Scottish actor and producer Jack Lowden has emerged as a leading contender to play the next James Bond, with bookmakers making him the favourite. Here is a look at his career, personal life, and the speculation surrounding the iconic role.
Early Life and Background
Lowden was born on June 2, 1990, in Chelmsford, Essex, but grew up in the village of Oxton in the Scottish Borders. He was raised with his younger sibling, Calum, who later became a principal ballet dancer for the Royal Swedish Ballet.
At age 10, Lowden joined the Scottish Youth Theatre in Edinburgh. He later studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, completing his training in 2011.
Career Highlights
Lowden's career spans theatre, film, and television. He won the Laurence Olivier Award and the Ian Charleson Award in 2014 for his portrayal of Oswald in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. His breakthrough came in 2017 with the role of RAF pilot Collins in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk.
He has also played Morrissey in England is Mine (2017) and poet Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction (2021). Lowden earned Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his role in the espionage series Slow Horses, alongside Gary Oldman.
Off-screen, he co-founded Arcade Pictures and produced The Outrun (2024), starring his wife Saoirse Ronan.
Current and Upcoming Projects
Lowden is set to play Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in Netflix's 2026 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, opposite Emma Corrin. He is also filming the lead role of police officer Bernie Gunther in Apple TV+'s Berlin Noir, alongside Colin Firth.
Personal Life
In July 2024, Lowden married actress Saoirse Ronan. The couple met on the set of Mary Queen of Scots in 2018. They welcomed their first child in 2025. Lowden is a vocal advocate of Scottish independence and lives in the Scottish Borders. He supports Broxburn Athletic FC.
Social Media Presence
Lowden is active on Instagram, with over 460 posts and 257,000 followers. His feed includes backstage content, Scottish regional causes, and creative imagery, occasionally featuring his wife and their joint productions.
James Bond Speculation
Media figure Richard Osman suggested Lowden is being "strongly considered" for the 007 role. Bookmakers William Hill subsequently cut his odds from 6/1 to 5/4 favourite. Other contenders include Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Henry Cavill.
Producers have hinted an official casting reveal could happen before the end of 2026, with Dune director Denis Villeneuve reportedly set to direct the next film.
