ACTOR
Ben Whishaw
25 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (25)
- #001
Ben Whishaw beat out Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom for the role of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in the 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
- #002
At the age of 32, Ben Whishaw became the youngest actor to play the character Q in a James Bond film.
- #003
Ben Whishaw has a twin brother named James.
- #004
Ben Whishaw replaced Colin Firth as the voice of the title character in the 2014 film Paddington. Whishaw was initially reluctant to take on the role and turned it down the first time. He came on board after the film's director sent him a heartfelt letter in which he eagerly encouraged him to reconsider his decision.
- #005
In August 2012, Ben Whishaw entered into a civil partnership with his partner Mark Bradshaw. They met on the set of the 2009 film Bright Star.
- #006
Ben Whishaw's paternal grandfather, John Vladimir Stellmacher, was of German and Russian descent and spied for the British during World War II, later taking the surname "Whishaw." His paternal grandmother, Olga Adele Bernard, was French. Ben's mother is of English descent.
- #007
Ben Whishaw met his husband, Australian composer Mark Bradshaw, on the set of the 2009 film Bright Star during its shoot in 2008, and they officially married in August 2012.
- #008
Ben Whishaw graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
- #009
Ben Whishaw's favorite film is Vertigo (1958).
- #010
Ben Whishaw is good friends with Matthew Goode, his co-star in the 2008 film Brideshead Revisited.
- #011
Ben Whishaw's favorite actor is James Stewart.
- #012
Ben Whishaw grew up in Bedfordshire and joined the Bancroft Players Youth Theatre at the Queen Mother Theatre in Hitchin.
- #013
Ben Whishaw played Hamlet at the Old Vic in London to critical acclaim.
- #014
In his spare time, Ben Whishaw enjoys reading books, painting and gardening.
- #015
Ben Whishaw's favorite James Bond films are Dr. No (1962) and From Russia with Love (1963).
- #016
Ben Whishaw enjoys music, dance, the visual arts and traveling.
- #017
Ben Whishaw has taken in several stray cats living in his neighborhood.
- #018
Ben Whishaw appears opposite Judi Dench in John Logan's "Peter & Alice" at the Noel Coward Theatre in London, playing Peter Llewellyn Davies.
- #019
Ben Whishaw played the role of Oliver in the Off-Broadway production of "The Pride," written by Alexi Kaye Campbell and directed by Joe Mantello, alongside Hugh Dancy, Adam James and Andrea Riseborough.
- #020
Ben Whishaw's father is a computer engineer and his mother is a salesperson.
- #021
Ben Whishaw was confirmed as one of the actors performing in 'His Dark Materials' at the Royal National Theatre.
- #022
Although Ben Whishaw is the voice of Paddington Bear, whose favourite food is marmalade sandwiches, he does not like marmalade in real life.
- #023
At the age of 23, Ben Whishaw was one of the youngest Hamlets in an Old Vic production.
- #024
Ben Whishaw's grandmother was an actress.
- #025
In 2018, Ben Whishaw was invited to join the Actors Branch of AMPAS.
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