socially awkward, semi-actor Nick Conway. He isn't too outgoing or an extrovert, as he starts an affair with the equally introverted Frances. It's an emotionally charged performance that takes several twists and turns along the way.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Time's Judy Berman suggested the show more than did the novel justice, while also praising Alwyn's performance. Berman wrote: "The baby-faced Alwyn combines Hollywood brooding with emotional delicacy."
- 27 VOTESPhoto: Focus Features
What's It About: After the death of her husband, Mary Stuart returns to Scotland to claim the throne. However, her cousin, Elizabeth I, rules over both England and Scotland, and she isn't about to move aside as she starts to plot her moves.
Who Alwyn Plays: He plays the role of Lord Robert Dudley. It's clear Elizabeth is fond of Dudley, but she is prepared to use him as a pawn to marry Mary. However, Elizabeth can't go through with it in the end and sends someone else.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Pajiba's Roxana Hadadi praised Mary Queen of Scotland's subtext about patriarchy. The reviewer wrote: “Few movies [in 2018] make a better case for reassessing our accepted versions of history and reexamining the patriarchal truths we’ve come to accept than the impassioned, intricate Mary Queen of Scots.”
- 33 VOTESPhoto: Amazon Studios
What's It About: Based on the Karen Cushman novel of the same name, Catherine Called Birdy is set in medieval times and centers around Lady Catherine, AKA Birdy, the daughter of a lord. When her father falls on rough financial times, he decides the best course of action is to marry her off to a rich suitor. Birdy, though, isn't about to give up her freedom, so she does everything possible to chase off her suitors.
Who Alwyn Plays: In the medieval comedy, Alwyn portrays the dashing and handsome Uncle George, who Birdy has a crush on. George breaks many hearts by marrying a wealthy widow. However, Birdy learns George isn't all he makes himself out to be in the end.
Why It's Worth A Watch: The Sydney Morning Herald's Brad Newsome gave Catherine Called Birdy three-and-a-half stars out of five. Newsome stated: "Lena Dunham’s directorial romp through medieval England’s child-marriage scene is largely a winner."
- 43 VOTESPhoto: Netflix
What's It About: Based on the Jojo Moyes novel of the same name, the romantic drama takes place across two time periods. In the 1960s, socialite Jennifer Stirling experiences a car crash and suffers from memory loss; however, she becomes intrigued by a love letter she discovers between J and Boot. In modern times, journalist Ellie Haworth finds the same letter and tries to solve the mystery of the forbidden lovers.
Who Alwyn Plays: He plays Jennifer's rich and successful husband, Laurence Sterling. However, Laurence is cold and snotty toward his wife. He also does everything in his power to prevent her from finding out more about Boot.
Why It's Worth A Watch: The Telegraph's Tim Robey positively compared The Last Letter from Your Lover to The Notebook. The critic gushed about the poignant film, writing: "If there’s a chink in your emotional armour, this adaptation of a Jojo Moyes novel - complete with train platform cliffhanger - will find it."
- 51 VOTESPhoto: Ad Vitam Distribution
What's It About: Stuck in Nicaragua during a period of political turmoil and the COVID-19 pandemic, journalist Trish Johnson tries to survive and find a way out of the country by any means possible. She starts an affair with Daniel DeHaven, whom she suspects of being an intelligence agent and her ticket back home. However, they both end up in greater trouble than they ever could have imagined.
Who Alwyn Plays: Alwyn portrays the enigmatic Daniel. While he isn't whom Trish initially suspects him to be, he certainly has his secrets. What is never in any doubt, though, is his true feelings for Trish.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Film School Rejects' Will DiGravio praised the energy between Alwyn and Margaret Qualley, writing: "Qualley and Alwyn have endlessly palpable chemistry and charisma on screen. Stars at Noon operates within the tradition of the romantic thriller. The couple recalls the kind one might find in a Hitchcock film, a duo who fall in love while outmaneuvering the authorities who chase them."
- 61 VOTESPhoto: Focus Features
What's It About: Based on a true story. After a plantation owner refuses to release a slave family, Minty Ross escapes. With everyone believing her to be dead, she takes up the new name of Harriet Tubman and becomes an abolitionist, aiming to free people from slavery.
Who Alwyn Plays: Alwyn portrays slaver Gideon Brodess who enslaved Harriet and her family last. After she escapes, he chases her down. Later, he isn't happy when he finds out she's still alive, believing she still belongs to him.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Writing for The Guardian, reviewer Simran Hans called Harriet a “remarkable biopic.” Hans added: "So often, historical films are stale and mired in misery, but Harriet has a rare buoyancy."
- 71 VOTES
Operation Finale
Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-MayerWhat's It About: Operation Finale centers around a team of Israeli agents who search out the Nazi Adolf Eichmann. After capturing him in Argentina, they attempt to bring him to Israel where he's set to face trial for all of his crimes.
Who Alwyn Plays: In one of his most sinister roles yet, Alwyn plays Klaus Eichmann, Adolf's son. Like his father, Klaus doesn't respect the Jews. He is also part of a group that seeks to revive the Nazi party.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Phoenix Magazine's M.V. Moorhead posted a positive review of the film and its cast's performance. Moorhead wrote: "Operation Finale, skillfully directed by Chris Weitz, and driven forward by another superb score by Alexander Desplat, is crisp and absorbing and satisfying, both as a thriller and as a moral drama."
- 81 VOTESPhoto: Fox Searchlight Pictures
What's It About: When Queen Anne falls ill, her aide and lover Sarah Churchill rules the country via proxy. However, this dynamic soon changes when Sarah's cousin Abigail arrives at the palace and starts developing a close relationship with the queen, too.
Who Alwyn Plays: He appears as the nobleman Samuel Masham. It's a small but hilarious role as he persists in his quest to win over Abigail's affections.
Why It's Worth A Watch: The Favourite proved to be a smash hit among critics and fans. IndieWire's Cate Young praised its subversion of gender roles, writing: “Yorgos Lanthimos's dryly funny historical feature is all about power, and that means literally wearing the pants in a strange time.”
- 91 VOTESPhoto: Focus Features
What's It About: Boy Erased tells the story of Jared Eamons, the son of a Baptist preacher. After coming out to his parents as gay, they send him to a conversion therapy camp that tries to suppress his true self.
Who Alwyn Plays: In the film, Alwyn plays Henry Wallace, Jared's college friend. In a shocking turn of events, Henry sexually assaults Jared before confessing to having done it to another person. Fearing the truth will come out about him, Henry outs the still-closeted Jared to his parents.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Flavourmag's Zehra Phelan praised Boy Erased's powerful message, writing: "[Director] Joel Edgerton delivers a wake-up call to those blinded by their faith with a gentle gut-punch."
- 101 VOTESPhoto: Sony Pictures Releasing
What's It About: After 19-year-old Billy Lynn is caught on camera saving an injured sergeant during the Iraq War, he and his unit become instant celebrities back home. When they get back from the war, they embark on a media tour where they are celebrated. However, these young men struggle to adjust to regular life after all they witnessed in Iraq.
Who Alwyn Plays: He portrays the sympathetic lead Billy Lynn. While Billy presents as a regular 19-year-old teenager in parts, he experiences severe PTSD from all he witnessed and experienced in the war.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Empire's Ian Nathan wrote that Alwyn is the best part of the film, stating: "What makes sense of this is Joe Alwyn’s placid, moving performance. A master at undercurrents in still lives, [director Ang] Lee milks the photogenic sweetness in his discovery’s cherub cheeks and blue eyes - the model soldier whose dirty secret is that he’s a real soldier too."
- 111 VOTESPhoto: A24
What's It About: The sequel to The Souvenir sees Julie dealing with the tragic aftermath of Anthony's death. She struggles with her emotions and finding out more about who he really was as a person, while still trying to complete her movie for film school.
Who Alwyn Plays: He has a small role as the film editor Max. It isn't a major part, but Alwyn's Max plays a key role in helping Julie to overcome the loss of Anthony through an honest conversation.
Why It's Worth A Watch: The Souvenir Part II received near-universal critical acclaim. The Guardian's Mark Kermode wrote: "This is a creative coming-of-age story - a portrait of the artist as a young woman discovering her own voice."
- 122 VOTES
A Christmas Carol
Photo: FXWhat's It About: A darker version of the classic Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol shines the light on the rich but cruel Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge encounters three ghosts (Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present, and Ghost of Christmas Future) who take him on a journey where he's forced to face the person he was, who he has become, and who he could become if he doesn't change his ways.
Who Alwyn Plays: Joe Alwyn plays Scrooge's kind and timid worker Bob Cratchit. Underpaid and overworked, Cratchit struggles to pay the bills and look after his young family. In many ways, he is both Scrooge's punching bag and the person who makes him realize the error of his ways.
Why It's Worth A Watch: The Standard likened the miniseries to more of brooding drama in the same vein as Peaky Blinders. Reviewer Alastair McKay wrote: "Bloody hell. Or, more accurately, flaming purgatory. In this Peaky Blinders update of the Dickens classic, [showrunner] Steven Knight has jammed the thermostat."
- 132 VOTESPhoto: CBS Films
What's It About: Based on Julian Barnes's 2011 novel of the same name, The Sense of an Ending follows camera shop owner Tony Webster as he receives a letter that reconnects him with his first love, Veronica. The story is told from Tony and his friends's recollections of events, often demonstrating how people remember events and situations differently.
Who Alwyn Plays: Alwyn portrays Adrian Finn, Tony's friend from his youth. Adrian proves to be smart and charming; however, he and Tony's relationship is left strained after Adrian asks for his permission to date Veronica.
Why It's Worth A Watch: Contactmusic.com's Rich Cline praised the subtlety of the film, writing: "With an unusually realistic depiction of London life, this an introspective story about finding closure, and it's nice that the filmmakers avoid ramping up the narrative to push a big emotional climax. Instead, it's in the small moments that the film rings true."
