Alex Pettyfer
A teen idol who shot to fame as a teenage spy, his early promise in film was shadowed by the intense glare of Hollywood's spotlight.
Born 1990 (age 36)·English actor and model·Birthday: April 10·Millennials
Biography
Alex Pettyfer stepped onto the global stage almost overnight, plucked from British television and school plays to become Alex Rider in 2006's 'Stormbreaker.' That role, for which he earned award nominations, cemented him as a fresh-faced action hero for a generation. Yet, navigating Hollywood in his late teens and twenties proved a complex journey, with high-profile roles in 'I Am Number Four' and 'Magic Mike' juxtaposed against a deliberate retreat from the industry's mainstream frenzy. In recent years, Pettyfer has shifted focus behind the camera, directing and producing, suggesting a career being thoughtfully remade on his own terms away from the early whirlwind.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alex was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned a Young Artist Award nomination for his lead role in the film adaptation of 'Stormbreaker.'
- Starred as the titular character in the sci-fi action film 'I Am Number Four,' based on the bestselling novel series.
- Played a key role in the hit film 'Magic Mike,' which spawned a major franchise.
- Made his feature film directorial debut with 'The Last Witness.'
Did You Know?
He turned down the lead role in the 'Twilight' film series, which later went to Robert Pattinson.
He was a successful fashion model in his early teens, fronting campaigns for brands like Burberry.
His godmother is the English actress and singer Samantha Fox.
“I was a kid who was given an opportunity, and I took it.”
