Finn (Fien) Whitehead (Fionn Whitehead) is a young British actor of theater, film and television. He became widely known in 2017 after playing the role of Tommy in the war drama directed by Christopher Nolan "Dunkirk".
The creative biography of the actor began in his school years with performances on the theater stage. He came to the cinema in 2016. On his account so far there are only 13 roles in television and film projects, including participation in popular programs: "Today", "Made in Hollywood", "Entertainment Tonight".
Biography facts
The future actor was born in England in the summer of 1997 in a family of native Englishmen Tim and Linda Whitehead. He spent his childhood on the Thames in the town of Richmond, located in the south-west of England on the border with London.
The boy got the name Finn for a reason. The parents decided to name their son after the hero of Celtic myths - Finn Makkula, who was a warrior, seer and sage. Translated from English, the name Fionn may sound like Finn, Fien or Fionn, but he himself prefers to be called Finn.
Finn has 2 older sisters, Maisie and Hattie, and Sonny's younger brother. Maisie has been fond of sports and dancing since childhood. She is currently a professional dancer and aero yoga fan. Hattie is an actress and singer, professionally engaged in music and has already become a famous performer who has recorded her own album.
Finn's father, Tim Whitehead, graduated from Manchester University Law School, but he was not attracted to the work of a lawyer. Tim has always been drawn to art. Now he is a professional jazz musician, well known not only in England, but also far beyond its borders.
Tim's wife, Linda, ran a household and raised children. Unfortunately, she died early due to a serious illness. Linda's cause of death was cancer. When Finn began acting in films, he dedicated one of his roles to his mother, playing a young man suffering from leukemia in the film Childrens Law.
During his school years, Tim learned to play the clarinet and saxophone, and also began to compose his own compositions. In 1976 he formed South Of The Border with guitarist Glen Cartledge. They soon became the winners of the Greater London Arts Association jazz competition.
Then Tim played in many famous bands, including Nucleus and Graham Collier's Band. He currently continues to give concerts in England, Europe and America, recording new albums and collaborating with renowned jazz musicians and composers.
Finn, like all the children in the Whitehead family, has been fascinated by creativity since childhood. During his school years, he began to play on the stage of the Orange Tree Theater youth theater. Participated in Orleans Park School, he also took up music and break dance and was even going to become a professional dancer.
In 2012, Finn performed at a Christmas concert with his songs and many advised him to pursue a career in music, but the young man was more attracted to theatrical creativity and cinema.
After receiving his primary education, the young man continued his acting studies in college, and also attended the National Youth Theater's summer courses. After completing the courses, the young actor continued to perform on the stage of the youth theater.
Finn was an aspiring actor, so he was offered to play only cameo roles in performances. To earn his living, he worked as a waiter in a cafe, worked as a ferry controller and even was a nanny. In his free time, the young man constantly attended auditions and auditions.
Whitehead got his first television role in 2016. From that moment on, his professional career in cinematography began.
Film career
The young performer made his debut on the screen in 2016. Finn landed the lead role in the British miniseries "He".
The hero of the film is an ordinary teenager who, at first glance, is no different from his peers. But soon everyone around him begins to notice that he has some kind of supernatural strength and abilities and it is better not to enter into any conflicts with him. Heightened feelings break out, the boy begins to literally destroy everything around him. He has to learn to control anger, anger and his own fears. Trying to sort out his abilities, he discovers that he is not the first in the family with whom such events happened. His grandfather also had destructive power.
The fantastic drama directed by Andy de Emmoni about the feelings of a teenager, the struggle with feelings that he does not yet know how to control, fell in love with the audience and received high marks from film critics.
In 2017, the actor appeared on the screen as Tommy in the historical drama "Dunkirk" directed by Christopher Nolan. This work brought Finn worldwide fame and nominations for the Empire Award, London Film Critics' Circle Award.
The film tells the story of the amazing rescue of several hundred thousand soldiers during an operation that took place near the city of Dunkirk during the outbreak of World War II.
The famous director K. Nolan himself wrote the script for the film and started producing it. The actor who played the main role of Tommy was also chosen by Nolan himself. Many were surprised by his decision, and the director said in an interview that Whitehead reminded him of the legendary British performer Tom Courtney in his youth.
The picture aroused great interest among the audience and was highly appreciated by film critics. Dunkirk received 3 Oscars for Best Sound, Sound Editing and Editing. And also 5 nominations for this award. Additionally, the film was nominated for the Actors Guild Awards, "Saturn", "Cesar", "Golden Eagle", "Golden Globe", the British Academy.
Finn played his next role in the television series Queers. In the same year, he appeared on the screen in the drama "Children Act". In 2019, he was nominated for the London Film Critics' Circle Award for his work in this film.
In 2018, Whitehead starred in the fantasy thriller Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. A year later, the actor appeared on the screen in the adventure comedy "Roads" and in the drama "Port-Atority", shown in Cannes and received 3 nominations for various awards of the film festival.
Personal life
Finn is not going to build a serious relationship and start a family yet. In his interviews, he does not like to touch upon topics affecting his personal life.
Whitehead is fully occupied with his career, filming new projects and theatrical performances. He continues to make music, and in 2019 starred in the video of his older sister.
