Jonny Lee Miller

Jonny Lee Miller: biography

Jonny Lee Miller is a famous British actor who has about fifty different cinematic works in his assets. The movie fans have remembered the blue-eyed brown-haired man due to his roles in the pictures Mindhunter, Love, Honour and Obey, Trainspotting, Hackers, The Escapist, Dark Shadows and in other remarkable films.

Childhood and youth

Jonny Lee Miller was born on the 15th of November, 1972 in the picturesque place in the south-west of London - at Kingston upon Thames. The boy grew up and was brought up in the creative family. Jonny’s father, Alan Miller, was an assistant director and took part in the TV plays of BBC production and his mother Anna Lee worked in the theater.

Also, there is information that Lee Miller’s great-grandfather was an actor and acted in the theatrical plays. His great grandfather's son Bernard Lee who appeared on the stage at the age of six for the first time was remembered to the public in role of the head of MI-6 secret in the first eleven films about the adventures of the well-known "agent 007": Moonraker, You Only Live Twice, Dr. No, etc.

When there was announced the new project of "Bondiana" Bernard was taken to the hospital with suspicion of stomach cancer. Unfortunately, on the 16th of November, 1981 Lee died. It’s known that in respect for the actor the scriptwriters of the 12th picture about James Bond (For Your Eyes Only) decided not to look for the replacement of the actor. They rewrote the script according to which "M" was on vacation. Jonny confessed that he didn’t remember his famous grandfather well as the boy just turned eight years when his grandfather died.

It’s not surprising that the future actor grew in the artistic atmosphere. One can say that Jonny’s parents had predetermined their son’s future: when Lee Miller was little, together with his sister he went to the place where his mother and father were working. There they with interest watched the shootings of the children's entertainment program called Blue Peter. The boy was enchanted by the colorful world of director’s cameras, spotlights, green screen and the constant rush of scriptwriters and camera operators. That's why, being a child, Jonny said that he would become an actor by all means. He was preparing for this profession, he was engaged in the reading of cinematology literature, and in his spare time, he learned to play the saxophone.

During his school days, Lee Miller studied at Tiffin Boy's School which was an elite educational institution situated in the south-west of London. There the young man succeeded in taking part in the musical The Ragged Child which tells about children fever in Great Britain. Moreover, Jonny was a member of Tiffin Swing Band.

Later the boy who was dreaming of fame joined the National Youth Music Theater where he got acquainted with his future friend – the actor Jude Law. Later Lee Miller received GCSE (the certificate on the secondary education), and he decided not to continue the studies and wholly dedicated himself to the acting.

Movies

Thanks to his father Jonny Lee Miller has begun his creative career quite early: being a child, he often appeared in the series and TV programs.

For the first time, Jonny appeared in front of the director's cameras at the age of nine: the boy performed in the bit role of the cult fantastic series Doctor Who (episode under the title Kinda, 1982). A year later Lee Miller played the role of Charles Price in the love drama Mansfield Park. Moreover, the actor played in the series EastEnders (1985), Second Thoughts (1991-1994), Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995), etc.

In 1995 Jonny received the permit to the big cinema: he had his debut in the feature movie Hackers directed by Iain Softley. This movie has brought the actor world recognition and fame. This "cybernetic" thriller about Y generation tells the story about Dade nicknamed as "Zero Cool." At the age of eleven, this boy managed to infect 1507 computer systems with a virus. As a result, general panic swept around New York. Even after serving of 7-year prison term in prison Dade continued to entertain himself with the computer programs and began to use them for commercial purposes manipulating huge companies.

The admirers of the movie The Net with Sandra Bullock in the leading role also appreciated the film under the title Hackers. According to the plots of Hackers there begins a struggle between "good" programmers and "bad" network crackers. The same year 1995 Jonny took part in the immoral but at the same time, a humoristic movie based on the novel "Trainspotting" written by Irvin Welsh. In this movie, he played the role of the loser nicknamed "Sick Boy." This picture tells about the young people who have chosen drugs instead of their happy future life. This way, they have fallen out of their life.

It’s noteworthy that for the sake of his character Jonny has cardinally changed his image and has dyed his hair in white color. Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Kelly MacDonald and other well-known figures of cinematography took part in this crime movie. By the way, from all four actors, Jonny was the only one who had no Scottish roots. However, despite this fact, Lee Miller managed to get into the character of indigenous Edinburgh’s inhabitant brilliantly.

After the range of successful roles in far, 1997 the actor together with the friends Ewan McGregor and Jude Law founded Natural Nylon film company. Though seven years later their joint business came to an end, this didn't affect the relations between colleagues.

It’s worth saying that in the world of the directors Jonny has gained significant popularity, as the eminent directors approved him for the leading roles almost every year. Most likely, it was not only Lee Miller’s handsome appearance which contributed to his success but also his professionalism. During his career in cinematography, the young man has proved himself to be a versatile actor.

If in the movie Trainspotting Jonny was lumpen on the edge of his life, then in the film The Escapist (2002) the young man transformed into the character of Denis who was successful and happy until the mercenaries got into his house and killed his wife. Then the primary objective of the main hero was to revenge by all means.

In 2004 Lee Miller got the leading role in the movie Mindhunters directed by Rennie Harlin. In the modern adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel "Ten Little Niggers" in the style of The Hunger Games, Jonny performed the role of charismatic agent Lucas Harper.

The same year the actor took part in the love melodrama Melinda and Melinda directed by Woody Allen. Jonny was lucky to work on the same movie set together with Radha Mitchell, Wallace Shawn, Amanda Peet and other famous actors.

In spite of his successful career in full-length movies, Lee Miller takes part in the shootings of the series with great pleasure. For example, he appeared in the fifth season of the cult series Dexter in which he performed a role of the charismatic murderer and abuser (and also a motivational coach) Jordan Chase. Jonny's character is intelligent as well as a devout but blood-thirsty forensic expert Morgan (Michael C. Hall). So, the audience can expect gripping and fascinating hunter's racing for the victim.

It’s noteworthy that in 2011 Jonny appeared on the stage of Royal National Theatre in the play Frankenstein. This performance is somewhat unusual because Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch represent Victor and his monster, and in different performances, the actors replace each other. Benedict managed to depict his characters as real villains whereas Jonny's characters led the audience to despair and pity. For the brilliant transformation into the characters from Mary Shelley’s novel, both actors got prestigious awards from Lawrence Olivier for Best Actor and also a theatrical prize from Evening Standard newspaper.

A year later after the premiere of Frankenstein Lee Miller had his luck to shoot at the most macabre director of the present times - Tim Burton in his movie Dark Shadows. Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloë Grace Moretz and other actors have also performed in this movie about the extravagant vampire.

In 2012 Jonny Lee Miller embodied the character of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes in the series Elementary. It’s worth noting that by the idea of the directors Holmes became a recovering drug addict, and the actress Lucy Liu performed Dr. Watson.

This way the directors wanted to show that the man and the woman who aren’t tied by romantic relations can coexist with each other. Jonny confessed that he felt himself relaxedly on the movie set of Elementary, as he didn’t have to imitate the American accent and to hide his numerous tattoos. By the way, when Lee Miller was shooting in some other picture, the make-up artists spent about an hour to hide the actor's tattoos.

Even though this detective series has little in common with the hand-written original, it received positive feedback from the movie critics. By the way, the actors haven’t read any literary works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle before the shooting in the series.

Personal life

Lee Miller is known to be a shopaholic. Even being far from the director's cameras the handsome actor (Jonny is 180 cm tall) is used to look spick-and-span and his numerous photos on the Instagram page prove it. Jonny knows the famous brands' names almost by heart. In his wardrobe, he has Levi's, White Label and Nudie jeans, GAP trousers and strict classical suits from Dolce & Gabbana.

In his spare time from work, Jonny tries to go in for sports: he gets up at 5 o’clock in the morning and goes jogging listening to music. Lee Miller confesses that he is a melomaniac but most of all he enjoys listening to the musicals’ parties. His favorite performances are the following – Book of Mormon from the creators of the South Park and The Miserables staged by the novel of Victor Hugo. Also, it’s known that Lee Miller is a master in kickboxing of the first degree.

Moreover, the famous actor enjoys cooking. Jonny began to master the cooking basics during the pregnancy of his wife because he didn't want to burden his beloved woman with housework. However Jonny has entirely engaged in this occupation, and the future father started to read the recipe-books written by the well-known chefs: Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and Nigel Slater.

Particularly, Lee Miller is fond of Italian cuisine. The young man confessed that he was not an innovator in the cooking because he was looking for the recipes of the dishes in the manuscripts of cookery authorities. Though in his assets Jonny has his recipe of bolognese sauce to spaghetti.

What about personal relations, handsome Lee Miller was married two times. Then little-known actress Angelina Jolie became Jonny's first spouse. They got acquainted on the movie set of the movie Hackers. The young people began to have relations in 1995, and two years later they got married. Though Jolie and Lee Miller's wedding ceremony was rather modest; the couple managed "to leave a trace" in the history.

The thing is that instead of the wedding rings the lovers exchanged the drops of blood having pricked the ring fingers. The outfits of bride and groom were also unforgettable: for example, eccentrical Angelina appeared at the ceremony in leather trousers and a white T-shirt on which she had written the name of her lover with her blood.

Despite this bloody rite which in the opinion of Jolie, tied stronger, than the signature on the sheet of paper in 1999 the couple filed for the divorce at the initiative of Lee Miller. It’s worth saying that in this marriage Jonny had suffered a lot of things as his wife was somewhat eccentric, for example, she never cooked and hated when he was touching her.

Also, the journalists discussed the rumors that constant betrayals of Jolie with Timothy Hutton or her drug addiction could be a probable reason for their break-up. But anyway, by the words of the ex-lovers, they never quarreled and stayed good friends after their parting.

Michele Hicks who became the second actor’s wife gave birth to his firstborn - Buster Timothy Miller (2008). Jonny began to meet the American actress in 2006, and two years later they celebrated their wedding.

Jonny Lee Miller at present

In 2017 the actor continues to take part in the series Elementary. Besides, he played a role in the picture T2 Trainspotting which is called a free interpretation of the Irvine Welsh’s novel under the title "Porno."

Filmography

• Mindhunters (2004);
• Love, Honour & Obey (2000);
• Trainspotting (1996);
• Hackers (1995);
• Mansfield Park (1999);
• Doctor Who (1963–1989);
• EastEnders (с 1985);
• Second Thoughts (1991–1994);
• Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995);
• The Escapist (2002);
• Dexter (2006–2013);
• Frankenstein (2011);
• Dark Shadows (2012);
• Т2 Trainspotting (2017);
• Elementary (2012).

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