Nicholas Hoult

He used to attend Sylvia Young Theatre School, a prestigious stage school in London.

He is the son of Glenis Hoult (ne Glenis J. Brown), a piano teacher, from Rochford, Essex, and Roger K. Hoult, a pilot, from Birmingham, in the West Midlands. His patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his four times great-grandfather, Joseph Hoult, who was born c. 1815, in Staffordshire, England.

Will attend Farnborough Sixth Form College, located in Hampshire, in September 2006 where he will sit his AS and A-Level exams.

Has three siblings: Clarista Hoult , James (b. 1977) and Rosie.

At one time, he was rumoured to be Eoin Colfer s favourite to play the lead role in the proposed "Artemis Fowl" film adaptation of Colfers fantasy novel. However, as time passed and there was trouble producing the film, Nicholas grew too old for the role and, finally, the project was cancelled, altogether.

All of his three siblings have had some acting experience.

Used to play the trombone.

Was a choir boy.

Was hit by a bus during filming of a TV stunt. The stunt called for Nicholas to be tied to a chair and suspended 20ft off the ground when he was struck by the double decker which was supposed to stop inches from him. He escaped with a bruised head.

Was originally supposed to star as Young Herman in El cerco but after production delays Thomas Brodie-Sangster was cast instead.

Had to attend an audition for About a Boy wearing his school uniform but, unfortunately, he forgot his shoes. He told reporters that be borrowed his mothers white shoes and coloured them in, however, the colour came off!

Was given a PlayStation, one of his characters jackets and his characters hamster by directors Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz after filming of About a Boy .

Gabriel Byrne gave him a watch at the end of filming Wah-Wah , engraved with his name, just as his character did in the film.

Has remained in contact with Hugh Grant.

Left the Sylvia Young Theatre School to attend Ranelagh School, a local church secondary school.

Enjoys playing basketball.

Bought a bike with his earnings from About a Boy .

For his role as an American in The Weather Man , he was coached by Joan Washington , wife of Richard E. Grant who directed him in the film Wah-Wah .

His great-aunt was Dame Anna Neagle and his great uncle was Herbert Wilcox.

Although About a Boy marked his first leading role in a feature film, he has worked since the age of eight in film, television and theater.

Was in an on-off relationship with actress Jennifer Lawrence.

Residing with parents in Wokingham, Berkshire, UK.

He was born on the same day as X: First Class co-star Caleb Landry Jones : December 7, 1989.

Admitted on "Top Gear" that while wearing his full costume as Beast from X-Men, he ran onto a golf course, gave the golfers advice on their swing, and then simply ran away again, with no explanation.