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Connor Ryan Swindells (born 19 September 1996) is an English actor and model. He gained prominence through his role as Adam Groff in the Netflix comedy-drama Sex Education (2019–2023). He has since starred in the BBC One war drama SAS: Rogue Heroes (2022–present). His films include The Vanishing (2018), Emma (2020), Barbarians (2021), and Barbie (2023).
Connor Ryan Swindells[1] was born in Lewes, East Sussex, the youngest of four sons to parents Ian and Phoebe. His mother, of Romani descent,[2] died of bowel cancer when Swindells was seven years old, which he has said he is still processing.[3] After her death, he and his father went to live with Swindells' paternal grandparents in West Chiltington until moving out to Billingshurst, both in the Horsham District of West Sussex.[4]
Swindells attended Rydon Community College and Steyning Grammar School.[5] He dropped out of college at age 17.[6]
Swindells began acting when he saw an audition poster for a local play and his friend dared him to audition; he got the lead role. He then acted in two more local plays and signed with an agent at the end of the third play.[7]
In 2017 Swindells made his television debut with guest appearances as Mostyn in the Hulu period drama Harlots (2017),[8] and as Fletcher in the Sky One historical drama Jamestown.[8]
In March 2017, Swindells was cast to replace Joe Alwyn as Donald in The Vanishing,[9] a Scottish psychological thriller film directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, co-starring Gerard Butler and Peter Mullan.[9] The film screened at the 2018 Sitges Film Festival before having a theatrical release on 4 January 2019.[9] Swindells also starred as Adam in the 2018 drama film VS.[10]
In 2019 Swindells began starring as Adam Groff, the headmaster's son, alongside Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Asa Butterfield, and Gillian Anderson in the Netflix comedy-drama series Sex Education (2019–2023).[8]
Swindells appeared in the films Emma (2020),[8] and Barbarians (2021),[8] and played Simon Hadlow in the 2021 BBC One crime drama Vigil,[8] led by Suranne Jones. The following year, he began starring in the lead role of David Stirling in the World War II BBC One series SAS: Rogue Heroes.[8]
Swindells appeared in Greta Gerwig's Barbie, reuniting with his Sex Education co-stars Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey.[11]
In 2024, he played Jae Donnelly in the Netflix film Scoop (2024).[8] Later that year he portrayed Gessler in the film William Tell (2024).[12]
In 2025, he played DS Ed McCusker in the Lockerbie based miniseries The Bombing of Pan Am 103.[13]
Since 2020, Swindells has been in a relationship with actress Amber Anderson, who also appeared in the film Emma.[14] They married in the Scottish Highlands in October 2024. Their wedding was officiated by Alistair Petrie, who plays Swindells' father in Sex Education.[15]
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | VS. | Adam | |
| 2019 | The Vanishing | Donald McArthur | |
| 2020 | Emma | Robert Martin | |
| 2021 | Barbarians | Dan | |
| 2023 | Barbie | Aaron Dinkins | |
| 2024 | Scoop | Jae Donnelly | |
| William Tell | Gessler | [12] | |
| TBA | Jingle Bell Heist † | Nick | In production[16] |
| The Entertainment System Is Down † | Filming |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Harlots | Mostyn | Episode #1.3 |
| Jamestown | Fletcher | Episode #1.5 | |
| 2019–2023 | Sex Education | Adam Groff | Main role; 30 episodes |
| 2021 | Vigil | Lieutenant Simon Hadlow | Miniseries |
| Dodo | Jamie Connoly | Recurring role; 5 episodes[17] | |
| 2022–present | SAS: Rogue Heroes | David Stirling | Main role |
| 2024 | The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin | Tommy Silversides | |
| 2025 | The Bombing of Pan Am 103 | DS Ed McCusker | Miniseries[13] |
| TBA | The Dream Lands † | Kole | Filming[18] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Screen International | Stars of Tomorrow | Inducted | [19] | |
| 2019 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Kiss (with Ncuti Gatwa) | Sex Education | Nominated | [20] |
| 2022 | Series Em Cena Awards | Best Comedy Star | Nominated | [21] | |
| 2023 | Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Actor | SAS: Rogue Heroes | Nominated | [21] |
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