This is a visual explainer based on the Wikipedia article on Asa Butterfield. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

Asa Butterfield: A Multifaceted Talent Unveiled

Delving into the distinguished career and diverse passions of a prominent English actor, from acclaimed performances to competitive gaming.

Explore His Work 👇 Beyond Acting 🎮

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!


When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Early Life & Background

Origins and Family

Asa Bopp Farr Butterfield was born on April 1, 1997, in Islington, London, England. His unique middle name, "Bopp," is a nod to the famous comet Hale-Bopp. He is the son of Jacqueline "Jake" Farr, a psychologist, and Sam Butterfield, an advertising copywriter. This early environment in London laid the foundation for his future artistic pursuits.

Education and Early Training

Butterfield received his education at Stoke Newington School. His passion for acting ignited at a young age, leading him to begin formal training at the Young Actors Theatre Islington when he was just seven years old. This early immersion in theatrical arts provided him with foundational skills that would soon propel him into professional roles.

A Child Actor's Ascent

His career officially began in 2006, marking the start of a remarkable journey from child actor to a globally recognized talent. His early roles quickly showcased his innate ability to portray complex characters, setting the stage for his breakthrough performance just a few years later.

Distinguished Acting Career

Early Breakthroughs

Butterfield's initial foray into acting included minor roles in the 2006 television drama After Thomas and the 2007 film Son of Rambow. His guest appearance as Donny in the television series Ashes to Ashes in 2008 further expanded his experience. However, it was his lead role as Bruno in the 2008 historical drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, at the tender age of ten, that brought him widespread recognition. Director Mark Herman lauded his outstanding performance, noting his ability to convey profound innocence.

Headlining Major Films

Throughout the 2010s, Butterfield continued to secure leading roles in significant cinematic productions. He starred as Hugo Cabret in Martin Scorsese's critically acclaimed adventure drama Hugo (2011), an adaptation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Following this, he took on the titular role of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin in the science fiction film Ender's Game (2013). His portrayal of Nathan Ellis, a mathematical savant, in the drama X+Y (2014) garnered widespread critical acclaim and a BIFA nomination for Best Actor. He further solidified his presence in fantasy cinema with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) and explored new genres with The Space Between Us (2017) and The House of Tomorrow (2017).

Television Success: Sex Education

From 2019 to 2023, Butterfield captivated audiences as the lead character, Otis Milburn, in the highly popular Netflix comedy-drama series Sex Education. The series received critical acclaim, and his performance was a cornerstone of its success across four seasons. This role cemented his status as a versatile and compelling actor capable of leading a long-running series.

Recent and Future Projects

Butterfield continues to be active in both film and television. In July 2024, he was cast as Adam in the upcoming comedy film Carnival: At the End of Days. Looking ahead, he is slated to appear as Solomon in Our Hero, Balthazar (2025) and has roles in post-production for Rogue Trooper and is currently filming for the Netflix series Out of the Dust, where he will play Adam. These projects underscore his ongoing commitment to diverse and engaging roles.

Beyond the Screen

Musical Pursuits

Beyond his acting prowess, Asa Butterfield harbors a keen interest in music. He enjoys making and producing music, demonstrating a creative flair that extends beyond visual performance. Notably, he released a mashup of "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus and "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC. He is also a member of a music group called Mambo Fresh, alongside his brother, showcasing a collaborative spirit in his musical endeavors.

Gaming Enthusiast & Esports

Butterfield is a prominent figure in the gaming community, particularly in competitive Nintendo gaming. In 2017, he participated in the Nintendo World Championships. His passion for competitive Super Smash Bros. led him to sign with the esports team Panda Global under the tag "Stimpy," making his debut at Genesis 6. In October 2020, his involvement in esports deepened when he signed with Team Liquid, a testament to his skill and dedication in the gaming world. He also lent his voice to the character Icarus in the 2024 video game Hades II.

  • 2012: Co-designed the turn-based iPad video game Racing Blind with his father and brother, released in April 2013.
  • 2017: Competed in the Nintendo World Championships.
  • 2019: Signed with esports team Panda Global ("Stimpy") for competitive Super Smash Bros., debuted at Genesis 6.
  • 2020: Signed by Team Liquid for competitive gaming.
  • 2024: Voiced Icarus in the video game Hades II.

Mentorship and Charity

Since 2017, Butterfield has shared his expertise by teaching an annual acting masterclass at The Reel Scene acting school in London. This three-day "Asa Butterfield Masterclass" focuses on improvisation techniques and scene work from his films, providing invaluable guidance to aspiring actors. In a notable charitable effort, he participated in the annual Soccer Aid charity football match in 2023, raising funds for UNICEF, where he scored England's opening goal. A lifelong fan of Arsenal F.C., this event combined his personal interests with philanthropic endeavors.

Filmography: Cinematic Contributions

Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2007Son of RambowBrethren Boy
2008The Boy in the Striped PyjamasBruno
2010Nanny McPhee and the Big BangNorman Green
The WolfmanYounger Ben Talbot
2011HugoHugo Cabret
2013Ender's GameEnder Wiggin
2014X+YNathan EllisAlso known as A Brilliant Young Mind
2015Ten Thousand SaintsJude Keffy-Horn
2016Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar ChildrenJacob "Jake" Portman
2017The House of TomorrowSebastian Prendergast
Journey's EndJimmy Raleigh
The Space Between UsGardner Elliot
2018Then Came YouCalvin Lewis
Time FreakStillman
Slaughterhouse RulezWilloughby Blake
2019GreedFinn McCreadie
2022Choose or DieIsaac
Flux GourmetBilly Rubin
Your Christmas or Mine?James
2023All Fun and GamesMarcus Fletcher
Your Christmas or Mine 2James
2025Our Hero, BalthazarSolomon
TBARogue TrooperPost-production

Television Appearances

Year Title Role Notes
2006After ThomasAndrewTelevision film
2008Ashes to AshesDonny1 episode (season 1)
2008–2009MerlinMordred3 episodes
2017Thunderbirds Are GoSpace Controller Conrad (voice)1 episode
2019–2023Sex EducationOtis MilburnMain role
202050 States of FrightBrandon Boyd3 episodes
TBAOut of the DustAdamFilming

Theatre Engagements

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2025Second BestMartin HillRiverside Studios

Video Game Contributions

Year Title Role Notes
2024Hades IIIcarus

Accolades & Recognition

Early Career Nominations

Asa Butterfield's talent was recognized early in his career. For his poignant performance in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), he received nominations for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards and Young British Performer of the Year at the NSPCC Awards. He was also nominated for Best Performance in an International Feature Film – Leading Young Performers at the Young Artist Awards, highlighting his significant impact as a child actor.

Major Film Recognitions

His role in Martin Scorsese's Hugo (2011) earned him multiple nominations, including Best Young Performer at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, Best Male Newcomer at the Empire Awards, and Best Performance by a Younger Actor at the Saturn Awards. He ultimately won the Breakthrough Performance – Male award at the Young Hollywood Awards for this role. Later, his portrayal in X+Y (2014) led to a nomination for Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards, further cementing his critical acclaim.

Television & Recent Triumphs

Butterfield's work on Sex Education brought him renewed recognition, culminating in an Artist of Distinction award at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2020 and a win for Outstanding Comedy Actor at the National Comedy Awards in 2022. These awards reflect his continued ability to deliver compelling performances across different mediums and genres, showcasing his enduring appeal and talent.

Year Award Category Work Result
2008British Independent Film AwardsMost Promising NewcomerThe Boy in the Striped PyjamasNominated
2009NSPCC AwardsYoung British Performer of the YearThe Boy in the Striped PyjamasNominated
Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in an International Feature Film – Leading Young PerformersThe Boy in the Striped PyjamasNominated
2012Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest Young PerformerHugoNominated
Empire AwardsBest Male NewcomerHugoNominated
Saturn AwardsBest Performance by a Younger ActorHugoNominated
Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young ActorHugoNominated
Young Hollywood AwardsBreakthrough Performance – MaleHugoWon
2013Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest Young PerformerEnder's GameNominated
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association AwardsBest Youth PerformanceEnder's GameNominated
2014British Independent Film AwardsBest ActorX+YNominated
Saturn AwardsBest Performance by a Younger ActorEnder's GameNominated
2015National Film Awards UKBest ActorX+YNominated
2017Teen Choice AwardsChoice Fantasy Movie ActorMiss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar ChildrenNominated
Choice Sci-Fi Movie ActorThe Space Between UsNominated
2020Newport Beach Film FestivalArtist of DistinctionSex EducationWon
NME AwardsBest TV ActorNominated
2022British Independent Film AwardsBest EnsembleFlux GourmetNominated
National Comedy AwardsOutstanding Comedy ActorSex EducationWon

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio
Click here to open the "Asa Butterfield" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about asa_butterfield while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Asa Butterfield Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional career guidance, artistic consultation, or any other form of professional advice. Always refer to official sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.