Thomasin McKenzie

Thomasin McKenzie

Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie (born 26 July 2000) is a New Zealand actress. After a minor role in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), she rose to critical prominence for playing a young girl living in isolation in Debra Granik's drama film Leave No Trace (2018), winning the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance.

McKenzie continued gaining recognition in 2019 with supporting roles in the period films The King and True History of the Kelly Gang, as well as for her role as the Jewish girl Elsa Korr in the satirical film Jojo Rabbit. In 2021, she starred in M. Night Shyamalan's thriller Old and Edgar Wright's psychological horror film Last Night in Soho, and featured in Jane Campion's western film The Power of the Dog. She has since played the title role in the thriller Eileen (2023) and embryologist Jean Purdy in the biographical drama Joy (2024).

Early life

Thomasin McKenzie

McKenzie was born 26 July 2000 in Wellington, New Zealand, and attended Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in Wellington's Karori suburb, graduating in 2018. Her parents are actress and acting coach Dame Miranda Harcourt, and director Stuart McKenzie. She stated that when she was young, she didn't want to be an actor and wanted to work with animals and become a vet or zookeeper instead. She is the granddaughter of actress Dame Kate Harcourt and Peter Harcourt, whose family founded the real estate company Harcourts International in Wellington.

From left: McKenzie, Dame Patsy Reddy, grandmother Kate Harcourt and mother Miranda Harcourt in September 2018

Her elder brother Peter is a journalist, and her younger sister Davida is an actress.

Career

Thomasin McKenzie

After appearing with her brother in the film Existence (2012), McKenzie portrayed teenager Louise Nicholas in the television film Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story (2014). In 2015, she played Pixie Hannah in the soap opera Shortland Street. The following year, she played the titular character in the children's comedy web series Lucy Lewis Can't Lose.

She gained recognition for her portrayal as a daughter of a war veteran in Debra Granik's Leave No Trace (2018) opposite Ben Foster. Her performance received critical acclaim and won her the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance. In 2019, McKenzie joined the ensemble cast of Netflix's The King as Queen Philippa of Denmark, starring alongside Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton and Robert Pattinson. She next played the role of a young Jewish girl who hides in the home of the title character in Taika Waititi's satirical comedy-drama Jojo Rabbit (2019) for which she obtained a nomination at the Critics' Choice Movie Award as Best Young Actress.

In August 2018, McKenzie was cast in Top Gun: Maverick, but dropped out of the film after signing onto Lost Girls (2020). In 2021, she starred in the M. Night Shyamalan's thriller Old, and played the lead character in Edgar Wright's psychological horror film Last Night in Soho, opposite Anya Taylor-Joy. In the same year, she joined John Crowley's televised adaptation of Kate Atkinson's novel Life After Life for BBC Two, which premiered in 2022.

In 2023, McKenzie joined the main cast of the second season of Pantheon, a science fiction drama adaptation of the series of short stories by Ken Liu, voicing MIST, the first C.I. (computational intelligence) born of U.I. (uploaded intelligence). In the same year, she played the lead character in William Oldroyd's psychological thriller Eileen, opposite Anne Hathaway. For her performance, she received positive reviews, with David Fear of Rolling Stone describing her as "such an adept performer at sketching out people that are somehow both sheltered and jaded that you have a clear picture of her even before her dark twin shows up."

McKenzie portrayed British embryologist Jean Purdy in the 2024 film Joy, based on the true story of the world's first in vitro fertilisation baby. In September 2023, McKenzie joined Jim O'Hanlon's upcoming British period comedy Fackham Hall, written by comedian Jimmy Carr. In 2025, McKenzie starred opposite Amanda Seyfried in the historical drama musical film The Testament of Ann Lee directed by Mona Fastvold.

Influences

Thomasin McKenzie

In interviews with Harper's Bazaar and Mastermind Magazine, McKenzie cited Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michelle Williams as influences. Her favourite films include My Neighbor Totoro, Winter's Bone, Notting Hill, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Interstellar, E.T., The Fabelmans, Barry Lyndon, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Princess Diaries.

Personal life

Thomasin McKenzie

In March 2017, McKenzie was living in Wellington, New Zealand. McKenzie moved to Islington, United Kingdom, in June 2023.

Filmography

Film

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2014</td><td>The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies</td><td>Astrid</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>The Changeover</td><td>Rose Keaton</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Tom</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>The King</td><td>Queen Philippa of Denmark</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Elsa Korr</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>True History of the Kelly Gang</td><td>Mary Hearn</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Lost Girls</td><td>Sherre Gilbert</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>The Justice of Bunny King</td><td>Tonyah</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Old</td><td>Maddox Cappa (aged 16)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Last Night in Soho</td><td>Eloise "Ellie" Turner</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Power of the Dog</td><td>Lola</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Eileen</td><td>Eileen Dunlop</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Joy</td><td>Jean Purdy</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>The Testament of Ann Lee</td><td>Mary Partington / Narrator</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fackham Hall</td><td>Rose Davenport</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>The Uprising †</td><td>TBA</td><td>Post-production</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Victorian Psycho †</td><td>Miss Lamb</td><td>Post-production</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>TBA</td><td>Rule of Three †</td><td>Lizzy</td><td>Filming</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Television

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2015–2020</td><td>Shortland Street</td><td>Pixie Hannah</td><td>Recurring role</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Lucy Lewis Can't Lose</td><td>Lucy Lewis</td><td>Lead role</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Life After Life</td><td>Ursula Todd</td><td>Miniseries</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Totally Completely Fine</td><td>Vivian Cunningham</td><td>Lead role</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pantheon</td><td>MIST (voice)</td><td>Main role; season 2</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Awards and nominations

Thomasin McKenzie

<table><thead><tr><th>Award</th><th>Year</th><th>Category</th><th>Work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Alliance of Women Film Journalists</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Breakthrough Performance</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Film Critics Association</td><td>2018</td><td>Most Promising Performer</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chlotrudis Awards</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>The Justice of Bunny King</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Columbus Film Critics Association</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Critics' Choice Movie Awards</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Young Actor/Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Denver Film Critics Society</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Detroit Film Critics Society</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dublin Film Critics' Circle</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Florida Film Critics Circle</td><td>2018</td><td>Pauline Kael Breakout Award</td><td>Runner-up</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Georgia Film Critics Association</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Breakthrough Award</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Gotham Independent Film Awards</td><td>2018</td><td>Breakthrough Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Greater Western New York Film Critics Association</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Debut Performance</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hawaii Film Critics Society</td><td>2022</td><td>Best Actress</td><td>Last Night in Soho</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hollywood Film Critics Association</td><td>2020</td><td>Best Actress 23 and Under</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Independent Spirit Awards</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Supporting Female</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Indiana Film Journalists Association</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Breakout of the Year</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>IndieWire Critics Poll</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kansas City Film Critics Circle</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society</td><td>Best Actress 23 and Under</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Music City Film Critics Association</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Young Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>National Board of Review</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Breakthrough Performance</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Online Association of Female Film Critics</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Female</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Breakthrough Performance</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Online Film and Television Association</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Youth Performance</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Female Breakthrough</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Online Film Critics Society</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Philadelphia Film Critics Circle</td><td>2019</td><td>Best Breakthrough Performance</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Runner-up</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Critics Circle</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>San Diego Film Critics Society</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Breakthrough Artist</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>San Francisco Film Critics Circle</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Film Critics Society</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Youth Performance</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seattle International Film Festival</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Youth Performance</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Women Film Critics Circle</td><td>2018</td><td>Best Young Actress</td><td>Leave No Trace</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Women's Image Network Awards</td><td>2020</td><td>Best Actress in a Feature Film</td><td>Jojo Rabbit</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>