Joe Alwyn

Joseph Matthew Alwyn is a British actor, known for Harriet (2019), The Favourite (2018), Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016), and Mary Queen of Scots (2018).

Alwyn was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, and educated at the City of London School. He became a member of the National Youth Theatre in his late teens. While studying English literature and drama at the University of Bristol, he acted in two student productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. After graduating in 2012, he completed a BA in acting at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.

Within two weeks of his graduate showcase, in early 2015, Alwyn was cast in the lead role of Ang Lee's war drama, "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk", based on Ben Fountain's novel.

In 2018, Alwyn appeared in Yorgos Lanthimos' award-winning period drama "The Favourite," and additionally had supporting roles in "Operation Finale," "Boy Erased," and "Mary Queen of Scots". He received the Trophée Chopard alongside Elizabeth Debicki at the Cannes Film Festival that same year. A year later, he co-starred as slave owner Gideon Brodess in the biographical award-winning drama "Harriet" about abolitionist Harriet Tubman, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Since 2016, Alwyn has been in a relationship with American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. He has been referenced in much of Swift's music, including on her albums Reputation (2017), Lover (2019), Folklore, and Evermore (both 2020). Two songs on Folklore, "Exile" and "Betty", were credited to a co-writer named William Bowery, which led to speculation that it was a pseudonym for Alwyn. Swift confirmed this theory in her concert film "Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions". Alwyn (as Bowery) also co-wrote "Champagne Problems", "Coney Island", and the title track on Evermore.