Scottish actor Jack Lowden, known for Dunkirk and Slow Horses, has emerged as a leading candidate rumoured to become the next James Bond after Daniel Craig. Bookmakers have slashed his odds to 5/4 favourite, making him the top contender for the iconic 007 role.
Early Life and Training
Lowden was born on June 2, 1990, in Chelmsford, Essex, but was brought up in the village of Oxton in the Scottish Borders. He was raised alongside his younger brother, Calum, who subsequently became a principal ballet dancer for the Royal Swedish Ballet.
Lowden joined the Scottish Youth Theatre in Edinburgh at age 10. He subsequently trained at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (then the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama), graduating in 2011.
Career Highlights
Lowden's professional journey encompasses tremendous achievements across theatre, blockbuster films, and starring television parts. He garnered enormous critical praise early in his career, securing the Laurence Olivier Award and the Ian Charleson Award in 2014 for his portrayal of Oswald in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts.
Lowden's major international breakthrough came in 2017 when he portrayed RAF fighter pilot Collins in Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning WWII blockbuster Dunkirk. He has additionally appeared as Morrissey in England is Mine (2017) and poet Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction (2021).
Lowden has also earned numerous Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his role alongside Gary Oldman in the highly praised espionage thriller Slow Horses. Away from acting, he co-founded production company Arcade Pictures. He served as producer on the widely acclaimed film adaptation of Amy Liptrot's memoir, The Outrun (2024), which starred his wife Saoirse Ronan.
Upcoming Roles and Personal Life
Lowden is due to take on the iconic role of Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy in Netflix's star-studded 2026 six-part adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, appearing opposite Emma Corrin. He is also presently filming a lead role as police officer Bernie Gunther in Apple TV+'s forthcoming crime thriller series Berlin Noir, alongside Colin Firth.
In July 2024, Lowden wed his long-term partner, four-time Oscar-nominated Irish actress Saoirse Ronan. The pair first met on the set of Mary Queen of Scots in 2018, where they played a married couple on screen. The duo welcomed their first child in 2025, though they have kept both the name and gender of their baby private.
A vocal advocate for Scottish independence, he lives in the Scottish Borders. He's also an avid football supporter, backing local side Broxburn Athletic FC.
Net Worth and James Bond Buzz
Lowden has an estimated net worth of approximately £3.1 million, according to reports. His highest-profile salary driver is his role as River Cartwright in the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ spy series Slow Horses. He also starred in the BBC true-crime drama The Gold. Lowden also co-founded the Edinburgh-based production company Reiver Pictures, producing independent feature films such as Kindred and The Outrun.
The actor also shares real estate assets with wife Saoirse, splitting their time between a £2.5 million three-bedroom home in North London and a £540,000 cottage in West Cork, Ireland.
Lowden has recently emerged as a leading contender to portray James Bond after media personality Richard Osman suggested he has inside information that the actor is being "strongly considered" for the legendary 007 role. After these remarks, leading bookmakers such as William Hill cut Lowden's odds from 6/1 to a 5/4 favourite, triggering widespread speculation throughout the entertainment world.
Lowden is already a highly regarded figure in the spy genre, which significantly strengthens his credentials for the part. The hunt for Daniel Craig's replacement has been underway since 2021's No Time to Die. Franchise producers and Amazon MGM Studios are said to be adopting an extremely calculated strategy to reimagining the character.
While other prominent contenders such as Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Henry Cavill continue to feature prominently in bookmakers' odds, Lowden's unexpected surge has entirely transformed the conversation. Producers have previously suggested that an official casting reveal could emerge before the close of 2026, with Dune director Denis Villeneuve poised to direct the forthcoming film.
