Thomasin McKenzie

Thomasin McKenzie
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Name:
Thomasin McKenzie
Real name:
Thomasin Katherin Helen Harcourt McKenzie
Who is:
Birth date:
(24 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Wellington
Height:
5'5 ft ()
Weight:
108 lb (49 kg)
Relationship:
single
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Thomasin McKenzie's Biography

Thomasin McKenzie is a rising New Zealand actress who's made a name for herself with standout performances in "Leave No Trace" (2018) and "Last Night in Soho" (2021). She also caught major attention for her role in the Oscar-nominated "Jojo Rabbit" (2019).
Thomasin McKenzie
Thomasin McKenzie

Childhood and Youth

Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie was born on July 26, 2000, in Wellington, New Zealand. Acting runs in the family. Her grandmother, Kate Harcourt, is a well-known New Zealand actress, as is her mother, Miranda Harcourt. Her father, Stuart McKenzie, is a director. Both her older brother Peter and her younger sister Davida also work in the film industry.
Thomasin as a child (in the middle)
Thomasin as a child (in the middle)
As a kid, Thomasin actually hated acting. Instead, she was drawn to psychology, painting, and literature. She even showed promise as a budding journalist.
Thomasin attended Marsden Private School for Girls, located in the suburbs of Wellington, and graduated in 2018.

Acting Career

Thomasin made her film debut at the age of 12 in a short film called "Existence" (2012). She then took on roles in other short films like "Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story" (2014) and "A Long Beside" (2014).
A Long Beside, short film with Thomasin McKenzie
After working on "Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story," which tells the story of a woman assaulted by police, Thomasin realized how powerful film could be in affecting people's lives. That's when she decided to pursue acting seriously.
A still from 'Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story'
A still from 'Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story'
Thomasin's mother was surprised by her daughter's sudden change of heart but was supportive. She showed her "Winter's Bone" starring Jennifer Lawrence, pointing out that Thomasin's natural acting style reminded her of Lawrence.

In 2014, Thomasin landed a small role in "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," which filmed in New Zealand. Unfortunately, most of her scenes ended up on the cutting room floor due to time constraints.
Thomasin McKenzie as Astrid ('Hobbit')
Thomasin McKenzie as Astrid ('Hobbit')
In 2015, she joined the cast of New Zealand's long-running medical drama "Shortland Street," appearing in 28 episodes. She also participated in another short film, this time an Australian one, called "The Boyfriend Game" (2015).
Thomasin in the TV series 'Shortland Street'
Thomasin in the TV series 'Shortland Street'
In the following years, she took on supporting roles in New Zealand films "Jean" (2016) and "The Changeover" (2017), as well as the TV series "Lucy Lewis Can't Lose" (2016).

Her breakthrough came when she landed the lead role in "Leave No Trace" (2018), a drama about a father (Ben Foster) and his daughter living off-grid in a forest park. Thomasin said she felt right at home during filming since it was outdoors, reminding her of her native New Zealand.
A still from Leave No Trace
A still from Leave No Trace
For her role in "Leave No Trace," Thomasin received several prestigious award nominations and won two awards for "Breakthrough Performance" from the National Board of Review and the San Diego Film Critics Society. This recognition launched her far beyond New Zealand's small film community. That same year, she also lent her voice to an animated series called "Nori," a New Zealand-South Korean co-production.
Thomasin working on voice acting in 'Nori'
Thomasin working on voice acting in 'Nori'
In 2019, she portrayed Queen Philippa of Denmark in "The King" alongside Timothée Chalamet. That same year, she appeared in the Oscar-winning film "Jojo Rabbit," directed by Taika Waititi. The film is a unique blend of anti-fascist drama and comedy.
Thomasin McKenzie Interview JoJo Rabbit
In "Jojo Rabbit," Thomasin plays a Jewish girl hiding in the attic of a German woman (Scarlett Johansson), who is part of the Resistance. The woman's young son is a die-hard Nazi who idolizes Hitler. To prepare for the role, Thomasin dove deep into Jewish culture and studied World War II survivor memoirs.
Taika Waititi and Thomasin McKenzie
Taika Waititi and Thomasin McKenzie
In 2020, Thomasin starred in the crime drama "Lost Girls," and in 2021, she appeared in the psychological horror film "Last Night in Soho" alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith. The film follows a girl who mysteriously travels from present day to 1960s London.
LAST NIGHT IN SOHO Thomasin McKenzie 'Eloise' On-set Interview
Before filming began, the director assigned Thomasin homework: watch 50 horror films to understand the atmosphere he wanted on set. The only film she didn't watch was Dario Argento's "Suspiria" (1977); she just couldn't bring herself to watch it.

In 2021, she also starred in "The Power of the Dog" with Benedict Cumberbatch and in M. Night Shyamalan's thriller "Old."
A still from 'Old'
A still from 'Old'
Despite her Hollywood success, Thomasin has no plans to abandon her native film industry. In an interview about her new New Zealand film "The Justice of Bunny King" (2021), she said she wants to help promote it internationally.
The Justice of Bunny King - Official Trailer
In 2021, she joined the cast of the series "Life After Life," playing the lead role of Ursula Todd. The series is adapted from a novel by British author Kate Atkinson.
Thomasin McKenzie as Ursula Todd
Thomasin McKenzie as Ursula Todd

Personal Life

Thomasin is currently single. She's either completely dedicated to her career or keeps her romantic life under wraps. In 2023, rumors arose about her relationship with New Zealand actor Simon Mead after they were spotted together at a Dior fashion show in Paris. Neither actor addressed the rumors.
Thomasin McKenzie and Simon Mead
Thomasin McKenzie and Simon Mead
In her downtime, she hangs out with her siblings and parents, soaking up the outdoors.
Thomasin champions the Black Lives Matter movement and climate action organizations.

Thomasin McKenzie Now

Thomasin currently calls New Zealand home and studied the country's history at Victoria University in Wellington, though she's taking on more and more Hollywood roles. The drama "Eileen" hit theaters in January 2023, with Thomasin in the starring role. The film adapts a novel by Ottessa Moshfegh, one of Thomasin's favorite authors. Her co-star in the film is Anne Hathaway.
A still from 'Eileen'
A still from 'Eileen'
Thomasin McKenzie and Mckenna Grace have been cast in the lead roles in Olivia Wilde's sports drama "Perfect," set to be released in 2024.

Interesting Facts

  • Thomasin's grandfather's family founded the Australian real estate company Harcourts International in 1888. Today, it's one of Australia's largest development organizations, employing over 10,000 people.
  • Thomasin has a dog named Totoro, named after a character from her favorite anime by Hayao Miyazaki, "My Neighbor Totoro." The film always reminds her of home and family.
  • Thomasin dreams of playing an elf or a fairy.