| Birth Name: | Connor Ryan Swindells |
| Birth Date: | 19 September 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Lewes, East Sussex, England |
| Years Active: | 2015–present |
Connor Ryan Swindells (born 19 September 1996) is an English actor and model. Starting his career in 2015, he made his film debut in 2018 and gained recognition for his role as Adam Groff in the Netflix comedy drama series Sex Education (2019–2023). He next starred in the BBC One war drama (2022–present), and in the films Emma (2020), Barbarians (2021), Barbie (2023), and Jingle Bell Heist (2025).
Connor Ryan Swindells[1] was born in Lewes, East Sussex, the youngest of four sons to parents Ian and Phoebe. His mother, of Romani descent,[2] died of bowel cancer when Swindells was seven years old, which he has said he is still processing.[3] After her death, he and his father went to live with Swindells' paternal grandparents in West Chiltington until moving out to Billingshurst, both in the Horsham District of West Sussex.[4]
Swindells attended Rydon Community College and Steyning Grammar School.[5] He dropped out of college at age 17.[6]
Swindells began acting when he saw an audition poster for a local play and his friend dared him to audition; he got the lead role. He then acted in two more local plays and signed with an agent at the end of the third play.[7]
In 2017 Swindells made his television debut with guest appearances as Mostyn in the Hulu period drama Harlots (2017), and as Fletcher in the Sky One historical drama Jamestown.[8]
In March 2017, Swindells was cast to replace Joe Alwyn as Donald in The Vanishing, a Scottish psychological thriller film directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, co-starring Gerard Butler and Peter Mullan. The film screened at the 2018 Sitges Film Festival before having a theatrical release on 4 January 2019.[9] Swindells also starred as Adam in the 2018 drama film VS.[10]
In 2019 Swindells began starring as Adam Groff, the headmaster's son, alongside Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Asa Butterfield, and Gillian Anderson in the Netflix comedy-drama series Sex Education (2019–2023).[8]
Swindells appeared in the films Emma (2020),[8] and Barbarians (2021),[8] and played Simon Hadlow in the 2021 BBC One crime drama Vigil,[8] led by Suranne Jones. The following year, he began starring in the lead role of David Stirling in the World War II BBC One series .[8]
Swindells appeared in Greta Gerwig's Barbie, reuniting with his Sex Education co-stars Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey.[11]
In 2024, he played Jae Donnelly in the Netflix film Scoop (2024).[8] Later that year he portrayed Gessler in the film William Tell (2024).[12]
In 2025, he played DS Ed McCusker in the Lockerbie based miniseries The Bombing of Pan Am 103.[13]
Since 2020, Swindells has been in a relationship with actress Amber Anderson, who also appeared in the film Emma.[14] They married in the Scottish Highlands in October 2024. Their wedding was officiated by Alistair Petrie, who plays Swindells' father in Sex Education.[15]
| Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | VS. | Adam | ||
| 2019 | The Vanishing | Donald McArthur | ||
| 2020 | Emma | Robert Martin | ||
| 2021 | Barbarians | Dan | ||
| 2023 | Barbie | Aaron Dinkins | ||
| 2024 | Scoop | Jae Donnelly | ||
| William Tell | Gessler | |||
| 2025 | Jingle Bell Heist | Nick | [16] | |
| TBA | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Harlots | Mostyn | Episode #1.3 | |
| Jamestown | Fletcher | Episode #1.5 | ||
| 2019–2023 | Sex Education | Adam Groff | Main role; 30 episodes | |
| 2021 | Vigil | Lieutenant Simon Hadlow | Miniseries | |
| Dodo | Jamie Connoly | Recurring role; 5 episodes[17] | ||
| 2022–present | David Stirling | Main role | ||
| 2024 | The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin | Tommy Silversides | ||
| 2025 | The Bombing of Pan Am 103 | DS Ed McCusker | Miniseries | |
| Kole | Filming[18] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Screen International | Stars of Tomorrow | [19] | ||
| 2019 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Kiss (with Ncuti Gatwa) | Sex Education | [20] | |
| 2022 | Series Em Cena Awards | Best Comedy Star | [21] | ||
| 2023 | Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Actor | |||
