David Wheeler was born on 20th March 1963, in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, and is an actor and director who became well known as David Thewlis – his mother’s maiden name – winning among others Cannes Film Festival Award as the Best Actor in 1993 for the film “Naked” in which he portrayed Mike Leigh. He is also known for creating the character Professor Remus Lupine in the saga of “Harry Potter”. Thewlis has been active in the entertainment industry since 1985.
How much is the net worth of David Thewlis? It has been estimated by authoritative sources that the overall size of his wealth is as much as $800,000, as of the data presented in the middle of 2017. Film and television are the major sources of Thewlis’ modest fortune.
David Thewlis Net Worth $800,000
To begin with, as a teenager, Thewlis played in the rock band QED, for which he and his band members themselves wrote most of the lyrics and the music, and played at hotels in Blackpool, and then arranged a first recording session at Storm Studios, also in Blackpool. Later, Thewlis played in the punk rock band By 66, still concentrating on music, with no ambition to become an actor. However, when his friends went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Thewlis joined them, and graduated in 1984. When he wanted to sign up for the actors union, he found out that someone was already registered under the name David Wheeler, so he chose his mother’s maiden name as his stage name.
Concerning his professional career, his first job as an actor was landed in a theatre piece “Buddy Holly” in Greenwich. His first major film role was in the movie “Naked” (1993), for which he received promising reviews from critics and awards (from the National Society of Film Critics, the London Film Critics Circle, the Evening Standard, the New York Film Critics Circle and the Film Festival of Cannes). Despite the “dark” character of the film, the actor was widely praised and the role is widely regarded as one of his best performances. The same year, he appeared on television in the movie “Prime Suspect”, starring opposite Helen Mirren. In the rest of the 1990s, Thewlis appeared in a variety of films, including many fantasy and costume films such as “Restoration” (1995) by Michael Hoffman, “Total Eclipse” (1995) by Agnieszka Holland, “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1996) by John Frankenheimer and “Seven Years in Tibet” (1997) directed and produced by Jean-Jacques Annaud. He was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for his role of Dan Starkey in the film “Divorcing Jack” (1998), and auditioned for the role of Professor Krinkelin the first “Harry Potter” film, but that role went to Ian Hart. In 2004, however, he was offered the role of Remys Lupos by director Alfonso Cuarón for the third film in that series. He went to actor Ian Hart for advice, and after learning that it was the most interesting character from the books, he took the role, and played the role in the following Harry Potter films. Thewlis also appeared in the film directed by Ridley Scott “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005), in the film by Terrence Malick “The New World” (2005) and in the film by James Marsh “Theory of All” (2014). His latest appearance was in 2017, playing the villain Ares in the film “Wonder Woman”.
As a filmmaker, he was nominated for a BAFTA award for the film “Hello, Hello, Hello” (1995). He also directed, wrote the screenplay and starred as a protagonist in “Cheeky” (2003).
Finally, in the personal life of David Thewlis, from 1992 to 1994 he was married to director Sara Sugarman. From 2001 until late 2010, he lived with actress Anna Friel: the couple has a daughter, Gracie, born in 2005. Current reports are that he is single.
Cannes Best Actor Award (1993), New York Film Critics Circle Award, National Society of Film Critics Award, British Independent Film Award – The Richard Harris Award (2008), Scream Award (2009)
Music Groups
QED (rock band)
Nominations
BAFTA Award for Best Short Film (1995), Golden Raspberry Award, Primetime Emmy Award (2017)
Movies
“Naked” (1993), “Harry Potter”, “Dragonheart” (1996), “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005), “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” (2008), “The Theory of Everything”, “Black Beauty (1994), “Macbeth” (2015), “Wonder Woman” (2017), “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005), “The New World” ...
TV Shows
“Fargo” (2017), “An Inspector Calls” (2015), “A Bit of a Do” (1989)
#
Trademark
1
Towering height
#
Quote
1
I'd only read a bit of the first book. And I just knew about all the media furor over it. But I'd not read books 2 or 3. I'd just read a bit of it. And I'd seen the films.
2
The making of 'Naked' was an absolutely phenomenal, mind-bending experience. That film was life-changing and put my career onto a whole different level.
3
I'd been a stepparent for about two years with a woman who had a child, and I came to realize I adored children and was good with them. So I was very happy when Anna got pregnant.
4
Yeah, well that's the best thing about it, I think, is knowing kids and kids getting mental when they know you're in it. Any kid you meet and anyone I know tells the kid you're in it and they get short of breath.
5
Restoration I did because I really loved e novel and I like Michael Hoffman, who directed it, but it wasn't a really challenging part for me. I'm not critical of the film: I just don't think I gave a very interesting performance.
6
On relationship with now ex-girlfriend Anna Friel: It's certainly not easy having to spend a lot of time apart, and having a five-year-old child who's got to be at school. So we need to learn how to organize our time really well because for months we will be in two different countries.
7
On Anna Friel: Before Anna, I'd had a few relationships and I'm glad I've been around a bit. I know where it's gone wrong or know who are the wrong people for me and who I might be wrong for.
8
I met the Coens here a few years ago and they said they liked my work.
9
I don't think Alfonso was a big expert on Potter either. He was feeling his way through it more than I was.
10
It wasn't the greatest script in the world, but not many people can say they've played a wicked king in a swashbuckling Arthurian special-effects monster movie.
11
It wasn't a good idea to work on 'Naked' in the first months of a marriage. I was living apart from my wife in a flat overflowing with books I was reading for the part.
12
And it was only released in London last week, so when I go back to England Monday or whatever, I am expecting heaps of adulation. I'm hoping there is. If that doesn't happen I will be disappointed.
13
Well I am afraid that I am going to die, because I have just put a down payment on a house.
14
I was still listening to the Beatles until I came here, you know.
15
When you do something well, this is the best job in the world.
16
The very best thing about doing it is seeing the reaction on kid's faces when you tell them you've done it.
17
I had such a nice time making it, and I can't wait to make the fifth one. The whole crew were just really, really lovely. All the costume people, the make-up girls, the kids - even my driver.
18
I keep myself content by doing lots of different stuff and make sure that my next role is completely different to the last. I just enjoy the versatility of it, the challenge of doing lots of different things. It keeps the job interesting.
19
I don't worry. I'm more stoical. Of course I have insecurities. I fear getting older. I fear death and illness. I'm not prone to depression, but I get depressed because everybody gets depressed. Suddenly I'm away from my family or doing a job I'm not enjoying.
20
The lifestyle I have now, and the opportunities I have had, are all down to Mike [Leigh] getting me on board in Naked. After Cannes, my agent told me to get the next flight to LA. He was right. I had a part in Prime Suspect 3 by the end of the week.
#
Fact
1
He'd been considered for the role of "Montgomery" in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) then, as filming was due to start, he was cast as "Edward Douglas", replacing Rob Morrow, who'd dropped out.
2
He was in a relationship with actress Anna Friel from 2001 - 2010. They have a daughter, Gracie Ellen Mary Thewlis, born on July 9, 2005.
3
Because he had such a bad experience working on The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), he vowed never to see the final product. He skipped the opening premiere.