David Thewlis is an English actor, musician, writer, and director who has a net worth of $2 million. He built his wealth through a career spanning film, television, voice acting, theater, and filmmaking.
Thewlis first gained widespread recognition for his acclaimed performance as Johnny in the 1993 film Naked. The role earned him several major acting awards, including Best Actor honors at the Cannes Film Festival and from the New York Film Critics Circle.
He later became internationally known for playing Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter film series. His other notable film credits include DragonHeart, Restoration, The Big Lebowski, Kingdom of Heaven, The Omen, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, War Horse, The Theory of Everything, and Wonder Woman.
On television, Thewlis has appeared in productions including Fargo, Barkskins, Landscapers, The Sandman, The Artful Dodger, Kaos, and Sherlock & Daughter. He has also provided the voice of the Shame Wizard in Big Mouth and Human Resources.
Beyond acting, Thewlis has worked as a writer and director. He wrote and directed the 2003 feature film Cheeky and the short film Hello, Hello, Hello.
| David Thewlis Net Worth | $2 Million |
| Date of Birth | March 20, 1963 |
| Place of Birth | Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
Early Life
David Thewlis was born David Wheeler on March 20, 1963, in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. He is the second of three children born to Maureen and Alec Raymond Wheeler.
His parents operated a family shop that sold toys during the summer and wallpaper and paint during the winter.
As a teenager, Thewlis developed an interest in music. He played in the rock band QED alongside Cliff Ashcroft, Mark Fawl, and Chris Swift. The group performed at hotels in Blackpool and wrote much of its own music.
Thewlis later became the lead guitarist for the punk rock band Door 66. He initially moved to London with the band before deciding to pursue acting.
He attended Highfield High School before enrolling at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He graduated from the institution in 1984.
Acting Career
Thewlis began his professional acting career in the 1980s. He made his television debut in 1985 with appearances on Only Fools and Horses, Summer Season, and Up the Elephant and Round the Castle.
He made his film debut in Little Dorrit in 1987 and subsequently appeared in Vroom and Resurrected. He also had a role on the television series Valentine Park.
During the early 1990s, Thewlis appeared in films including Life Is Sweet, Afraid of the Dark, Damage, The Trial, and Black Beauty.
His major breakthrough came in 1993 when he starred as Johnny in Mike Leigh’s Naked. His performance received widespread critical acclaim and earned him Best Actor awards from the Cannes Film Festival, Evening Standard British Film Awards, London Film Critics’ Circle, National Society of Film Critics, and New York Film Critics Circle.
Thewlis continued building his film career with roles in Total Eclipse, Restoration, DragonHeart, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Seven Years in Tibet, The Big Lebowski, and Divorcing Jack.
In the 2000s, he appeared in Gangster No. 1, Timeline, Kingdom of Heaven, The New World, Basic Instinct 2, The Omen, and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
One of the most commercially significant roles of his career came when he was cast as Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise. Thewlis portrayed the Hogwarts professor and former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in five films: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
The role significantly raised his international profile and became one of his most recognizable performances.
Later Film Career
After the Harry Potter films, Thewlis continued taking on a wide range of roles.
His credits included London Boulevard, The Lady, Anonymous, War Horse, RED 2, The Fifth Estate, and The Zero Theorem.
In 2014, he appeared in The Theory of Everything, starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Thewlis later appeared in Legend, Macbeth, The Mercy, Rare Beasts, Guest of Honour, Eternal Beauty, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things.
He also portrayed Sir Patrick Morgan, the human identity of Ares, in the 2017 superhero film Wonder Woman.
His more recent film credits include Enola Holmes 2 and The Thing with Feathers.
Television Career
Thewlis has maintained a strong presence on television throughout his career.
One of his most acclaimed television performances came in 2017 when he played V. M. Varga and Robot on the FX crime anthology series Fargo. His performance earned him both Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
He later portrayed Lawrence Hatfield in The Feed and Monsieur Claude Trepagny in the National Geographic drama Barkskins.
In 2021, he starred alongside Olivia Colman in the miniseries Landscapers. He subsequently appeared as John Dee in Netflix’s The Sandman.
In 2023, Thewlis began playing Fagin in the Disney+ series The Artful Dodger. He portrayed Hades in the Netflix series Kaos in 2024.
In 2025, he began starring as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock & Daughter.
Voice Acting
Voice work has also contributed to Thewlis’ long entertainment career.
He has voiced the Shame Wizard in the Netflix animated series Big Mouth and its spinoff Human Resources. His voice-acting work has helped him reach audiences beyond his live-action film and television roles.
Writing and Directing
Thewlis has also worked behind the camera.
In 1995, he wrote and directed the short film Hello, Hello, Hello, which earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Short Film.
In 2003, he wrote, directed, and starred in the feature film Cheeky.
His work as a filmmaker added another dimension to his career beyond acting and provided another avenue for creative and professional opportunities.
Personal Life
Thewlis married director and actress Sara Sugarman in April 1992. The couple divorced in 1994.
He later dated actress Kate Hardie before beginning a long-term relationship with actress Anna Friel in 2000. The couple welcomed a daughter, Gracie, in 2005, before separating in 2010.
In August 2016, Thewlis married designer and artist Hermine Poitou. The couple lives in Sunningdale in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Awards and Nominations
David Thewlis has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career.
His performance in Naked remains among his most celebrated achievements. In 1993, he won Best Actor awards from the Cannes Film Festival, Evening Standard British Film Awards, London Film Critics Circle, National Society of Film Critics, and New York Film Critics Circle.
His television work has also earned significant recognition. For Fargo, he received Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his performance as V. M. Varga.
Thewlis received a BAFTA nomination for his short film Hello, Hello, Hello and later earned the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film at the British Independent Film Awards in 2008.
He also received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination alongside his The Theory of Everything castmates and a BAFTA nomination for his performance in Landscapers.
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