Charlie Hunnam (born April 10, 1980) is an English actor best known for playing Jackson “Jax” Teller in Sons of Anarchy (2008 to 2014). That series still pulls huge streaming audiences, and a lot of people first find him today through Jax clips, reaction videos, and full-season rewatches.
In recent years he has leaned hard into film and streaming work, from Apple TV+’s Shantaram (2022) to Netflix’s Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (2023). He also headlines Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix), and it has fueled fresh curiosity around him, especially as new trailers, cast announcements, and awards chatter circulate.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Charles Matthew Hunnam |
| Profession: | Actor, producer, occasional screenwriter |
| Born: | April 10, 1980 |
| Age: | 45 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Nationality: | British (English) |
| Known For: | Jax Teller in Sons of Anarchy, plus lead roles in Pacific Rim and The Lost City of Z |
| Notable Films: | Green Street Hooligans; Pacific Rim; Crimson Peak; The Lost City of Z; King Arthur: Legend of the Sword; Papillon |
| Awards: | CinemaCon Male Star of the Year (2017), plus nominations including Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and SAG for Monster: The Ed Gein Story |
| Zodiac Sign: | Aries |
| Relationship: | Long-term partner Morgana McNelis (together since 2005), previously married to Katharine Towne (1999 to 2002) |
| Years Active: | 1998 to present |
Early Life & Education
Hunnam was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on April 10, 1980. His father worked in the scrap-metal industry, and his mother is a business owner. After his parents divorced, he spent his early years in northern England, and later moved to the village of Melmerby in Cumbria when his mother remarried.
He has described himself as rebellious as a teenager, and after a serious beating at age 15 he decided he needed to learn to fight. He studied film theory and performing arts at the Cumbria College of Art and Design (now part of the University of Cumbria). He also trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and he earned his blue belt in 2018.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Hunnam started acting in the UK as a teen, with early work on Byker Grove (1998) and a breakout as Nathan Maloney on Queer as Folk (1999 to 2000). After moving into U.S. TV with Young Americans (2000) and Undeclared (2001 to 2002), he began stacking film credits that ranged from prestige literary adaptations (Nicholas Nickleby) to cult favorites like Green Street Hooligans.
Then came Sons of Anarchy. From 2008 to 2014 he played Jax Teller, the conflicted heir to a motorcycle club, and the role turned him into a global name. On the film side he jumped into big-budget projects like Pacific Rim (2013), re-teamed with Guillermo del Toro for Crimson Peak (2015), and took on ambitious leads like explorer Percy Fawcett in The Lost City of Z (2016) and the title role in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017). More recently, he has stayed busy with high-profile ensemble films like Triple Frontier (2019) and The Gentlemen (2019), plus streaming work such as Apple TV+’s Shantaram (2022). His upcoming slate keeps that momentum going, with Criminal and Denali in development alongside continued interest in Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Queer as Folk (1999 to 2000)
- Green Street Hooligans (2005)
- Sons of Anarchy (2008 to 2014)
- Pacific Rim (2013)
- Crimson Peak (2015)
- The Lost City of Z (2016)
- King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
- Papillon (2018)
- Shantaram (2022)
Major recognition
- Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations: Best Actor in a Drama Series, Sons of Anarchy (nominated twice)
- CinemaCon honor: Male Star of the Year (2017)
- Awards-season nominations: Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and SAG, Best Actor (Limited Series), Monster: The Ed Gein Story
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | National Board of Review | Best Acting by an Ensemble | Nicholas Nickleby | Won |
| 2013 | Huading Awards | Best Global Emerging Actor | Pacific Rim | Won |
| 2017 | CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards | Male Star of the Year | – | Won |
| 2012 | Critics’ Choice Television Awards | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Sons of Anarchy | Nominated |
| 2015 | Critics’ Choice Television Awards | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Sons of Anarchy | Nominated |
| 2015 | Satellite Awards | Actor in a Television Series (Drama) | Sons of Anarchy | Nominated |
| 2026 | Critics Choice Awards | Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television | Monster: The Ed Gein Story | Nominated |
| 2026 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie | Monster: The Ed Gein Story | Nominated |
| 2026 | Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series | Monster: The Ed Gein Story | Nominated |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Byker Grove | TV | Early appearance as Jason, his first screen credit. |
| 1999 to 2000 | Queer as Folk | TV | Breakout UK role as Nathan Maloney. |
| 2000 | Young Americans | TV | Main cast on the U.S. series. |
| 2001 to 2002 | Undeclared | TV | Comedy series role as Lloyd Haythe. |
| 2002 | Nicholas Nickleby | Film | Title role in the Dickens adaptation, early prestige lead. |
| 2005 | Green Street Hooligans | Film | Cult favorite as Pete Dunham. |
| 2008 to 2014 | Sons of Anarchy | TV | Career-defining lead as Jackson “Jax” Teller. |
| 2013 | Pacific Rim | Film | Blockbuster lead as Jaeger pilot Raleigh Becket. |
| 2015 | Crimson Peak | Film | Re-teamed with Guillermo del Toro in a gothic romance. |
| 2016 | The Lost City of Z | Film | Lead role as explorer Percy Fawcett. |
| 2017 | King Arthur: Legend of the Sword | Film | Played Arthur in Guy Ritchie’s reimagining. |
| 2018 | Papillon | Film | Portrayed prison-escape artist Henri Charrière. |
| 2019 | Triple Frontier | Film | Ensemble action-thriller role as “Ironhead” Miller. |
| 2019 | The Gentlemen | Film | Co-starred as Raymond in Guy Ritchie’s crime caper. |
| 2022 | Shantaram | TV | Headlined the Apple TV+ series as Lin Ford. |
| 2023 | Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire | Film | Played Kai in Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic. |
| 2025 | Monster: The Ed Gein Story | Limited series | Stars as Ed Gein and serves as executive producer. |
Net Worth, Income & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates vary and are not verified. It is safest to say his wealth reflects decades of lead roles in television and major studio films, plus producing and occasional writing work. |
| Income Sources | Acting fees from TV and film, producer credits (including streaming projects), and occasional screenwriting work. |
| Properties & Assets | He keeps his private life low-key, and details about properties and major assets are not consistently reported in reliable sources. |
| Lifestyle | Known for staying relatively private off-camera, he avoids heavy social media exposure and keeps the focus on the work. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| No official account found. He has said he avoids social media to maintain privacy. | |
| X (Twitter) | No verified profile found. Any active accounts appear to be fan-run. |
| TikTok | No official account found. Clips and fan edits circulate widely. |
| No official page found. Unofficial fan pages exist. | |
| YouTube | No personal channel found. Official content appears via studios and media outlets. |
| IMDb | Verified filmography at IMDb. |
| Official Website | None found. He is represented through professional agencies rather than a personal site. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon – Subscribe to follow Charlie Hunnam updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: The accounts listed above are fan-run and are not confirmed to be affiliated with Charlie Hunnam. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He was spotted in a shoe store by a production manager for Byker Grove, which led to his first screen role.
- He studied film theory and performing arts at the Cumbria College of Art and Design (now part of the University of Cumbria).
- He practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu and earned his blue belt in 2018.
- Besides acting, he has worked on scripts, including Vlad (about a young Vlad Dracula) and a screenplay about drug lord Edgar Valdez.
Quotes
“I’m a private person.”
– Charlie Hunnam, on avoiding social media
“I want to connect through the work.”
– Charlie Hunnam, on why he stays off social platforms
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Charlie Hunnam’s age?
A: He is 45 years old (born April 10, 1980).
Q: What is Charlie Hunnam best known for?
A: He is most widely known for starring as Jax Teller on FX’s Sons of Anarchy (2008 to 2014).
Q: Is Charlie Hunnam married?
A: He was married to actress Katharine Towne from 1999 to 2002. He has been in a long-term relationship with artist and jewelry designer Morgana McNelis since 2005.
Q: Does Charlie Hunnam have official social media accounts?
A: No official accounts were found. He has said he avoids social media and prefers to keep his private life private.
Q: What are some of his biggest movies?
A: Some of his best-known films include Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, The Lost City of Z, and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Q: Has Charlie Hunnam won major awards?
A: He has received major nominations and honors, including a CinemaCon Male Star of the Year award (2017) and awards-season nominations tied to Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
Upcoming Projects
- Criminal (Amazon MGM series, TBA) – Cast as Leo, a master thief in the adaptation of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ graphic novel series. No release date has been announced.
- Denali (film, TBA) – Set to produce and star in an adaptation of Ben Moon’s memoir Denali: A Man, A Dog, A Friendship of a Lifetime, with Max Winkler attached to write and direct.
Interviews & Features
- In interviews tied to new releases, he often emphasizes privacy and craft, he tends to keep the spotlight on the work rather than personal branding.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- San Diego Comic-Con (2016): Appeared in press events promoting King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Awards & Nominations
- Critics Choice (2026): Nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television for Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
- Golden Globes (2026): Nominated for Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie for Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
- SAG Awards (2026): Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
