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Highlights

• 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.

Taylor Swift’s 'Cruel Summer' Reveals The Tragic Truth About Her Joe Alwyn Relationship, According To Fans

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.

This Taylor Swift Song May Have Predicted Her Breakup With Joe Alwyn Two Years Before It Happened

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.

Looking Back, Fans Are Not Impressed With Joe Alwyn's Treatment Of Taylor Swift In Interviews

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.

10 Joe Alwyn Met Emma Stone During The Favourite

Joe Alwyn worked with Emma Stone before he knew Taylor Swift

• It is rumored that Emma introduced Joe to Taylor

Tons of rumors and theories circulate constantly about how Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn met, one of which is that Emma Stone introduced them.

Emma and Joe met while on set for The Favourite and it’s rumored that Emma decided to introduce him to Taylor. Whatever the case, these two have clearly created a friendship of their own.

9 In High School, Joe Alwyn Was Already Turning Heads

Joe Alwyn could have dated any girl he wanted in school

• Joe did not have time for dating, wanting to focus on his acting career instead

Having high school friends discuss your personality in high school is always embarrassing, but, for Joe, it seems he’s always been a catch. One of his old classmates referred to him as a “panty dropper” in his 16-year-old days.

Joe never had a girlfriend in school though, because he was “dedicated to his craft.” As such, girls were left vying for Joe's attention, with it never being requited.

8 Joe Alwyn Attended His First Met Gala In 2016

Joe Alwyn turned heads at the Met Gala in 2016

• The Met Gala is another spot where it is rumored that Joe and Taylor Swift met

Joe was barely known at all when he first attended the Met Gala in 2016. Fresh off the heels of his first movie, he stepped into the spotlight wearing a classic, black tuxedo.

It is also rumored that this night is another possible meeting for Joe and Taylor, but no proof exists the two ever had a conversation while attending.

7 Joe Alwyn Has A Degree From The Royal Central School Of Speech and Drama

Joe Alwyn went to school to study his craft

• Joe graduated just before landing the role in Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Home

As a born lover of acting, Joe’s degree is no surprise. Unlike some actors who started in the industry as children and catch breaks later in life, Joe’s big break came during his time at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Joe earned his BA in acting right before starting Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.

6 Joe Alwyn Is Friends With Aaron Paul

Joe Alwyn had famous friends before being attached to Taylor Swift

• Joe and Aaron Paul have been friends for years

No one knows exactly when or where or why this happened, but Joe and Aaron Paul are friends. The proof lies in the outpouring of support they have shown each other on Twitter.

For Joe, who has little social media presence, Aaron Paul must be a real friend, to not only follow Joe but tweet at him.

5 Joe Alwyn Is The Great-Grandson Of A Composer

Joe Alwyn's great-grandfather, William, composed concertos, operas, and more

• Joe never met his great-grandfather, William, as he passed away decades before Joe was born

The entertainment/arts family tree never stops in the Alwyn family. His paternal grandfather, William, was a composer. His grandfather also had a prestigious educational background, having attended the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Joe never met his great-grandfather as Joe was born after William died.

4 Joe Alwyn Was In A Movie With Kristen Stewart

Joe Alwyn's first film co-starred Kristen Stewart

• Other notable names in the film that Joe starred with include Steve Martin and Chris Tucker

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk seemed to play out in more ways than one for Joe. Not only did he get to work with the respected director, Ang Lee, but he also starred alongside Kristen Stewart.

Kristen played Joe's sister and the two shared a couple of emotional scenes in the film. Joe said in an interview that Kristen was like a mentor to him in a lot of ways, on set, and helped him grow as an actor.

3 Joe Alwyn Played Soccer Growing Up

Joe Alwyn played soccer at City School of London

• Joe also played rugby for City School of London before he got serious about acting

Like many British boys, Joe played soccer in high school.

Joe is not outspoken about sports but has admitted that soccer is his favorite (if he had to choose one sport). Although at one point, Joe played a bit of rugby as well.

2 Joe Alwyn's Favorite Show Is The British The Office

Joe Alwyn also became a fan of The Office starring Steve Carell

• Joe was introduced to the American version of The Office by Taylor Swift

Never one to open up more than he has to, Joe has made sure to keep extremely quiet about his private life. He acts because he loves acting, but fame is something Joe does not enjoy.

However, Joe did answer a few questions in an L’Officiel interview, and, in doing so, revealed that the British version of The Office was his favorite show.

Later on, Taylor Swift introduced Joe to The Office, and he would become a fan of the American version of the show as well.

1 Joe Alwyn's First Audition Was For Tintin

Joe Alwyn landed the role of the dog, Snowy in TinTin

• Joe was dedicated to the role and reportedly romped around stage barking like a dog

Joe was in a variety of plays and performances growing up as a theater kid. Joe's first audition was for Tintin, a play based on a series of comic books about a boy and his dog.

Joe played the dog, Snowy. In doing so, Joe said he had to traipse around the stage barking.

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