7 Things to Know About Nicholas Hoult
In honor of the actor's 35th birthday, L'OFFICIEL rounds up some fun facts you probably didn't know about Nosferatu star Nicholas Hoult.
British actor Nicholas Hoult has become one of Hollywood's best since his early career roles in Skins and About a Boy. Over his decades-long career, Hoult has starred in top films such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Warm Bodies, The Favourite, The Great, and The Menu. Most recently, he is expected to star in Robert Eggers's newest horror, Nosferatu, which is scheduled to be released on Christmas.
From drama to action to romance to comedy, Hoult's ability to thrive in any genre shows his undeniable versatility and natural-born acting talent. But part of the reason the actor has managed to gain such supporters is also due to his laid-back and charming personality beyond the cameras. Below, L'OFFICIEL rounds up six things you may not have known about the X-Men star on his 35th birthday.
Robert Eggers calls him the "Nicest guy he's ever met."
In an interview, Robert Eggers, the director of the upcoming film Nosferatu, had nothing but kind things to say about Hoult.
“Nicholas is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met,” Eggers told Deadline. “I remember when I met him the first time, it was in Brooklyn, in this little bar that no longer exists, sadly, because it was pretty cool. He was just so gentle.”
Eggers knew he wanted to cast Hoult in the film, as the character is just as kind and gentle as Hoult.
He had his first driving lesson at 14.
While on set for Wah Wah in Swaziland, his tutor offered to give him a driving lesson when Hoult was only 14 years old. "We were on a dirt road, in the middle of nowhere. And I remember at one point we went down this path and it led to where three rhinos were. So we had to reverse, backing away from these rhinos," Hoult said in an interview with Vanity Fair.
He enjoys being around the sea.
In another life, there's a good chance Hoult may have been a professional surfer. In an interview with Elle Canada, the actor speaks about his love for the water and his ability to surf: "I've always loved going to the seaside. I like surfing, and my parents sail, so I love being around the water."
He has a regular skincare routine.
In 2022, Hoult was announced as the face of the skincare and wellness brand Biotherm for its Force Supreme Line. When sharing about the experience, the actor revealed that through Force Supreme he was able to develop a regular skincare routine.
"In the morning, I wake up, work out, and shower, and then I apply the Blue Serum," Hoult told Elle Canada. "If I plan to spend time outdoors, I follow that with sunscreen because I absolutely have to protect my pale complexion. [For the evening,] a good cleanse, a little toner and then I let my skin breathe before applying my nighttime moisturizer. It's a simple and straightforward routine that works wonders for me."
He's still friends with cast members from Skins.
Hoult's role as Tony Stonem in the British teen drama Skins was a major stepping stone into his claim for Hollywood stardom. The BAFTA-winning series highlighted the lives of a group of young friends—in which all the characters maintained very good and believable on-screen chemistry. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hoult shares that filming Skins was an amazing experience and quite a few people from the show are still in touch. "Skins was just a good learning ground, and the writing was really brilliant on that show. Through the casting and the process of making it, they found really talented people. And fortunately, a lot of us have stayed friends, so we get to watch everyone’s careers blossom from it," Hoult said.
He danced with the English National Ballet as a kid.
Hoult is more than an actor, he's an experienced dancer—or rather, he's had experience dancing. In a 2007 interview with The Guardian, Hoult revealed that he did a little bit of dancing as a kid doing ballet. "I was in Swan Lake the ballet and also the Nutcracker with the National Ballet," he said. "It was the opposite of Skins! I can't even remember how I got into it, to be honest, I just ended up doing it. I just got on stage and it was a real kick doing ballet before a live audience."
He used to DJ at kids' birthday parties.
Actor, dancer, you may as well add DJ to the list as well. "My best friend and I used to DJ children's birthday parties when we were still in school, which was really fun. He'd be on the CD decks and if he needed, like, CD number 45, I'd scan through," he told British GQ.
