5 Unknown Facts About “Carry On” Star Taron Egerton

Taron Egerton is known for being a versatile actor with a magnetic presence. We all came to know him from his breakout role as Eggsy in Kingsman and then his role as Elton John in Rocketman, which even earned him an Academy Award nomination. The actor has consistently proved his mettle and is back with yet another challenge.

This time around, he is playing Ethan Kopek in Carry On, a thriller movie that is currently streaming on Netflix. His character is a TSA agent who faces a high-stake moral dilemma, and Egerton appears to be both intense and relatable in this role. But there’s so much that we don’t know about him, and if you’ve recently begun to Egerton, here are a few facts that might interest you. 

Taron Egerton has deep Welsh roots

Taron Egerton was born in Birkenhead, a place in England, and he wholeheartedly considers himself to be Welsh. When the actor was just two years old, his parents had a divorce, and he moved with his mother to Anglesey (via Yahoo News).

So, till the age of 12, Egerton grew up on a picturesque Welsh island, and later they settled in Aberystwyth. In an interview with The New York Times, he revealed what it was like to move to a different place.

I lost all my friends I’d had as a child when I moved. I was quite cocky and quite confident, but that was to mask the insecurity I was feeling. It was as much about trying to be social and make friends as it was an interest in acting. 

It’s his family background that adds an extra layer of depth to his character. The sense of identity that he built after his childhood experiences influenced his work as well. Everything that contributed to his growth in his formative years has stayed with him, even now.

Why Taron Egerton aspired to be an actor 

Despite his success today, Egerton did not set out to be an actor with the intent of being a professional. His early motives to act were born out of feeling loneliness. At the age of 15, he started to explore the possibilities of becoming an actor, so he could possibly connect with others. 

He enrolled in the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he polished his skills. He graduated in the year 2012. Then, he stepped into the professional acting world to be a part of a community that would understand him and shape him for future roles. 

Taron Egerton’s childhood obsession with Pokémon

Fans of Taron Egerton might be surprised to know that he was a fan of Pokémon, and it wasn’t just a passing phase of a few years for him. In an interview with Collider, he revealed this information and explained how much he loved the franchise. 

Oh, wow, that’s an interesting question. Hey, I mean, I turned 10 in the year 1999, so I was that initial first wave of Pokémon. I had a couple of years of my life where I was Pokémon obsessed — cards, games, anything I could get my hands on. That strikes me as probably being one of the most prevalent collecting things in my life that I’ve done. 

The actor also shared that he still has most of his collection tucked away at his mother’s house, which includes some of the most cherished play cards and other memorabilia.

It’s wholesome to see a Hollywood star talk about a niche interest that fans can relate to. But most importantly, it’s a reminder of how we often hold onto things that brought us joy in our younger years. 

Experiencing nightmares after a plane landing

In a conversation on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Egerton was vulnerable and opened up about the challenges he faced behind the scenes. He narrated the story that led to him experiencing anxiety, after a traumatic plane landing. 

The one that really messed me up was about five, six years ago. I was landing in Italy and the airplane, just as it was touching the runway, did a big dipper. For about two years after, I’d have recurring nightmares about a plane crashing while I was on the plane.

My weird, creative way of thinking shot [the nightmares] like a movie, so I’d see it from all different angles. It was awful, really awful. 

So, even though the experience did not lead to anything disastrous, the actor kept having nightmares as the unsettling nature of it all was still lingering in his mind.

Sadly, this was not his only bad experience with planes. He also recalled being separated from his mother while in an airport. This openness about the negative things in his life has helped him build a deeper connection with the audience, who truly cherishes the actor for being honest about his struggles. 

Taron Egerton’s musical talents and his role in Rocketman

His most brilliant role is in Rocketman where the actor showcased his musical talent and played Elton John, singing all of his hits after intense vocal training. Unlike many biography performances where actors rely on lip-syncing, Egerton actually sang the songs himself and earned praise for being a vocal powerhouse. The artist told People about John’s struggles in the movie as well, right before one of his greatest performances. 

That iconic Dodger Stadium performance is a part of rock history. But the truth of the matter is 48 hours before he went on stage, he swallowed a bunch of pills and he threw himself into his swimming pool. He wasn’t well. 

He was crying out for help, whether he knew it or not, and for whatever reason he didn’t get that help. But then he had to park his troubles and go be Elton John. I think it’s such an incredible thing for someone to go from such a low ebb to such titanic, gargantuan success.

Taron Egerton is such a bright star, and there’s so much to him than meets the eye. His heritage, struggles with loneliness, obsessions, and vulnerability, make him a compelling figure in the entertainment industry where celebrities usually want to seem perfect to the T.

But Egerton happens to be an exception, and that’s possibly why he’s receiving love and adoration from thousands of admirers. 

You can watch Carry On on Netflix.