James Anthony "Jim" Sturgess is an English actor whose breakout role was Jude in 2007's Across the Universe.[1]Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Film 2.2 Music 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 5 Discography 5.1 Soundtrack 6 Awards and nominations 7 References 8 External links
[edit] Early life
Sturgess was born on May 16, 1981 in London, England but grew up in Farnham, Surrey outside of London. In 1997 he studied at the University of Salford's School of Media, Music and Performance.[2] He graduated in 1999 with an HND in Media and Performance.[3] He was discovered whilst performing in his self-written poetry-based one-person show "Buzzin" where he was recommended to an actor's agency back in London. While acting in various television programmes and independent films he became a member of a seven-piece band named the "Dilated Spies". Once the band broke up he began to once again pursue a career in acting.[4] [edit] Career [edit] Film
Sturgess sustained almost a decade of roles in British productions, mostly telefilms, including I'm Frank Morgan (2000), Hawk (2001), and the three installments of The Quest series.
In 2007, he made his big break in Julie Taymor's musical Across the Universe, portraying Jude Feeny, a paternally-shorn young man who travels to the U.S. amid the raging throes of the late '60s and falls in love with sheltered American teenager, Lucy, played by Evan Rachel Wood.
In 2008, he appeared in the historical drama The Other Boleyn Girl in the supporting role of George Boleyn opposite Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana. He also starred in 21 as the male lead Ben Campbell, a movie about five MIT students, who, by counting cards, take Las Vegas casinos for millions. Sturgess' co-stars in 21 include Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne.
He played Gavin Kossef in 2009's Crossing Over, appearing with Hollywood greats Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd. The movie is set in Los Angeles. The storyline revolves around immigrants from different countries and backgrounds who share a common bond in desperately trying to gain legal status. Also in 2009, he starred in Kari Skogland’s Fifty Dead Men Walking loosely based on the best-selling book by Martin McGartland about a young Irishman recruited by the British police to infiltrate and spy on the Irish Republican Army.
Heartless, a film directed by Philip Ridley, premiered on August 31, 2009[5] at the London FrightFest Film Festival, a popular horror film festival. Sturgess appears as Jamie Morgan, a young man whose life has always been blighted by the large, heart-shaped port wine birthmark on his face and sells his soul to the devil. Jim Sturgess won the Best Actor Award at the 2010 Fantasporto Film Festival for his role. The film also won the Best Film Award and the Best Director Award for Philip Ridley. The film is due for release in May 2010.[6]
2010 also has Sturgess slated to appear as a character based on Sławomir Rawicz, a young Polish officer who escaped from a Russian gulag during World War II. The film, The Way Back, is based on a true story and directed by the highly acclaimed Peter Weir. Colin Farrell and Ed Harris co-star.
Additionally in 2010, Jim Sturgess provides voice over work in director Zack Snyder’s 3-D animated feature film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole based on Kathryn Lasky's bestselling children’s book series, Guardians of Ga'Hoole: also providing voice work on this project are Ryan Kwanten, Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill, Helen Mirren and Hugo Weaving.
There are three announced film projects due to film during 2010 at this time, Upside Down, Promised Land, and One Day. Upside Down completed filming in May in Montreal and is currently in post-production.[7] Described as a 'sci-fi romance', Upside Down is the second full length feature from writer/director Juan Solanas and is currently slated for release in May 2011[8]. Promised Land will be directed by Michael Winterbottom and according to Variety 'will recount the lead up to the 1948 partition of Palestine and the subsequent creation of the state of Israel. Jim Sturgess will star as a British officer hunting down the extremist Jewish factions'. Filming is due to begin in October.[9] In May, Sturgess officially signed on to appear in One Day based on the best selling novel by David Nicholls. Anne Hathaway will co-star. The novel is based on two students who meet on July 15, 1988. The story follows them every July 15 over the following 20 years. Lone Scherfig will direct.[10] [edit] Music
In addition to his successful acting career, Sturgess continues to be active as a songwriter, writing and performing two songs for his role in Crossing Over. Listen for his vocal performance on three songs in the upcoming film Heartless, two co-written by writer/director Philip Ridley and Nick Bicat. He is also currently involved with a band called Tragic Toys, in collaboration with his longtime girlfriend, Mickey O’Brien.[11] "Panic & Magic"
Sturgess has written music related to both Crossing Over and Heartless Problems listening to this file? See media help.
In January of 2010, an official MySpace page featuring music written and performed by Jim Sturgess was launched. Currently a total of six songs are featured, with several credited to either Dilated Spies or Saint Faith. Also on the site is Make Your Mind Up, used for the film Crossing Over.[12] [edit] Personal life
He is currently living with long term girlfriend of six years, Mickey O'Brien, keyboardist for the band La Roux.[13] [edit] Filmography
Sturgess at the 2007 Toronto International Film FestivalFilm Year Film Role Other notes 1994 The Browning Version Bryant 2005 Mouth to Mouth Red 2007 Across the Universe Jude Feeny 2008 The Other Boleyn Girl George Boleyn 21 Ben Campbell Fifty Dead Men Walking Martin McGartland 2009 Crossing Over Gavin Kossef Heartless Jamie Morgan[14] UK Release May 21, 2010[15] 2010 The Way Back Janusz post-production Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Soren (voice only) UK Release October 15, 2010 US Release September 24, 2010 [16] 2011 Upside Down Adam post-production[17] The Promised Land Thomas Wilkin announced[18] One Day Dexter Filming [19] Television Year Title Role Notes 1999 The Scarlet Pimpernel Erik Episode: Valentine Gautier Episode: The King's Ransom 2000 Thursday the 12th Martin Bannister TV-Movie Other People's Children Barry Episode: 1.2 2001 The Residents Banjo Heartbeat Robert Episode: The Long Weekend Hawk Shop Assistant BBC Miniseries 2002 The Quest Young Charlie ITV TV-Movie Judge John Deed Gary Patterson Episode: Abuse of Power 2003 A Touch of Frost Laurence Burrell Episode: Close Encounters Rehab Daryll 2004 The Second Quest Young Charlie ITV TV-Movie The Final Quest Young Charlie ITV TV-Movie 2005 The Last Detective Ryan Episode: Friends Reunited
[edit] Discography [edit] SoundtrackYear Song Film/Soundtrack 2007 "Girl" Across the Universe "All My Loving" "With A Little Help From My Friends" (with Joe Anderson) "I've Just Seen A Face" "Dear Prudence" (with Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs & Evan Rachel Wood) "Because" (with Joe Anderson, T. V. Carpio, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther McCoy & Evan Rachel Wood) "Something" "Strawberry Fields Forever" (with Joe Anderson) "Revolution" "Across the Universe" "All You Need Is Love" (with T. V. Carpio, Dana Fuchs & Martin Luther McCoy) 2009 "Mistake The Enemy" (Writer and performer)[20] Crossing Over "Make Your Mind Up" (Writer and performer) "Hine ma tov" (Traditional) "Heartless" Heartless "The Other Me" "Panic and Magic" (O'Brien/Stoney/Sturgess)[21]
