Bill Milner

William Henry Milner (born 4 March 1995), known professionally as Bill Milner, is an English actor and producer recognized for his breakout child role as Will Proudfoot in the comedy-drama film Son of Rambow (2007), as well as subsequent performances in major productions like Christopher Nolan's war epic Dunkirk (2017) and the Netflix sci-fi series 3 Body Problem (2024).^[1] Milner's early career gained momentum with critically acclaimed roles in independent British films, including the title character in Is Anybody There? (2008) opposite Michael Caine and the young version of Magneto in X-Men: First Class (2011), earning him a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards.^[2] In the 2010s, he expanded into diverse genres, portraying a naive participant in Yorgos Lanthimos's surreal The Lobster (2015), a resistance fighter in the historical thriller Anthropoid (2016), and a supporting soldier in Dunkirk, which highlighted his versatility in ensemble casts.^[2][3] His television work has included the lead in the Netflix superhero film iBoy (2017) and recurring roles such as Finn Collins in 3 Body Problem, adapted from Liu Cixin's novel, and King Charles IX in the historical drama The Serpent Queen (2022–present), where he plays a key figure in the court of Catherine de' Medici.^[4] More recently, Milner has taken on roles in romantic comedies like The Flatshare (2022) on Paramount+, portraying the introspective Si, as Tonny Ahlers in the miniseries A Small Light (2023), and appeared as Clive Epstein in the biographical film Midas Man (2024) about The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein.^[5][6] Throughout his career, he has received accolades such as Screen International's Star of Tomorrow in 2013 and a nomination for the NSPCC Young British Performer of the Year in 2010, reflecting his transition from child actor to established performer in both film and theatre, including a stage role as Harold in Harold and Maude (2018).^[2]

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

William Henry Milner was born on 4 March 1995 in Teddington, London.^[7] Public information regarding Milner's family background remains limited, with no indications of prior connections to the entertainment industry.^[8] His mother later provided support during his early career, serving as a chaperone and assisting with costumes on set.^[8] Milner developed an early interest in acting, joining the after-school Dragon Drama group around the age of 6 or 7, where he participated in plays and learned foundational skills such as improvisation and character building.^[8] These experiences in local theater ignited his passion for performing by the time he was 10.^[9] At age 11, Milner was discovered by a casting director who visited his after-school Dragon Drama group at Teddington School and invited him to audition for his film debut in Son of Rambow (2007).^[8][7]

Entry into acting

Bill Milner's entry into acting began in 2006 at the age of 11, when he was attending an after-school drama club where he participated in improvisations and drama games with friends.^[10] During this time, a casting director unexpectedly visited his after-school Dragon Drama group at Teddington School to seek out inexperienced children for an upcoming film project, and Milner raised his hand to audition, marking his first professional opportunity.^[10][8] With no prior audition experience—"hadn’t a clue what it was all about," as he later recalled—he secured the lead role of Will Proudfoot in the 2007 film Son of Rambow, directed by Garth Jennings.^[10] Initially largely self-taught through his involvement in the amateur dramatic society at school, Milner had no formal theatrical training before his debut, which contributed to his natural, unpolished performance style praised by collaborators.^[11] Post-debut, he attended brief workshops for specific skills, such as magic tricks for his next role in Is Anybody There? (2008), but continued to rely on on-set learning rather than structured classes.^[10] His early approach emphasized instinct over technique, allowing him to adapt quickly to professional environments without the "tricks" of trained actors.^[12] Filming Son of Rambow presented challenges in balancing his schoolwork with the production schedule, as Milner was still a primary school student during the 2006 shoot.^[13] To manage this, he received support from his school and on-set tutoring to keep up with his studies, ensuring continuity in his education amid long shooting days.^[10] Despite these demands, Milner found the dual responsibilities enriching, noting that acting felt like something that "chooses you" rather than a deliberate career path, and he appreciated maintaining a normal school life alongside it.^[10] His performance in Son of Rambow earned critical recognition early on, including a nomination for the British Independent Film Award (BIFA) for Most Promising Newcomer in 2008, when he was just 12 years old.^[14] This accolade highlighted his potential as a fresh talent in British cinema, setting the stage for further opportunities while underscoring the rarity of such success for a newcomer without prior industry exposure.^[14]

Career

Early breakthrough (2007–2011)

Bill Milner's breakthrough came in 2007 with his feature film debut in Son of Rambow, directed by Garth Jennings, where he played the lead role of Will Proudfoot, a shy and imaginative 11-year-old boy from a strict Plymouth Brethren family who embarks on an unlikely friendship while secretly recreating First Blood. At age 12, Milner's performance as the introspective protagonist was widely praised for its authenticity and emotional depth, earning acclaim from critics who highlighted his natural screen presence alongside co-star Will Poulter.^[13][15][16] That same year, Milner appeared in a supporting role as Peter Carter, a school friend, in the ITV television film My Boy Jack, a biographical drama about Rudyard Kipling's search for his missing son during World War I, starring Daniel Radcliffe in the title role. Building on this momentum, he starred as Edward Page in the 2008 indie drama Is Anybody There?, portraying a morbidly curious 10-year-old boy living in his parents' retirement home, opposite Michael Caine as a retired magician; the film explored themes of grief and isolation, with Milner's nuanced depiction of childhood fascination with death drawing positive reviews. In 2009, he took the central role of Michael in Skellig: The Owl Man, an adaptation of David Almond's Carnegie Medal-winning novel directed by Annabel Jankel, where his character grapples with family illness and discovers a supernatural winged being (played by Tim Roth) in the garden shed.^{[17][18][19][20]} Milner's entry into major Hollywood productions occurred in 2011 with his portrayal of young Erik Lehnsherr (later Magneto) in X-Men: First Class, directed by Matthew Vaughn, where he depicted the character's traumatic childhood in a Nazi concentration camp, showcasing early telekinetic powers in a pivotal opening sequence that set the franchise's origin story. This role marked a significant transition from British independent cinema to international blockbusters, expanding his visibility globally while reinforcing his early typecasting as a young dramatic actor in emotionally intense, introspective parts.^[21][22][23]

Rising prominence (2012–2018)

Following his role as the young Erik Lehnsherr in X-Men: First Class (2011), Milner transitioned into more prominent supporting parts in British dramas, beginning with Broken (2012), where he portrayed Jed, the protective older brother in a troubled family on a housing estate. Directed by Rufus Norris and adapted from Daniel Clay's novel, the film explores themes of innocence lost amid urban violence and received widespread critical praise, winning the Best British Film award at the London Film Critics' Circle in 2013. Milner's performance as the earnest, guitar-playing Jed was highlighted for its emotional depth and authenticity, contributing to the ensemble's strong reception at festivals like the 2012 London Film Festival. In 2013, Milner provided the voice for Sean, the young son of the protagonist, in Steven Knight's minimalist thriller Locke, a single-location drama starring Tom Hardy that unfolds entirely within a car during a nocturnal drive. This voice-only role marked an innovative departure, allowing Milner to convey vulnerability and confusion through audio alone, and the film earned acclaim for its tense scripting and Hardy's tour-de-force performance, with critics noting the emotional resonance added by the familial voices. Milner's career gained further momentum in 2016 with Anthropoid, a historical war drama directed by Sean Ellis, in which he played Ata Moravec, the son of resistance leader Marie Moravec, during the real-life Operation Anthropoid to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich in Nazi-occupied Prague. The film, a Czech-British co-production starring Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan, premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and was praised for its gripping depiction of heroism and sacrifice, with Milner's portrayal adding a layer of youthful determination to the ensemble. This period also saw him expand into international projects, reflecting his growing versatility as a teenager navigating young adult roles. By 2017, Milner diversified into genre-blending fare, starting with the Netflix sci-fi action film iBoy, where he starred as Tom Harvey, a teen who gains smartphone-controlling powers after a head injury and seeks revenge in a gritty London estate. Co-starring Maisie Williams, the film mixed superhero elements with social commentary on urban youth and technology, receiving attention for its fast-paced narrative and Milner's lead performance showcasing a shift toward more dynamic, contemporary characters. That year, he also appeared in Christopher Nolan's epic war film Dunkirk as the Lone Private, a soldier enduring the evacuation's chaos, a high-profile Hollywood production that highlighted his ability to handle intense ensemble action sequences. Complementing this, Milner took on horror in The Lodgers, portraying Edward, one of cursed twin siblings bound to a haunted Irish estate in the 1920s; the Gothic thriller, directed by Brian O'Malley, premiered at the 2017 Sitges Film Festival and was noted for its atmospheric dread and Milner's brooding intensity opposite Charlotte Vega. The year 2018 capped this phase with Apostle, a Netflix folk-horror film directed by Gareth Evans, in which Milner played Jeremy, Frank's son and a devoted follower ensnared in a cult on a remote island confronting ancient forces. The film, praised for its visceral tension and Evans's shift from action to horror, underscored Milner's range in darker, psychological roles. Throughout 2012–2018, Milner discussed the challenges of aging out of child-centric parts, crediting his parents and agent at Curtis Brown for guiding project selections that prioritized quality over volume, allowing him to mature on screen without rushing into stereotypes. In a 2016 interview, he emphasized learning from early experiences like Son of Rambow while embracing diverse genres to build a sustainable career. This strategic approach, combined with his relocation opportunities for international shoots, solidified his prominence in both British independent cinema and global productions during his late teens.^[24][2]

Recent work (2019–present)

In 2019, Milner continued to build his film career with a supporting role in the historical drama Waiting for the Barbarians, directed by Ciro Guerra, where he portrayed a garrison soldier in a story set in a remote colonial outpost.^[25] The film, adapted from J.M. Coetzee's novel, featured a cast including Johnny Depp and Mark Rylance, and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before its wide release.^[25] Earlier that year, the 2018 Netflix horror film Apostle, in which Milner played the cult member Jeremy, maintained visibility through streaming audiences and critical discussions, contributing to his genre versatility as reviews and festival buzz extended into 2019.^[26] Milner's role expanded into television with the 2022 historical series The Serpent Queen, where he portrayed King Charles IX across both seasons, depicting the young monarch's turbulent reign amid court intrigue in 16th-century France.^[27] The Starz production, starring Samantha Morton as Catherine de' Medici, marked a significant step in his adult acting phase, allowing him to tackle complex historical characters in an ongoing narrative that continued into its second season in 2024.^[27] In 2022, Milner starred as the introspective Si in the Paramount+ romantic comedy series The Flatshare, adapted from Beth O'Leary's novel.^[28] That same year, he appeared in the World War II thriller Burial as Iossif Gulyaev, a Russian soldier involved in a perilous mission to transport Adolf Hitler's remains through Nazi territory.^[29] Directed by Ben Parker, the film highlighted Milner's ability to embody intense, ensemble-driven wartime tension alongside actors like Harriet Walter and Tom Felton.^[29] In 2023, Milner took on the role of Tonny Ahlers in the National Geographic limited series A Small Light, a historical drama about Miep Gies and the hiding of Anne Frank's family, where his character represented a blackmailer threatening the protagonists during the Nazi occupation. The miniseries, which earned critical acclaim for its fresh perspective on Holocaust history, showcased Milner's range in portraying morally ambiguous figures in real-life inspired stories. He also starred in the independent film Bonus Track as Skinny Rick, a quirky supporting character in a coming-of-age comedy about a teen musician navigating personal growth and relationships. Milner's most recent major project as of 2024 is Midas Man, a biographical drama about Beatles manager Brian Epstein, in which he played Clive Epstein, the manager's brother who took over family business responsibilities.^[30] Directed by Joe Stephenson and featuring Jacob Fortune-Lloyd in the lead, the film explores Epstein's rise and personal struggles, with Milner's performance adding depth to the familial dynamics.^[30] No new film or television projects have been announced for Milner in 2025, though his involvement in The Serpent Queen underscores an ongoing commitment to prestige television.^[31] Throughout this period, Milner's work has reflected a maturation in his career, shifting from child-star leads to nuanced supporting and recurring roles in historical and dramatic genres, adapting to the post-COVID industry's emphasis on streaming series and ensemble productions.^[31]

Filmography

Film roles

Bill Milner's film roles span a range of genres, from independent dramas to major blockbusters, with appearances in both leading and supporting capacities.

• 2007 – Son of Rambow – Will Proudfoot^[13]
• 2008 – Is Anybody There? – Edward^[18]
• 2010 – Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll – Baxter Dury^[32]
• 2011 – X-Men: First Class – Young Erik Lehnsherr^[21]
• 2012 – I, Anna – Theo^[33]
• 2012 – Broken – Jed^[34]
• 2013 – Locke – Sean Locke (voice)^[35]
• 2015 – Winter – Max^[36]
• 2016 – Anthropoid – Ata^[37]
• 2017 – iBoy – Tom Harvey^[38]
• 2017 – Dunkirk – Lone Private^[39]
• 2018 – The Lodgers – Edward^[40]
• 2018 – Apostle – Jeremy^[26]
• 2018 – Stomping Grounds – Monroe^[41]
• 2019 – Summer Night – Rabbit^[42]
• 2019 – Waiting for the Barbarians – Garrison Soldier 5^[25]
• 2022 – Burial – Iossif Gulyaev^[29]
• 2023 – Bonus Track – Skinny Rick^[43]
• 2024 – Midas Man – Clive Epstein^[44]

Television roles

Milner began his television career with supporting roles in British TV films and miniseries during his childhood. His early appearances include the role of Peter Carter in the 2007 TV movie My Boy Jack, a biographical drama about Rudyard Kipling's family during World War I.^[45] In 2009, he starred as the protagonist Michael in Skellig: The Owl Man, a fantasy TV film adaptation of David Almond's novel, where his character discovers a mysterious creature in his garage. Following a period focused on film, Milner returned to television in the 2010s with guest spots and miniseries roles. In the 2012 BBC miniseries The Secret of Crickley Hall, he portrayed Maurice Stafford, an orphan in a haunted house storyline spanning two timelines. He appeared as Adam Matthews in the 2014 two-part drama The 7.39, playing the son of a commuter involved in an affair. That same year, he guest-starred as Michael Jennings in an episode of the comedy series The Job Lot. In recent years, Milner has taken on more prominent recurring roles in prestige television. He played Si in the 2022 Paramount+ adaptation of The Flatshare, a romantic comedy-drama limited series based on Beth O'Leary's novel, appearing in all five episodes. In 2023, he portrayed Tonny Ahlers, a Dutch Nazi collaborator, in the National Geographic/Disney+ miniseries A Small Light, which chronicles the story of Anne Frank's protector Miep Gies; Milner appeared in three episodes of the eight-episode series. From 2024, he stars as King Charles IX in season 2 of the Starz historical drama The Serpent Queen, depicting the tumultuous reign of the French monarch; he appears in all eight episodes, with the series ongoing as of 2025.

Awards and nominations