Birmingham’s history is filled with many fascinating and remarkable women. Some influenced history and women’s rights, while others made their mark in the world of film and the arts. Felicity Jones is one such woman. Read more on the birminghamka website.
Acting Environment
Jones was born on 17 October 1983 in Birmingham. She spent her childhood in Bournville, one of the most affluent areas of the city. Felicity was the youngest child in the family. Her mother worked in advertising, while her father was a journalist. She also has a brother. Their parents divorced when Felicity was just three years old, and her mother played a major role in her upbringing.
The future actress’s uncle, Michael Hadley, was involved in the acting industry. His work inspired Jones to consider acting as a career. She received her early education at King Norton Girls’ School, in the suburbs of Birmingham. She then continued her studies at King Edward VI Handsworth School in Handsworth, Birmingham. There, she completed her A-levels before taking an academic break to act in a television series. Later, she attended Wadham College, Oxford, where she studied English while performing in student theatre productions. She even toured Japan with the Oxford University Dramatic Society.
Childhood Roles
At just 11 years old, she began attending acting workshops at the Central Junior Television Workshop. Her role in the series The Worst Witch was not her first at the age of 14, but it was one of the most memorable from her youth. Her longest-running role as a young actress was in The Archers on BBC Radio 4.
For her role as Grace May in the series Servants, she had to take an academic break from college. In 2007, she actively performed in various plays, including at the Royal Court Theatre.
During her youth, Jones worked extensively in theatre and television in the UK. She shared the screen with some of the finest British actors, including Tamsin Greig and Iain Glen. In 2008, she appeared in an episode of the iconic British series Doctor Who.
A Time for Awards
In 2011, Felicity received one of her first major nominations. At the Sundance Film Festival, she won the Special Jury Prize for her role in Like Crazy. She dedicated a lot to her character, working not only on her acting but also on the character’s appearance. Many film critics believed that her performance in the film deserved more than just the Sundance award—some even considered it Oscar-worthy.
In the years that followed, she received her long-awaited Academy Award nomination for The Theory of Everything.
Jones always took her preparation for roles seriously. While working on the film Chalet Girl, she had to learn how to snowboard. The romantic comedy genre was new to her and became a valuable learning experience for her acting career.
While performing in Schiller’s Intrigue and Love, she lived with a Catholic family and attended church services to fully immerse herself in her role.
She accepted a role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 primarily because it was a completely different character from anything she had played before.
Jones was cast in The Theory of Everything immediately after her audition. Unlike other aspiring actors, who often wait weeks for callbacks, director James Marsh was certain she was perfect for the part. Jones was equally excited about the script, as it was not just a biographical film about Stephen Hawking but a love story about his relationship with his wife. The film portrayed a different side of the brilliant scientist. Many people know about Hawking’s scientific achievements, but not everyone knows he had three children or the immense challenges his wife faced.
While preparing for her role, Felicity worked closely with the real Jane Hawking, who later praised her portrayal as flawless. Eddie Redmayne, who played Stephen Hawking, won an Academy Award for his performance, while Jones earned nominations for the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and other prestigious film awards.
Jones and Redmayne reunited in The Aeronauts, a thrilling film about the history of aeronautics that captivated audiences.
The Theory of Everything showcased all facets of Felicity Jones’s talent, while Rogue One: A Star Wars Story catapulted her into Hollywood’s elite. Her agent strongly encouraged her to take the role, recognizing the franchise’s immense popularity and impact on an actor’s career. Joining a cinematic universe of this magnitude was not just beneficial financially but also significantly boosted her global recognition. The Star Wars film grossed $1 billion worldwide, providing Jones with greater opportunities for future roles.
In 2016, she starred in Inferno, an adaptation of Dan Brown’s bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code. Alongside Tom Hanks, she brought depth and chemistry to their on-screen characters.
Her filmography includes not only science fiction films like The Midnight Sky but also biographical dramas. One such example is On the Basis of Sex, a film about the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court Justice of the United States.
Her career continues to grow, with a diverse range of roles in her repertoire. In addition to acting, she is also the face of Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana.
Personal Life
There is little public information about the actress’s private life. She has had two long-term relationships. From 2003 to 2013, she was in a relationship with artist Ed Fornieles, whom she met at Oxford. Since 2015, she has been in a relationship with director Charles Guard. The couple married in 2018, and in 2020, they welcomed a son. They keep their private life strictly confidential and did not publicly announce her pregnancy.
Felicity has chosen to live in East End, near London, despite her global fame. She remains drawn to her roots and her home country.