Andrew Garfield - From Surrey to Hollywood

While he may have seemed to burst onto the scene in the British made movie Boy "A" Andrew Garfield actor was already making a name for himself on the stage having spent the three years since graduating from the very prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Before the Movies

Though you would never know it to listen to this unassuming young man with the British accent he was born in Los Angeles in 1983 to an English mother and an American father. At the age of three the family moved to England where his parents ran a small interior design business. Being raised in typical middle class Jewish family has benefitted him in many ways as he has mastered his craft.

At the age of 12 he came in third in the National gymnastics competition following six years of training at the insistence of his parents. Following this he decided that this was not where he wanted to be and left the sport soon after. His parents encouraged him to try something creative to channel his interests while he was attending City of London Freeman's School an exclusive private school where his drama teacher Phil Tong recognized his acting potential and encouraged the young student to pursue further education.

At the age of 18 Andrew enrolled in the Central School of Speech and Drama one of the most prestigious acting schools in the city. In his third year an agent spotted him and before long he was appearing on stage at the Manchester Royal Exchange in the play Kes and at the SOHO in Mercy. He has since appeared in many other stage plays and television shows including parts in Dr. Who and Red Riding.

The Films

In 2007 Andrew was asked to audition for the Robert Redford movie Lions for Lambs the story of an all American college boy and a college professor, which he did not expect to get as Redford was looking for the quintessential American boy a role that could not be filled by a British actor. However he provided an outstanding audition and was given the part.

This success brought Andrew to the attention of John Crowley who was casting the adaptation of a Jonathan Trigel novel about the struggles of a young man confined to juvenile prison at the age of 10 for his part in the murder of a 12 year old girl. Boy A has been hailed as one of the most poignant movies of 2008 and earned him his first real accolade of any note a BAFTA for best actor. In recognizing Andrew Garfield BAFTA has made it a little easier to continue on into a number of other films and television shows.

His other films include The Other Boleyn Girl in 2008, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in 2009 and Never Let Me Go which is due to be released in 2010. This quiet, shy and nervous young man has made quite an impression in the acting world and we can expect to see much more of him in the future as he hones his skills.