Ben Whishaw Biography
Benjamin John Whishaw is an English actor and producer, born on 14 October 1980 in Clifton, Bedfordshire. He was raised in Clifton and Langford and attended Henlow Middle School and Samuel Whitbread Community College. Whishaw graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2003.
Whishaw’s family ancestry is English on his mohter’s side, and French, german and Russian on his father’s side. The family name was originally Stellmacher, a German occupational name for a wheelwright. Ben Whishaw’s grandfather, Jean Vladimir Stellmacher, changed his name to John Victor Whishaw after serving as a British spy in the German army during World War II.
Ben Whishaw was a member of the Bancroft Players Youth Theatre and received positive reviews for his lead performance in Trevor Nunn’s 2004 production of Hamlet at the Old Vic, for which he was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actor.
Ben Whishaw’s first film role was in The Trench in 1999, followed by Enduring Love and Layer Cake, both starring Daniel Craig. Whishaw won the 2001 British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer for his role in My Brother Tom and was nominated as best actor in 2005 for his portrayal of Hamlet at The Old Vic, London. He also played Keith Richards in the Brian Jones biopic Stoned and received positive attention for his role as a drug dealer in Philip Ridley’s Mercury Fur stage play.
Whishaw is well-known for his role as Q in the James Bond films Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die. He also lent his voice to Paddington Bear in the films Paddington and Paddington 2.
Ben Whishaw has received several awards for his performances, including an Emmy Award for Best Actor in Criminal Justice in 2009, a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in A Very English Scandal in 2018, and a BAFTA in 2019 for Outstanding Supporting Actor also in A Very English Scandal.
