Ever since David Fincher’s “The Social Network,” Andrew Garfield has become a well known figure in pop culture. He’s everything we want in a celebrity— British, gorgeous and Jewish. Yes, Jewish!
Here are 18 things to know about Andrew Garfield:
1. Andrew Garfield was born in Los Angeles to a non-Jewish mother and a Jewish father.
2. Andrew and his parents moved to England when he was 3, giving him dual citizenship.
3. Andrew’s family surname was originally Garfinkel. On his father’s side, both his grandparents are Jewish of Polish, Russian and Romanian descent.
4. Andrew grew up in a secular household, but he is still close to his Jewishness.
“I identify more as Jewish than anything,” he told an interviewer when asked if he feels more American or British. “I have a love-hate relationship with both countries and used to be very proud to have both passports. Today, I’m slightly less proud.”
5. Andrew first got into acting by taking a drama A-Level class in school.
You can watch that performance below:
Someone give this man an Oscar, stat!
6. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Sounds posh!
7. Andrew Garfield’s breakout role was as Jewish Brazilian Facebook co-creator Eduardo Saverin in “The Social Network.”
Here’s a devastatingly well-acted scene from the film:
8. Andrew took on the role of Spiderman for the 2012 film “The Amazing Spiderman.”
Listen to him talk about his experience here:
9. From 2011 to 2015, Andrew dated his “Spiderman” co-star Emma Stone.
They appeared together in this SNL sketch, which somewhat spoofed their relationship:
10. Andrew was once interviewed by then-child reporter, now-adult Jewish actor Fred Hechinger!
Check it out:
Sorry Andrew, Fred is definitely the cuter one in this video. We mean, look at his little face.
11. Andrew thinks Spiderman is Jewish!
“Spider-man is neurotic. Peter Parker is not a simple dude. He can’t just switch off,” Garfield said in an interview. “He never feels like he’s doing enough. And Peter suffers from self-doubt. He ums and ahs about his future because he’s neurotic. He’s Jewish. It’s a defining feature…I hope Jewish people won’t mind the cliché, because my father’s Jewish. I have that in me for sure.”
Spiderman creator Stan Lee did have a complicated relationship to Judaism, so Spiderman very well could be!
12. In 2014, Andrew worked on “Hacksaw Ridge,” a film directed by known antisemite Mel Gibson. This wasn’t a decision he made lightly, however.
“I read the script and I heard Mel was directing it, and I felt excitement about him as a film-maker. But I needed to sit with him to get to know him, as a person, because no one can avoid the news and celebrity gossip,” Andrew explained. “When we met, I got to know the real Mel, the six-years-sober Mel, and I experienced a good soul, a man who has done a lot of work on himself.”
Well… uh…… OK.
Let’s just move on, shall we?
13. Andrew completed the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola as preparation for his role as Jesuit priest Sebastião Rodrigues in Martin Scorsese’s 2016 film “Silence.”
“There were so many things in the Exercises that changed me and transformed me, that showed me who I was… and where I believe God wants me to be,” he told an interviewer.
14. He has an interesting answer when it comes to his sexuality:
“Up until this point, I’ve only been sexually attracted to women,” Garfield told Out Magazine, in reference to his playing a gay character. “My stance toward life, though, is that I always try to surrender to the mystery of not being in charge. I think most people — we’re intrinsically trying to control our experience here, and manage it, and put walls around what we are and who we are. I want to know as much of the garden as possible before I pass — I have an openness to any impulses that may arise within me at any time. But, if I were to identify, I would identify as heterosexual, and being someone who identifies that way, and who’s taking on this seminal role, my scariest thought was, Am I allowed to do this?”
15. Andrew Garfield is the proud winner of a Tony Award! He won in 2018 for his role as Prior Walter in the revival of “Angels in America.”
He’s also won a BAFTA and been nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globe awards, a Laurence Olivier Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
16. He has kissed Stephen Colbert!
Don’t believe us? Just watch:
17. In 2021, Andrew took on the role of televangelist Jim Bakker in the film “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”
Listen to him discuss the project here:
18. Andrew is starring in a filmed version of the musical, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” filmed by Lin Manuel-Miranda and coming to Netflix in November 2021.
While we wait, here’s a teaser:
Andrew, why have you been hiding your beautiful voice from us?!
