Rocketman star Taron Egerton is a proud Welsh Hollywood A-lister who, although he wasn't born in God's Country, wastes no moment to talk about being Welsh or highlight a good cause in his hometown of Aberystwyth.
The 32-year-old former Penglais Comprehensive School pupil and star of Rocketman, Kingsman and Sing, was born in Birkenhead and moved to LlanfairPG as a child before relocating to Aberystwyth at the age of 12, a place which he calls his home and 'associates with being incredibly happy.'
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There he enjoyed his time in productions at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. He said in 2019: "When I was about 14 or 15 I joined the Aberystwyth Arts Centre Youth Theatre and it absolutely changed my life. I found the thing I wanted to do with my life. Everything fell into place.”
His first major role was as the Artful Dodger in Oliver way back in 2005 and that passion for the stage took him to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 2012.
His mother Christine - who he often takes to premieres and awards shows and whom he bought a new house for after his first hit, Kingsman - is still the person he calls when he needs advice.
He once revealed: "When I have troubles in my life, I call my mum. She is rational, sane, functional, normal, and she has wisdom to impart."
Taron first lept to fame in the aforementioned Kingsman movie, released in 2014, in which he played Eggsy, who is recruited into a secret spy organisation.
From there he went on to play Eggsy in the sequel three years later, Eddie the Eagle in the sports biopic and Robin Hood in a 2018 reboot of the tale of Sherwood Forest's folk hero.
But it wasn't until he was cast as Elton John in Rocketman did his stardom hit another level and he became a friend of the singer and they performed together on stage several times.
Taron won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and gained a friend in Elton. He spoke about their friendship, during which the I'm Still Standing singer gave the Welshman his own honorific drag name, Blodwyn Campervan, something Elton has done for Freddie Mercury, Rod Stewart.
"I think that's how you know he really likes you," Taron told Entertainment Weekly in 2019.
"I can't tell you how weird it is to become so close to someone that you portray," Egerton added. "It used to be that I'd turn up at his house and my heart would skip a beat before he came to the door because — it's Elton John. But now… I don't think my heart would flutter. It has just become a very normal thing now, being a part of Elton's life, and David and the boys, their sons."
As well as scooping the Golden Globe, Taron was also nominated for Best Actor at the 2020 Baftas for Rocketman and was joined by his girlfriend, Emily Thomas, who has been an assistant director on films like Wonder Woman 1984 and No Time to Die, on the awards circuit that year alongside his little sisters Mary and Rosie.
Since the success of Rocketman, Taron has enjoyed voice work on Sing 2, Moominvalley and The Dark Crystal and he's about to be seen in the movie version of the story of Tetris.
There have also been rumours he's going to become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as the new Wolverine, these rumours were boosted recently when Taron posted an Instagram story dancing in just a towel and showing off a very toned upper body.
Back in 2019, Egerton spoke to Variety about rumours flying at the time that he might be taking over the role of Wolverine from Hugh Jackman when the X-Men make their MCU debut in the future.
"I love Marvel and I love the movies and I'd love the excuse to get in shape," the actor said. "I'd love to be a part of it, whether [Wolverine] is realistic or not, I don't know."
For now, Taron's fans can see him up-close-and-personal(ish) when he stars opposite Bridgerton's Jonathan Bailey in Mike Bartlett's (Doctor Foster writer) and Marianne Elliot's West End revival of the play, Cock. The play also stars Phil Daniels and His Dark Materials' Jade Anouka.
Bailey plays John, a man who is happy in himself and in his relationship with boyfriend M (Egerton), but his world is turned upside down when he meets the woman of his dreams (Anouka).
Taron speaks about his West End debut in the play on The Graham Norton Show, saying: "It’s been nine years since I have been on stage, but it was always my first love.
"In my youth I performed in musical theatre and Shakespeare and that was what I thought I would do with my life, but then after drama school I got a big film and life has happened since then, so I haven’t had a chance to do theatre. I am really excited to be back.”
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