Henry Cavill's Full Biography
Henry Cavill is a British actor known for filling a wide variety of roles as a skilled and versatile performer. He was born in 1983 in the Channel Islands.
Even in childhood he had an interest in acting, as well as sports. As a teenager, he was in a school production of Grease, playing a member of the T-Birds, and played the lead in Dogg's Hamlet.
His screen appearances began in 2001 with the movie Vendetta, but it was his appearance in The Tudors, a British Drama series, beginning in 2007 that would really launch him into the hearts and minds of the public.
By 2013, Cavill was joining the DC Universe, appearing as Superman in the Man of Steel film, and would continue to portray the classic superhero throughout further movies.
He hasn’t let himself be typecast though – along with Superman, he’s appeared as Sherlock, in the Enola Holmes movies, starred in the horror film Blood Creek, and portrayed a CIA agent in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Cavill isn’t just known for his acting, though, but for his humility and dedication, and as an all around good and kind person, though he’s also been criticized for certain comments about dating and actions towards women he worked with.
Early Life and Education
Henry Cavill was born on May 5, 1983, in the Channel Islands. His parents, Marianne and Colin, were, respectively, a bank worker and stockbroker.
He was their 4th son, and would be followed by one more brother.
Cavill attended Stowe School, a prestigious boarding school in Buckinghamshire, England, where he had the opportunity to hone his acting skills through school drama performances.
He was also an active participant in athletic pursuits, and it was actually through playing rugby that, at age 16, he met actor Russell Crowe, who provided him with some tips and kept in contact.
Upon leaving school, he moved to London, where he worked odd jobs while auditioning for acting roles.
Career
2000s
Cavill’s first role was in the movie Vendetta (originally titled Laguna), in 2001. By the end of the decade, he’d appear in a dozen more roles of varying prominence.
In 2007, he began appearing as a lead character in The Tudors – as Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. He has credited this as boosting his acting career.
He had a few setbacks in this period as well – he was to play the lead in the 2004 film Superman: Flyby, but the role was recast.
He was a fan favorite for the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in 2005, but did not get the role.
He was also considered for the role of Edward Cullen in Twilight, but was deemed to have aged out (ironically, given that Edward is canonically over 100 years old), and Robert Pattinson was cast in that role too.
2010s
By now, Cavill was a well-known and beloved actor with a decade of screen appearance under his belt, and he landed the lead role in Man of Steel, as Clark Kent – Superman. This time, he kept the role, and would go on to play Superman in several further movies.
He went on to star in The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and co-star in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
He’s considered a top choice to take over the role of James Bond when Daniel Craig leaves the role.
2020s
Cavill has most recently appeared in films including Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Enola Holmes 2, and stars in the Netflix Series The Witcher.
He’s to appear in several upcoming films as well, including The Rosie Project and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
Personal Life
Relationships
Cavill was linked to Gina Carano for a period of time in 2012-2014, though they broke up for a portion of this time and then got back together.
He dated Kaley Cuoco for about a week in 2013.
In 2016, he caught backlash for dating Tara King, who was only 19, while he was in his 30s.
In 2021, he shared publicly that he’s dating Natalie Viscuso, later taking to social media to scold fans for negativity about the relationship, according to US Magazine.
Religion
Cavill was raised in a Catholic family, and appears to still hold that faith, despite some more liberal views.
Health
Cavill has always been a fitness buff, though he was forced to take a break after injuring a hamstring in 2021.
He says that he deals with mental health struggles by focusing on what he can control, according to People Magazine.
Net Worth
Cavill has an estimated net worth of $50 million
Jobs
Cavill continues to star in films and television series, including the upcoming movies Argylle and The Rosie Project.
Endorsements
Cavill has appeared in advertisements for the British fragrance Dunhill.
Activism
Cavill is involved with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, serving as a spokesperson and promoting its 13k road race in 2019 to fundraise. He and some of his brothers also participated in the race.
He is also an ambassador for the Royal Marines Charity.
Controversies
In the height of the #MeToo movement, Cavill was criticized for comments about the “rules” he suggested society has put in place preventing one from “chasing” women.
According to The Guardian, he complained, “I think a woman should be wooed and chased…Now you really can’t pursue someone further than, ‘No’.”
He later apologized for those comments.
He was also criticized for dating a 19-year-old when he was 33.
According to WeGotThisCovered, he has said that he prefers to date younger women because those who already have their own professional careers “have their own sh*t going on,” and allegedly left The Witcher after women on set complained about casual misogyny.
