Ed Skrein

Summary

Edward George Skrein (/skrn/;[1] born 29 March 1983) is an English actor, filmmaker, and rapper. He rose to recognition as the villain Francis Freeman / Ajax in the superhero comedy film Deadpool (2016). He also starred in the films The Transporter: Refueled (2015), Alita: Battle Angel (2019), Midway (2019) and Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023).

Ed Skrein
Skrein in July 2015
Born
Edward George Skrein

(1983-03-29) 29 March 1983 (age 40)
London, England
Other names
  • The Dinnerlady P.I.M.P.
  • Skrein
Occupations
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
  • rapper
Years active2004–present
Children3

Early life edit

Edward George Skrein was born on 29 March 1983 in the Camden borough of London, and grew up there and in other London boroughs such as Haringey and Islington. His paternal grandparents were Austrian Jewish refugees, from Vienna, who moved to England in the 1930s to escape the Nazis; his grandmother came over on the Kindertransport.[2][3][4][5] He attended Fortismere School,[3] then graduated from the Byam Shaw School of Art with a BA in fine art painting.[6]

Career edit

Music edit

In 2004, Skrein released a three track EP under the record label Dented Records. In 2007, he released his first album, The Eat Up. He has collaborated with a variety of artists including Foreign Beggars, Asian Dub Foundation, Plan B, Dubbledge and Doc Brown. Later that year, Skrein released a collaborative EP, Pre-Emptive Nostalgia, with the group A State of Mind. In 2009 Skrein collaborated with rapper Dr Syntax to bring the collaborative album Scene Stealers under the name Skreintax.[7]

Acting edit

Skrein made his acting debut in Plan B's short film Michelle.[8] Skrein got his first lead role in Plan B's Ill Manors. Skrein portrayed Daario Naharis in the third season of the television series Game of Thrones. However, in the fourth season of the series, he was replaced by Dutch actor Michiel Huisman. Skrein states that it was not his choice to leave the show.[9] In 2014, Skrein was cast in The Transporter: Refueled, replacing Jason Statham as the lead. Though the film was critically panned, his performance was praised.[10][11][12][13] In 2016, Skrein played the lead villain, Ajax, in the blockbuster action film Deadpool.[14][15] In 2017 Skrein also appeared in the music video for 'Eye Contact' by Ocean Wisdom playing the bad guy.[16]

In 2018, Skrein starred in psychological revenge thriller, In Darkness, alongside Natalie Dormer and Stacy Martin; principal photography began in early 2016.[17] He was slated to star in the Hellboy reboot as Ben Daimio,[18] a Japanese-American character; after controversy over his casting, Skrein announced on Twitter that he was stepping down from the role in the hopes an actor of the proper ethnicity would be cast.[19][20][21]

On 8 November 2019, he starred in Roland Emmerich’s blockbuster movie Midway, co-starring Mandy Moore, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Nick Jonas, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson.[22][23][24][25][26][27]

In 2022, Skrein starred as Vince in I Used to Be Famous. [28][29] Leslie Felperin, writing for The Guardian, gave the film 3/5 stars, calling it a "sweet-natured but predictable comedy drama".[30] In 2023 he plays the sadistic admiral Atticus Noble in Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire.

Writing and directing edit

Skrein wrote and directed the short drama film Little River Run (2020), which was released via his Instagram page.[31]

Personal life edit

Skrein has a son who was born in the U.S. in 2011; he has not disclosed the mother's identity. He has three children, as revealed in an interview for the promotion of his next film Rebel Moon.[32]

Skrein has been a swimming coach for Greenwich Leisure Limited since he was 12 years old, working at leisure centres on Caledonian Road and in Archway.[33][34][35]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

Title Details
The Eat Up

Extended plays edit

Title Details
Mind Out/Once Upon a Skrein
Pre-Emptive Nostalgia (with A State of Mind)
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Dented Records
  • Formats: CD, Digital download
Scene Stealers (with Dr Syntax)
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Skreintax
  • Formats: CD, Digital download

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Piggy Jamie
Ill Manors Edward "Ed" Richardson
The Sweeney David
2013 Goldfish Vincent Short film
2014 Northmen: A Viking Saga Hjorr
2015 Sword of Vengeance Treden
Tiger House Callum
Kill Your Friends Danny Rent
The Transporter Refueled Frank Martin Jr.
2016 Deadpool Francis Freeman / Ajax MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (with Ryan Reynolds)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Villain
The Model Shane White
2018 In Darkness Marc
Patrick Vet
Tau Alex
Little River Run Short film; director and writer
Encounters Short Film Festival Teen Jury Award
If Beale Street Could Talk Officer Bell
2019 Alita: Battle Angel Zapan
Born a King Philby
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Borra
Midway Lieutenant Dick Best
2021 Naked Singularity Craig
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon Fuzz
2022 Taco Bell: Fry Again The Time Fryer Video short
I Used to Be Famous Vince
2023 Rebel Moon Admiral Atticus Noble
2024 Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver Post-production

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Game of Thrones Daario Naharis 3 episodes in season 3
2013 The Tunnel Anthony Walsh 3 episodes
2023 All the Light We Cannot See Herr Seidler American drama limited series[36]

References edit

  1. ^ "British actor Ed Skrein takes over Jason Statham's 'Transporter' duties". Reuters. 2 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018. Skrein is an Austrian name and rhymes with 'wine', he explained.
  2. ^ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1055850465161104[bare URL]
  3. ^ a b "Behind the scenes – Rising star Ed Skrein talks The Transporter Refuelled – Candid Magazine". candidmagazine.com. 2 September 2015. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. ^ Ates, Alex (8 July 2020) [August 31, 2017]. "By Turning Down 'Hellboy,' Ed Skrein Shows Us How It's Done". www.backstage.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  5. ^ Sims, David (30 August 2017). "Is Hollywood Learning a Lesson About Whitewashing?". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Ed Skrein: 5 facts including girlfriend, his son and The Transporter Legacy – Swide". Swide Magazine – The Dolce & Gabbana Luxury Magazine Online. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Before 'Deadpool' and 'Game of Thrones,' Ed Skrein Was a Pretty Good Rapper". Inverse. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  8. ^ G.A – Rough UK Ed Skrein. YouTube. 27 January 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  9. ^ HBO (3 September 2015). "'Game of Thrones' Actor Ed Skrein Shoots Down Reports He Walked Away From Show". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  10. ^ Brooks, Xan (10 February 2014). "Transporter 4 will star Ed Skrein in Jason Statham role". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  11. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (28 August 2013). "'Game of Thrones' Books 'Treme' Alum for Season 4". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  12. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (7 February 2014). "'Game of Thrones' Star to Succeed Statham in 'Transporter' Reboot (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  13. ^ Rothman, Lily (7 April 2014). "Who's the Sellsword? Game of Thrones Premiere Introduces Recast Daario Naharis". Time. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  14. ^ "Ed Skrein on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  15. ^ "'Deadpool' Actor Ed Skrein Confirms He's Playing Ajax". Screen Rant. 8 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Ocean Wisdom – Eye Contact (OFFICIAL VIDEO) (Prod. Kidkanevil)". YouTube. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  17. ^ Thom Geier (29 October 2015). "Natalie Dormer, Ed Skrein to Star in Revenge Thriller 'In Darkness'". Thewrap.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  18. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (24 August 2017). "'Hellboy' Casting Of Ed Skrein As Japanese Character Draws Whitewashing Backlash". deadline.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Ed Skrein on Twitter". twitter.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  20. ^ "Actor Ed Skrein quits Hellboy after whitewashing criticism". BBC News Online. BBC. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  21. ^ Kroll, Justin (28 August 2017). "Ed Skrein Drops Out of 'Hellboy' Reboot After Whitewashing Controversy". variety.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  22. ^ Donnelly, Matt (31 October 2019). "Roland Emmerich Just Made a $100 Million Indie Film. Will It Work?". Variety. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  23. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (23 May 2017). "Bona Film Group Stakes $80M On Roland Emmerich/Mark Gordon WWII Battle Pic 'Midway:' Cannes". Deadline. Archived from the original on 15 March 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  24. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 May 2018). "Roland Emmerich's WWII Epic 'Midway' Sets Sail With Woody Harrelson, Mandy Moore & AGC Studios — Cannes Hot Pic". Deadline. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  25. ^ Kit, Borys (3 July 2018). "Luke Evans Joins Roland Emmerich's Naval Action Movie 'Midway' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  26. ^ Marc, Christopher (24 July 2018). "Roland Emmerich's WWII Epic 'Midway' Adds 'The Guest' Cinematographer – GWW". thegww.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  27. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (5 September 2018). "Roland Emmerich's WWII Epic 'Midway' To Open Veterans Day Weekend 2019". Deadline. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  28. ^ Kenny, Glenn (15 September 2022). "'I Used to Be Famous' Review: Hold On to That Feeling". New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  29. ^ Asatryan, Robinson, Tigran, Jacob (14 September 2022). "Netflix Movie 'I Used to Be Famous': Coming to Netflix in September 2022". What's On Netflix. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Felperin, Leslie (6 September 2022). "I Used to be Famous review – heartwarming boyband tale beats the neurodivergent drum". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Ed Skrein (@edskrein) posted on Instagram • Jul 19, 2020 at 5:02pm UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Marley Skrein: Meet The 12 Year Old Son Of Ed Skrein". naijasuperfans.com. 20 April 2023.
  33. ^ Megan Conner (9 June 2012). "Why we're watching: Ed Skrein". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  34. ^ "Ed Skrein". Huck Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  35. ^ "Ed Skrein: 5 Things To Know About The Man Playing "Game Of Thrones"' Daario Naharis". The Frisky. Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  36. ^ "All the Light We Cannot See". IMDb. Retrieved 3 November 2023.

External links edit