David Jonsson

David Jonsson
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Name:
David Jonsson
Who is:
Birth date:
(32 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Custom House, London, England
Height:
5'9 ft ( )
Relationship:
single
Birth Sign:
( characteristic )
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: David Jonsson

David Jonsson's Biography

David Jonsson is a British actor whose career has been rapidly gaining momentum in recent years. He rose to fame through his roles in the series "Industry," the romantic comedy "Rye Lane," the science fiction film "Alien: Romulus," and the dystopian thriller "The Long Walk."
Actor David Jonsson in a black and white checkered shirt lying propped up on one arm
David Jonsson
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Childhood and Family

David was born on September 4, 1993, in Custom House, a district in East London. His father works as an IT engineer at Heathrow Airport, while his mother served in the Metropolitan Police. David is the youngest of four children, with one brother and two sisters. His heritage includes Nigerian, Sierra Leonean, and Swedish roots.

Surprisingly, behind the young actor's broad smile hides an introvert who'd choose a quiet evening at home with a book over any commotion. He grew up as a shy boy—so much so that his family literally had to force him to perform at family gatherings.

Like most kids, he loved cartoons and never forgot those moments when his father took him to the cinema for premieres. His older siblings brought home DVDs of more serious films. It was through them that David discovered the work of Gaspar Noé.
David Jonsson Interview
For all that, David was no angel. At school, he constantly got into trouble, got into fights, and was even expelled once. At 14, he fought with a classmate yet again and spent a whole month in a facility for troubled teens and juvenile offenders.

That experience made him rethink his behavior.
At the time, a lot of my friends were getting into serious trouble: stabbings, gangs, unplanned pregnancies. But being there made me realize how serious it could get. It was a massive wake-up call.
David Jonsson
At that point, his mother laid it out straight: "Son, you need to figure out your future." Driven by an inexplicable impulse, the young man declared he wanted to become an actor. His mother was surprised but supported him. David was found a new school in a different part of the city, where he started attending drama club.

At 18, David joined the National Youth Theatre company. Then luck smiled on him—Warner Bros. provided a scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, one of the world's most prestigious theater schools. In 2016, he earned his Bachelor's degree in acting.

Acting Career

Early Stage Work

Right after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Jonsson made his stage debut as William Davison in "Mary Stuart" at the Almeida Theatre. In early 2017, the production transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre, marking Jonsson's West End debut.
David Jonsson in a white t-shirt and black vest gazes dreamily upward with his hands clasped at his chest
David Jonsson on the theatrical stage
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That same year, he returned to the West End, this time in "Don Juan in Soho" at Wyndham's Theatre, sharing the stage with David Tennant.

"Industry"

In 2018, Jonsson made his TV debut in two episodes of the ITV detective series "Endeavour." His breakthrough came when he landed the role of Augustus Sackey (aka Gus) in the first two seasons of the investment banking drama "Industry," which aired from 2020 to 2022.

Gus is an Oxford and Eton graduate, a product of elite, privileged schools. He's impulsive and sensitive. He says what he thinks and thinks what he says, sometimes at the wrong moment. He doesn't really care what others think. While trying to find his way, he gets swept up in the whirlwind of banking drama.
David Jonsson with glasses and blue hair stands on the street wearing a green jacket
David Jonsson in the series "Industry"
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Preparing for the role required serious work from David. He visited the institutions his character supposedly attended: Eton College and Oxford University. It exposed him to a completely different world. He later shared:
Eton boys walk around in long tailcoats with straight backs, like they rule the world. What are they, 14? It's insane. They're raised to rule the world, and they grow up and actually do rule the world. We'd never experience that, but there are people living like that. And Gus was one of them...
David Jonsson
Jonsson left the series after season two, explaining in interviews that he wanted to expand his range as an actor and work on other characters rather than be locked into one role, even in a popular series.

"Rye Lane"

Jonsson's feature film debut came with the romantic comedy "Rye Lane," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2023 and was warmly received by critics.
David Jonsson in a green shirt talking to Vivian Oparah in a yellow jacket
David Jonsson in "Rye Lane"
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The film followed two young people going through breakups who spend one unforgettable day together in south London.
It was my first lead role and my first film, so I remember it fondly and with gratitude. It's an indie film, and we made it for basically nothing, but we had the best experience on that set, and I really believe that how we make films is just as important, sometimes even more important than the art itself, the product.
David Jonsson
About working with his co-star Vivian Oparah, the actor said:
We spent as much time off camera as on, but we always found pockets of time outside of shooting to grab coffee, just talk and enjoy each other's company.
David Jonsson

"Alien: Romulus"

In 2023, Jonsson landed the role of the synthetic Andy in "Alien: Romulus," which was released in 2024. His character is an early model synthetic human, complete with defects and quirks. The role earned him the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2025.

David has a unique tradition: he asks his agent to remove the first page of scripts whenever possible and not tell him what the film is. That's exactly what happened with "Romulus," so the actor didn't even know what script had come his way. "I thought it was an independent sci-fi family drama," he recalled, having no idea he was signing on for a role in the iconic franchise.
David Jonsson in a gray jumpsuit stands in a spaceship corridor
David Jonsson in "Alien: Romulus"
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After the premiere, the actor confirmed he'll return as Andy in the film's sequel, adding that the character will be shown in a new light.

Also in 2023, Jonsson played the lead character, Luke Fitzwilliam, in the adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Murder Is Easy."

"The Long Walk"

In 2024, Jonsson was cast as Pete McVries, one of the main characters in the adaptation of Stephen King's "The Long Walk."
David Jonsson listens to Cooper Hoffman who's telling him something
David Jonsson in "The Long Walk"
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The film was set in an alternate America ruled by a dictator. Each year, he holds a competition among young people: 50 participants must simply keep moving forward at no less than three miles per hour, or they're executed on the spot. The sole survivor gets to have any wish granted.

The actor talked about filming:
...Sometimes we'd walk in the middle of nowhere for 13 miles a day – minimum! And in one big scene it was pouring rain, and I couldn't hear anything because the rain machine was right next to the camera. The shoot went on for hours. But I knew I wouldn't compromise...
David Jonsson

David Jonsson's Personal Life

David keeps his personal life pretty close to the vest. Despite his rising fame, he's still an introvert at heart.

He's into football and Formula 1, reads voraciously – especially plays and poetry. His go-to authors: Shakespeare, John Keats, James Baldwin.
David Jonsson in a fluffy red and purple striped sweater gazes dreamily upward
David Jonsson keeps his personal life private
Source: @davidjonsson__
Big fan of the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin.

David Jonsson Now

January 2025 brought news that Jonsson landed the lead in Frank Ocean's directorial debut. Production on the still-untitled indie kicked off in Mexico City.

In May 2025, Jonsson announced he's launching his own film and TV company, greyarea, with BIFA-nominated producer Sophia Gibber. The company's working on Cal McMau's "Wasteman," with Jonsson pulling double duty as executive producer and star.
David Jonsson in a grey tracksuit stands by a prison cell next to a tall man in a white tank top
David Jonsson in "Wasteman"
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He's also been tapped for the lead in "Scandalous," Colman Domingo's directorial debut. The film digs into the secret 1957 romance between movie star Kim Novak (Sydney Sweeney) and singer-dancer Sammy Davis Jr., and the racist backlash they faced when their relationship went public.

Meanwhile, David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman, who worked together on "The Long Walk," are in talks to team up again for A24's drama "The Chaperones."