Profile of Ben Hardy, Actor of Oliver in 'LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT', Once Borrowed Instagram Account for Social Campaign!

Kapanlagi.com - Written by Rachel Carisa Oswandi

Ben Hardy is an actor who has had a brilliant career at a young age because he previously appeared in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE and BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. Before that, he was known for his role as Peter Beale in the BBC soap opera titled EASTENDERS. In September, he will star in a film that will be released on Netflix titled LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT is a romantic comedy film adapted from a novel and directed by Vanessa Caswill. This film tells the story of a sweet love that starts with love at first sight, as love always finds its way no matter the obstacles. Haley Lu Richardson, who played Stella in the film FIVE FEET APART, will be Ben Hardy's co-star, playing the role of Oliver.

This film will be released on September 15th. While waiting for the release of this film, let's get to know Ben Hardy first!

1. Profile and Biodata

Ben Hardy in 'X-MEN: APOCALYPSE' (credit: imdb.com)

Ben Hardy was born as Ben Jones on January 2, 1991 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. He grew up in Sherborne, a small town in Southwest England. In his childhood, he wanted to become a professional rugby player, but an injury led him to discover an interest in acting and singing while attending Gryphon School. He also has a talent for mathematics.

During his time at Gryphon, he appeared in the student film FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD as Sergeant Francis Troy, which premiered in July 2009. After graduating with honors in Acting from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2012, Hardy appeared in a student production of CITY OF ANGELS where he portrayed Stine, a writer trying to adapt his novel into a screenplay. The performance received positive reviews for Hardy's excellent acting and his extraordinary singing voice.

2. Career Journey

Ben Hardy in 'LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT' (credit: instagram.com/imdb.com)

In 2012, Ben Hardy played Arthur Wellesley in the drama THE JUDAS KISS by David Hare. In April 2013, he landed the role of Peter Beale in the BBC drama series EASTENDERS, replacing Thomas Law. 2016 marked Hardy's film debut when he portrayed Warren Worthington III or Archangel in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, which also featured James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence. Despite initially auditioning for the role of Scott Summers (Cyclops), he eventually played Archangel after the role of Cyclops was given to Tye Sheridan.

Shortly after, Hardy appeared alongside Elle Fanning in MARY SHELLEY, a period romance film directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, portraying Dr. John William Polidori, which was released in 2017. In the same year, he starred in ONLY THE BRAVE alongside Josh Brolin, Taylor Kitsch, and Miles Teller, playing Wade Parker, a member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighting team. In 2018, his name rose again thanks to his role as Roger in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY.

3. Achievements and Nominations

Ben Hardy (credit: instagram.com/gregwilliamsphotography)

Ben Hardy is often involved in big film projects that always manage to captivate the audience. From his involvement in the iconic TV series EASTENDERS, to his role as an antagonist in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, and his portrayal of a true heartthrob in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, Ben Hardy is not afraid to take on diverse roles in his acting career. Thanks to his tremendous efforts in acting, he has achieved several accolades. 

In 2013, he was chosen as the Best Newcomer Actor in the Inside Soap Award. He has also been nominated for various awards, such as Best Soap Actor in the TV Choice Award (2014), #Squad in the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards (2017), Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in the Screen Actors Guild Awards (2019). Furthermore, the film he starred in, Bohemian Rhapsody, won the Best Picture category at the Golden Globes 2019, Best Ensemble at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards 2019, as well as the Oscars for Best Sound Editing and Sound Mixing, among other awards. Additionally, one of his films titled 6 Underground managed to garner 83 million viewers in its first month of release. 

4. Background of Acting

Ben Hardy at Backstage 'BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY' (credit: instagram.com/benhardy)

Ben Hardy never had plans to become an actor initially, thanks to his love for rugby. However, after experiencing an injury, he could no longer play rugby and decided to venture into the world of acting.

After deciding to give up on his dream of being a rugby player, a friend encouraged him to join a drama club. Ben, who fundamentally enjoys challenges and extreme activities, eventually fell in love with the world of acting. His decision to try acting turned out to bring significant changes in his life, starting around the age of 15. At the age of 18, he took further steps by deciding to study at a drama school, and this is where he truly fell in love with the world of acting.

5. Caring for Social Issues

Ben Hardy and his Pet Dog (credit: instagram.com/benhardy)

In addition to being a talented young actor, Ben Hardy also has a strong social conscience. Hardy temporarily handed over his Instagram account to the Black Lives Matter campaign for three months, allowing activists and different organizations to provide understanding to his 1.2 million followers and himself about racial issues. He did this after reading an article about being an ally and contacting various people.

He transferred the management of his Instagram account to Black Lives Matter, which held three different campaigns, including one by the African Rainbow Family, an organization advocating for equality for LGBTIQ individuals of African descent, as well as one by activist and model Adenike, who actively supports the BLM and Extinction Rebellion movements.

(kpl/rcl)