Douglas Booth biography, wife, age, height, movies 2025

Biography of Douglas Booth

Douglas John Booth is an English film actor and a true London dandy who's enjoyed incredible success in the modeling business. His style has captivated fashion critics for years, with humorists claiming that he was born in a Burberry shirt (a cult British luxury brand favored by, among others, Kate Middleton). In 2013, he was the face of this fashion house's ad campaign alongside Emma Watson and Lily Donaldson.

Above all, he won audiences over with his compelling film performances. His breakthrough role came when he portrayed the flamboyant musician Boy George in the biopic "Worried About the Boy." Boy George himself praised the rising star's performance, with media calling it a "supernaturally accurate depiction" of the pop icon. His roles in "Great Expectations," the epic "Noah," and the timeless "Romeo and Juliet" cemented his rising stardom.

Childhood

The future heartthrob was born in Greenwich, a historic district of London, on July 9, 1992. His mother, a painter, has Spanish and Dutch roots, while his father, an Englishman, is a financial consultant who led relevant departments in reputable companies like CitiGroup and Deutsche Bank. His older sister graduated from the Chelsea School of Art.

Pictured: Douglas Booth with his older sister Abigail

At age 10, he was sent to study in Sevenoaks, Kent. Dyslexia made academics challenging for him, affecting his reading and writing. Notably, Keira Knightley, Tom Cruise, and Keanu Reeves share this challenge, which didn't prevent them from becoming major stars.

He enjoyed playing the trumpet, and at age 12, he became interested in school theater productions. After playing King Agamemnon in Aeschylus's Greek tragedy, he was hooked on being center stage.

From age 13, he studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, founded in 1880, and also enjoyed performing at the National Youth Theatre. At 14, he got a small role in the TV movie "From Time to Time," featuring epic battles between tribes and mythical creatures.

Douglas Booth got his first role at age 14

Additionally, he attended several private schools (Solefield, Bennett Diocesan Memorial, Lingfield Notre Dame School) at different times. At 15, he began working professionally with the Curtis Brown acting agency, one of the best in London. Through them, he landed his first film role at age 17.

Acting Career

His first professional role came in Julian Fellowes' fantasy adventure "From Time to Time" (2009), a time-traveling tale that mixed genres. The cast included screen legends like Maggie Smith and Timothy Spall. Following the film's release, he signed with United Talent Agency for representation in the US.

"From Time to Time" – one of the first films with Douglas Booth

Next came a supporting role as Prince Eustace in the medieval epic "The Pillars of the Earth" (2010), starring opposite Donald Sutherland, Eddie Redmayne, and Ian McShane. In the biopic "Worried About the Boy," also released that year, he delivered a convincing portrayal of the famous singer's rise from drag performances in underground clubs to global stardom. The 17-year-old committed fully to the role, shaving off his eyebrows entirely. Meeting friends afterward proved awkward – he joked that he looked like an insect.

Douglas Booth shaved his eyebrows for the role of Boy George

In 2011, he played Pip in the adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations." The BBC One Christmas special became a massive hit. Seven million viewers tuned in for the first episode, with media outlets buzzing about Douglas's striking good looks. Ironically, he proved far more captivating than Estella, played by Vanessa Kirby, despite her character being the one meant to mesmerize every man in sight.

Douglas Booth in the mini-series "Great Expectations"

His role in the adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's autobiographical "Christopher and His Kind" generated plenty of buzz. He played Heinz, the writer's lover, portrayed by Matt Smith. The role sparked speculation about Booth's sexuality among his female fanbase, particularly when Gay Times put him on their cover.

"Christopher and His Kind": Douglas Booth and Matt Smith

2012 brought the release of teen drama "LOL" (shot in 2010), co-starring Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore. The film received negative reviews in the press. The following year brought his breakout performance as Romeo in a fresh take on Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." Los Angeles Times critic Betsy Sharkey raved about his performance, while The Independent's Geoffrey Macnab declared Booth had "reached star status."

In 2014, he played Shem, Noah's son (portrayed by Russell Crowe), in the biblical epic directed by Darren Aronofsky. Critics pegged it as a guaranteed hit from day one, with Emma Watson playing Douglas's character's wife and Jennifer Connelly as Noah's wife. The film ranked among the year's most anticipated releases.

Stars Emma Watson & Douglas Booth Talk About Noah

Booth then appeared in Lone Scherfig's dark comedy "The Riot Club," about privileged rich boys, and in the 2015 sci-fi action film "Jupiter Ascending" by the Wachowski sisters, where he starred alongside Mila Kunis, Sean Bean, Channing Tatum, and old friend Eddie Redmayne. He also delivered a convincing performance as a wealthy young driver who killed two children in a hit-and-run in the miniseries "And Then There Were None," based on Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians."

"The Riot Club": Douglas Booth as Harry Villiers

In 2016, he played Mr. Bingley in the horror film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Seth Grahame-Smith, a parody of Jane Austen's classic novel—yet another attempt by filmmakers to blend seemingly incompatible genres.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Matt Smith, Lily James, Douglas Booth

Around the same time, "The Limehouse Golem" hit theaters, featuring top British cinema talent including Olivia Cooke, Daniel Mays, Sam Reid, and Bill Nighy. Douglas played legendary English comedian Dan Leno, who dressed in drag and used comedy to comment on women's struggles.

He then starred alongside Elle Fanning in "Mary Shelley," released in 2017. The film tells the story of young Mary (daughter of writer William Godwin) and one of England's greatest poets, Percy Shelley, who inspired her to write "Frankenstein."

Elle Fanning and Douglas Booth "Mary Shelley"

In 2019, Douglas took on the lead role in the musical biopic "The Dirt," transforming into Mötley Crüe's bassist Nikki Sixx.

In 2022, AMC premiered the series "That Dirty Black Bag," starring Douglas Booth and Dominic Cooper. Douglas played Red Bill, a dangerous bounty hunter. Having always loved westerns, he eagerly took on the role.

Every character was dark. There were no heroes. I couldn't tell who was good, who was bad, and who was morally corrupt. I found it very interesting. Dominic Cooper is a good friend, and he was already attached to the project. I thought it looked fun. We were supposed to film in Italy and the Sahara Desert. I was locked in my house due to the COVID quarantine, and I had the chance to go on this wild adventure and ride a horse. And I thought, 'Yes, please.'

Personal Life of Douglas Booth

With his striking looks, he quickly earned a reputation as a heartthrob and serial heartbreaker. But Douglas has repeatedly told interviewers that he's anything but superficial when it comes to matters of the heart.

His first serious relationship began when he was just 15, with Sian Sidway. They dated for three years. Then came the inevitable "workplace romances" – first with "LOL" co-star Miley Cyrus, followed by a more serious relationship with Vanessa Kirby that sparked during filming of "Great Expectations."

Douglas Booth's ex-girlfriend Vanessa Kirby

He was also linked to actress Naya Rivera, but since 2016, his heart has belonged to Bel Powley, his "Mary Shelley" co-star.

In 2016 Douglas Booth started to date Bel Powley

Douglas popped the question in 2021, and the couple tied the knot in October 2023.

Douglas Booth and Bel Powley got married in the fall of 2023

Douglas Booth Now

In 2023, the actor starred in two feature films: Jon Wright's folk horror "Unwelcome," featuring mythical creatures from the English countryside, and political thriller "Shoshana."

In May of the same year, it was announced that Booth would play the lead role in the film "Young Werther," an adaptation of Goethe's classic novel. Douglas plays an enthusiastic young man who falls under the spell of Charlotte (Alison Pill), despite her loyalty to her fiancé.

Summer 2024 saw Douglas join the cast of "The Sandman" season two, based on Neil Gaiman's beloved graphic novel series. He'll portray Cluracan, a mischievous courtier in the Fairy Queen's court who's equal parts trickster and hedonist.

Interesting Facts

Douglas named Sam Rockwell and Joaquin Phoenix as his favorite actors.
As a teenager, he was passionate about rugby but had to quit due to the potential risk of injuries.

Photos: Douglas Booth