Why Harris Dickinson Is Poised for Superstardom? Harris Dickinson, despite appearances, isn’t necessarily what you would call an overnight success. After landing several British television roles in his late teens and early 20s, Dickinson made his feature-film debut in 2017, playing a closeted Brooklyn teenager in the Eliza Hittman-directed Beach Rats. Dickinson’s captivating on-screen presence earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Male Lead and the London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Young British/Irish Performer, effectively establishing him as a marketable Hollywood talent. In just a few years’ time, Dickinson would be starring in everything from critically acclaimed indie dramas (County Lines, The Souvenir Part 2) to big-budget blockbusters (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, The King’s Man) while also returning to his TV roots in a major way with lead roles in Trust and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
In 2022, Dickinson received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination for turning in a trifecta of high-level performances, playing director Richard Attenborough in the comedy-mystery film See How They Run, the villainous Chase Andrews in Where the Crawdads Sing, and, most significantly, shallow male model Carl in the Academy Award-nominated satirical black comedy Triangle of Sadness. While 2022 was clearly Dickinson’s breakout year, the 27-year-old East London native truly solidified himself as the next actor poised for superstardom thanks to two massive performances in 2023.
In Charlotte Regan’s debut feature film Scrapper, Dickinson plays Jason, a twenty-something drifter who attempts to form a relationship with his 12-year-old estranged daughter Georgie (Lola Campbell) after unexpectedly showing up at her London apartment. The low-budget father-daughter dramedy was a critical success, earning Harris Dickinson and Campbell a British Independent Film Award nomination for Best Joint Lead Performance. Dickinson, in particular, brought an understated edge to his performance, and his chemistry with his young co-star was palpable, especially considering that a good chunk of their dialogue was improvised. In an interview with Little White Lies, Harris Dickinson touched on the “scary” improvisation process, which, while challenging, clearly resonated on the screen.
The Iron Claw presented a different sort of challenge for Harris Dickinson. Written and directed by Sean Durkin, the A24 biographical drama tells the tragic story of the Von Erich family, whose successful stint in the professional wrestling business throughout the 1980s was also marred by immeasurable tragedy. As David Von Erich, the third-oldest Von Erich brother who captivated audiences alongside his brothers Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) and Kevin (Zac Efron), Dickinson showcased two distinct talents. For one, he flexed his mastery of the West Texas accent (not an easy task for a British actor) both subtly outside of the ring and in a more over-the-top way during David Von Erich’s electrifying wrestling promos. Still, Dickinson demonstrated his physical abilities as an actor more impressively by pulling off extremely technical and high-flying wrestling stunts. In an interview with W Magazine, Dickinson explained the intense in-ring demands of The Iron Claw.
“We shot all of the wrestling stuff last because that was really tiring. I have a great amount of respect for wrestlers because it’s like acrobatics, dancing, and theater. You have to be an entertainer, remember your moves, and also take these crazy bumps. It takes a huge physical toll on your body. I didn’t quite realize how violent and dangerous it was.”
Scrapper and The Iron Claw weren’t Harris Dickinson’s only projects in 2023, as he also starred in the FX murder mystery/psychological thriller miniseries A Murder at the End of the World. His performances in the two aforementioned films most succinctly demonstrated his well-rounded acting caliber. In Scrapper, Dickinson showed his ability to connect on an understated yet emotional level. At the same time, he also highlighted his faculty for completely immersing himself in a character in The Iron Claw. When examined in tandem, Dickinson’s big-screen roles in 2023 show why he is ready to become the next huge movie star. Dickinson is clearly comfortable playing the lead, and he can also act as part of an all-star ensemble cast without getting lost in the shuffle, all while doing so in a seemingly effortless way that gives him that “Hollywood cool” factor that’s essential for maintaining red-carpet, trending-topic prestige.
In fact, Dickinson’s cachet was so high last year that he was one of the names circulating to take over the role of James Bond, having been thrown in the mix with such big stars as Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Idris Elba. As he made clear in a July 2023 interview, Dickinson would jump at the chance to take over where Daniel Craig left off.
“I mean, listen, man, you’d be a fool not to entertain that role. I love seeing the development of James Bond and seeing how it has changed over the years. I think Daniel Craig was such a good Bond that I’d almost be quite frightened to try. Who knows what they’re doing with Bond? I’m intrigued.”
Now, despite Dickinson’s visible versatility as an actor, those who have followed his brief but impactful career have probably noticed a striking similarity regarding several of his roles. In a December 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Dickinson discussed his tendency to play characters who meet a tragic demise.
“It definitely hasn’t been lost on me. It’s a topic of conversation with my mum. She keeps wondering why this is a thing. I’ll probably think carefully before I do another one of those because I don’t mean for them to keep happening like that. They seem to have lined up, weirdly.”
Dickinson’s realization of his tendency to play a certain type of character is a promising sign for his trajectory going forward. He’s clearly focused on being more intentional with the jobs that he accepts to prevent himself from getting pigeonholed. When looking at his upcoming roles for 2024, it seems that Dickinson has been looking to expand his resume. The erotic thriller Babygirl has him starring opposite Nicole Kidman as a romantic lead, while he’s also set to go the period-piece route in Steve McQueen’s World War II drama Blitz. Needless to say, Harris Dickinson is poised for big things in the future.
The talent, star quality, and maturity are there. And soon, the accolades and recognition will follow. Don’t be surprised if Harris Dickinson secures an Academy Award nomination in the next five years.
