Editing Andy Serkis

{{short description|English actor (born 1964)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Andy Serkis
| image              = Andy_Serkis_at_MEGACON_Orlando_2025.png
| alt                = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption            = Serkis at [[MegaCon]] Orlando in 2025
| birth_name         = Andrew Clement Serkis
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|4|20}}
| birth_place        = [[Ruislip Manor]], [[Middlesex]], England
| education          = [[Lancaster University]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|director|producer}}
| years_active       = 1985–present
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Andy Serkis|Full list]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Lorraine Ashbourne]]<br>|22 July 2002}}
| children           = 3, including [[Ruby Ashbourne Serkis|Ruby]] and [[Louis Ashbourne Serkis|Louis]]
}}
'''Andrew Clement Serkis'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/288906 |title=Serkis, Andy |website=[[British Film Institute]] |date=16 April 2009 |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802141257/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/288906 |archive-date=2 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/person/uk/11549140 |title=Mr Andrew Clement Serkis |website=Levelbusiness.com |access-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406232457/http://levelbusiness.com/andrew-serkis/pva9gt2 |archive-date=6 April 2012}}</ref> (born 20 April 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his [[motion capture]] roles comprising motion capture acting, animation and voice work for computer-generated characters such as [[Gollum]] in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]] (2001–2003) and ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'' (2012), [[King Kong]] in the eponymous [[King Kong (2005 film)|2005 film]], [[Caesar (Planet of the Apes)|Caesar]] in the [[Planet of the Apes#Reboot film series|''Planet of the Apes'' reboot series]] (2011–2017), [[Captain Haddock]] / [[List of The Adventures of Tintin characters#Sir Francis Haddock|Sir Francis Haddock]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|The Adventures of Tintin]]'' (2011), [[Baloo]] in his self-directed film ''[[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]]'' (2018) and [[Supreme Leader Snoke]] in the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy films]] ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens|The Force Awakens]]'' (2015) and ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi|The Last Jedi]]'' (2017), also portraying [[Kino Loy]] in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[Disney+]] series ''[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]'' (2022).

Serkis's film work in motion capture has been critically acclaimed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11359220 |title=Oscars debate for computerised stars makes a monkey out of movie actors |last=Clark |first=Nick |date=16 November 2014 |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=11 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203150638/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11359220 |archive-date=3 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/should-oscar-go-to-andy-serkis-or-the-computer-that-turned-him-into-an-ape-9845011.html |title=Should Oscar go to Andy Serkis or the computer that turned him into an ape? |last=Clark |first=Nick |date=6 November 2014 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=11 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201143345/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/should-oscar-go-to-andy-serkis-or-the-computer-that-turned-him-into-an-ape-9845011.html |archive-date=1 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/11217293/Does-Andy-Serkiss-motion-capture-acting-deserve-an-Oscar.html |title=Does Andy Serkis's motion capture acting deserve an Oscar? |last=Robey |first=Tim |date=8 November 2014 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=11 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112051520/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/11217293/Does-Andy-Serkiss-motion-capture-acting-deserve-an-Oscar.html |archive-date=12 January 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> He has received an [[Empire Award]] and two [[Saturn Award]]s for his [[motion-capture acting]]. He earned a [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor|BAFTA]] and a [[Golden Globe]] nomination for his portrayal of serial killer [[Ian Brady]] in the British television film ''[[Longford (film)|Longford]]'' (2006) and was nominated for a [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|BAFTA]] for his portrayal of new wave and punk rock musician [[Ian Dury]] in the biopic ''[[Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (film)|Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll]]'' (2010). In 2020, Serkis received the BAFTA Award for [[BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award|Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/andy-serkis-to-be-honoured-at-the-2020-ee-british-academy-film-award-for |title=Andy Serkis to be honoured at the 2020 EE British Academy Film Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema |date=23 January 2020 |publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] |access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref> In 2021, he won a [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Award]] for the series ''[[The Letter for the King (TV series)|The Letter for the King]]'' (2020).<ref name="emmy">{{cite web|last=Cordero|first=Rosy|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/daytime-emmy-award-winners-alex-trebek-zac-efron-karrueche-tran-1234795492/|title=Alex Trebek, Zac Efron, Karrueche Tran, More, Announced As Daytime Emmy Fiction & Lifestyle Winners—Complete Winners List|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=18 July 2021|access-date=19 July 2021}}</ref>

Serkis portrayed [[Klaw (character)|Ulysses Klaue]] in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU) films ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'' (2015) and ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' (2018), as well as the [[Disney+]] series ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If…?]]'' (2021). He also played [[Alfred Pennyworth]] in ''[[The Batman (film)|The Batman]]'' (2022). Serkis has his own production company and motion capture workshop, [[The Imaginarium]] in London, which he used for ''[[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]]''. He made his directorial debut with Imaginarium's 2017 film ''[[Breathe (2017 film)|Breathe]]'' and also directed ''[[Venom: Let There Be Carnage]]'' (2021).

==Early life==
Serkis was born on 20 April 1964 in [[Ruislip Manor]] in [[Middlesex]] (now [[Greater London]]).<ref name=beastie>{{Cite news |last=Shoard |first=Catherine |title=Andy Serkis: Beastie boy |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 March 2008 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3671900/Andy-Serkis-Beastie-boy.html |access-date=22 October 2010 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711201408/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3671900/Andy-Serkis-Beastie-boy.html |archive-date=11 July 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> He grew up in both Ruislip and [[Baghdad]], Iraq.<ref name=GuardianInterview>{{Cite news |last=McGrath |first=Nick |title=Andy Serkis: 'I used to walk on all fours preparing to be Gollum' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 March 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/06/this-much-i-know-andy-serkis-i-used-to-walk-on-all-fours-preparing-to-be-gollum |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> His mother, Lylie Weech, was half Iraqi and half English, and taught disabled children;<ref name=GuardianInterview/> his father, Clement Serkis, was an [[Iraqi Armenians|Iraqi-Armenian]] [[gynaecologist]].<ref name=beastie/><ref name=GuardianInterview/><ref name="oneringref">{{cite news |author=xoanon |title=Andy Serkis Talks LOTR |website=[[TheOneRing.net]] |date=1 February 2001 |url=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2001/02/02/27644-andy-serkis-talks-lotr-2/ |access-date=29 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412020650/http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2001/02/02/27644-andy-serkis-talks-lotr-2/ |archive-date=12 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> His ancestors' original Armenian surname was "[[Sarkisian]]".<ref name=rer>{{Cite news |last=Nepales |first=Ruben V. |title=Only in Hollywood Andy Serkis: From Gollum, King Kong to Einstein |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |page=F2 |date=6 July 2007 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h1U1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3049,2317161&dq=another-passion-for-the-actor&hl=en |access-date=22 October 2010 |via=Google News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929131807/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h1U1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=gCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3049,2317161&dq=another-passion-for-the-actor&hl=en |archive-date=29 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> His father often worked abroad in the Middle East, while Serkis and his siblings were raised in Britain, with regular holidays in the Middle Eastern cities of [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]], [[Sidon]], [[Damascus]] and Baghdad.<ref name="independent-20121207"/> Both of his parents were devoutly [[Catholic Church|Catholic]].<ref name=GuardianMoorhead>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/dec/13/family-values-andy-serkis |location=London |newspaper=The Guardian |title=My family values; Andy Serkis, actor |first=Joanna |last=Moorhead |date=13 December 2008 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415104401/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/dec/13/family-values-andy-serkis |archive-date=15 April 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Serkis was educated at [[St Benedict's School, Ealing]]. He studied visual arts and theatre as part of his degree at [[Lancaster University]] and graduated in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2014/from-lancaster-to-middle-earth/ |title=From Lancaster to Middle-earth |date=11 December 2014 |website=Lancaster University |access-date=12 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107032757/http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2014/from-lancaster-to-middle-earth/ |archive-date=7 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Serkis was a member of [[The County College]] and part of the student radio station [[Bailrigg FM]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lynn |first=Iain |date=14 November 2019 |title=Andy Serkis lands role as Alfred in new Batman film |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/whats-on/andy-serkis-lands-role-alfred-new-batman-film-1301765 |work=[[Lancashire Evening Post]] |access-date=14 November 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624222519/https://www.lep.co.uk/whats-on/andy-serkis-lands-role-alfred-new-batman-film-1301765 |archive-date=24 June 2021}}</ref> He joined the Nuffield Studio, getting involved in designing and producing plays.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bafta.org/sites/default/files/uploads/heritagehandoutredshoes04.pdf |title=Andy Serkis Selects The Red Shoes |last=Kermode |first=Mark |date=15 January 2018 |website=[[British Academy Film Awards]] |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128054914/https://www.bafta.org/sites/default/files/uploads/heritagehandoutredshoes04.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>

Having agreed to act in a couple of productions towards the end of his first year, Serkis played the lead role in [[Barrie Keeffe]]'s play ''Gotcha'' as a rebellious teenager holding a teacher hostage. As a result, he changed his major subject to acting, constructing his Independent Studies Degree around acting and set design, studying [[Konstantin Stanislavski]] and [[Bertolt Brecht]], and including minor modules in art and visual graphics.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ken |last=P. |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/383/383888p1.html |title=An Interview with Andy Serkis (page 1) |website=[[IGN]] |date=27 January 2003 |access-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702050359/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/27/an-interview-with-andy-serkis |archive-date=2 July 2015}}</ref> In his final year at Lancaster he adapted [[Raymond Briggs]]'s graphic novel ''[[The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman]]'', a satire about the Falklands War, as a one-man show, which he performed to acclaim.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aftab |first=Kaleem |date=25 October 2017 |title=Andy Serkis interview: How a colleague's family history led to his directorial debut |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/andy-serkis-breathe-andrew-garfield-claire-foy-jungle-book-king-kong-planet-of-the-apes-a8019676.html |work=The Independent |access-date=25 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025215133/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/andy-serkis-breathe-andrew-garfield-claire-foy-jungle-book-king-kong-planet-of-the-apes-a8019676.html |archive-date=25 October 2017}}</ref>

==Career==
In his third year at university, Serkis joined the backstage team at the local [[Duke's Playhouse]] to earn his [[Equity (trade union)|Equity]] card. On graduating, although advised to take a one-year post-graduate acting course, he joined Dukes as an actor. Under director Jonathan Petherbridge, who used workshops based on the methods of [[Augusto Boal]], he spent 18 months acting in a broad range of productions from [[Brecht]], [[Shakespeare]] and modern British playwrights.<ref name=UKMoviesP2/> 

After 16 months, and having gained his Equity card, Serkis joined a series of touring companies, including productions of: ''[[Bouncers (play)|Bouncers]]'' opposite [[Hull Truck]]; Florizel in ''[[The Winter's Tale]]''; and the fool in ''[[King Lear]]'' with director [[Max Stafford-Clark]].<ref name=UKMoviesP2>{{cite web |first=Ken |last=P. |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/383/383888p2.html |title=An Interview with Andy Serkis (page 2) |website=IGN |date=27 January 2003 |access-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821163107/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/27/an-interview-with-andy-serkis?page=2 |archive-date=21 August 2016}}</ref> In the early 1990s he settled in London, and took a role in April De Angelis's ''Hush'' (Royal Court) as Dogboy. Also the [[Royal Court Theatre]]'s production of ''Mojo,'' and [[Wilson Milam]]'s production of ''[[Hurlyburly]]'' (1997) at the [[Sondheim Theatre|Queen's Theatre]], [[Shaftesbury Avenue]], with [[Rupert Graves]] and [[David Tennant]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Ken |last=P. |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/383/383888p3.html |title=An Interview with Andy Serkis (page 3) |website=IGN |date=27 January 2003 |access-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106081036/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/27/an-interview-with-andy-serkis?page=3 |archive-date=6 January 2016}}</ref> Serkis also developed a career in television, appearing in small roles such as Greville in an episode of ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]'' (1992) and a criminal called Maxwell in an episode of ''[[Pie in the Sky (TV series)|Pie in the Sky]]'' (1994). Serkis joined director [[Mike Leigh]]'s ensemble for two film productions, and appeared in the romantic comedy ''[[Loop (1997 film)|Loop]]'' (1997) alongside [[Susannah York]]. He played Dennis in a 1997 [[BBC Radio 3|Radio 3]] broadcast of ''[[Loot (play)|Loot]]'' by [[Joe Orton|Orton]], repeated in 2017.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2017/33/loot ''Loot'', BBC Media Centre notice] accessed 4 April 2025.</ref> Serkis portrayed Victorian choreographer [[John D'Auban]] in ''[[Topsy-Turvy]]'', a 1999 film about [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s creation of ''[[The Mikado]]''.<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/movies/topsy-turvy/cast/2000118669 "''Topsy-Turvy'' – Full Cast & Crew"], ''TV Guide''. Retrieved 24 October 2022</ref> In 1999, Serkis played [[Bill Sikes]] in [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]]'s adaptation of ''[[Oliver Twist (1999 TV series)|Oliver Twist]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenfeld |first=Megan |date=7 October 2000 |title=A Grand 'Twist' For Oliver |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/10/07/a-grand-twist-for-oliver/390167d9-6250-4c35-9fcc-e79f2353c898/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=21 August 2011}}</ref> He appeared alongside [[Sacha Baron Cohen]] in ''[[The Jolly Boys' Last Stand]]'' in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Win tickets to The Jolly Boys' Last Stand |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/aug/10/features |work=The Guardian |date=10 August 2000 |access-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509005040/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/aug/10/features |archive-date=9 May 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Andy Serkis 2003.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Serkis at the world premiere of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'' in Wellington in 2003]]
Serkis first came to wide public notice for his performance as [[Gollum|Sméagol / Gollum]], in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]] (2001–2003), for which he provided [[motion-capture]] movements and voice for the [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] character. His work on ''The Lord of the Rings'' started a debate on the legitimacy of CGI-assisted acting. Producer [[Barrie M. Osborne]] campaigned for Serkis to have been nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]], as his voice, body language and facial expressions were used. The marketing director of [[New Line Cinema]], Russell Schwartz, had likewise compared Serkis's motion capture presence to [[John Hurt]] winning Best Actor while wearing a latex mask in ''[[The Elephant Man (1980 film)|The Elephant Man]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Oliver |last=Poole |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3589692/Can-Gollum-get-the-precious-Oscar-nod.html |title=Can Gollum get the precious Oscar nod? |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 February 2003 |access-date=21 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809053502/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3589692/Can-Gollum-get-the-precious-Oscar-nod.html |archive-date=9 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Serkis has performed motion-capture work in several other films, including the title character in the [[King Kong (2005 film)|2005 version of King Kong]] (in which he also played the ship's cook in live-action) and as [[Caesar (Planet of the Apes)|Caesar]] in ''[[Rise of the Planet of the Apes]]'' (2011), ''[[Dawn of the Planet of the Apes]]'' (2014), and ''[[War for the Planet of the Apes]]'' (2017). He also worked with game developers [[Ninja Theory]] on the 2007 release ''[[Heavenly Sword]]'', providing the motion capture and voice for King Bohan (the game's main villain).<ref name="acclaim"/><ref name=boston_serkis/>

In 2006, Serkis starred as [[serial killer]] [[Ian Brady]] in the [[BAFTA]]-nominated ''[[Longford (film)|Longford]]'', co-starring [[Samantha Morton]] as [[Myra Hindley]] and [[Jim Broadbent]] as [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|Lord Longford]]. That same year, Serkis appeared in the role of Mr. Grin in ''[[Stormbreaker (film)|Stormbreaker]]'', the film rendition of [[Anthony Horowitz]]'s ''[[Alex Rider]]'' novel. He also acted in the film ''[[The Prestige (film)|The Prestige]]'' as Mr. Alley (assistant to [[Nikola Tesla]]), as the voice of one of the henchrats in the [[Aardman Animations]] film ''[[Flushed Away]]'' named Spike, and appeared in [[Jim Threapleton]]'s improvised feature film ''[[Extraordinary Rendition (film)|Extraordinary Rendition]]'', which premiered in 2007. In 2007, he appeared in ''[[Sugarhouse (film)|Sugarhouse]]'', a low-budget independently made film, playing local crime lord Hoodwink, who terrorises an east London housing estate. For the role, Serkis shaved his head and had sessions lasting 20 hours each to have temporary tattoos stencilled onto his body. The film premiered at the 2007 [[Edinburgh Festival]] and released in the UK on 24 August. Also that year, Serkis provided the voiceover for ''[[Monkey Life (TV series)|Monkey Life]]'', on [[Five (TV channel)|Five]] broadcast for three weeks from 13 to 31 August 2007. This series was about [[Monkey World]], the popular [[ape]] and monkey [[sanctuary]] and [[zoo]] near [[Wool, Dorset]]. In the joint BBC/[[HBO]] production ''[[Einstein and Eddington]]'', (2008) Serkis played [[Albert Einstein]], following the development of his [[theory of relativity]], while [[David Tennant]] played scientist Sir [[Arthur Eddington]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Heroes to air near to US premiere |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7499980.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=7 August 2013 |first=Neil |last=Smith |date=10 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7499980.stm |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008, Serkis appeared as Rigaud in the [[BBC Television]] adaptation of [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[Little Dorrit (TV series)|Little Dorrit]]'' and as Capricorn in ''[[Inkheart (film)|Inkheart]]'', the film adaptation of [[Cornelia Funke]]'s novel.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2009/03/27/dickens_meets_lost_in_pbss_dorrit/ |title=Dickens meets 'Lost' in PBS's 'Little Dorrit' |first=Matthew |last=Gilbert |date=27 March 2009 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063337/http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2009/03/27/dickens_meets_lost_in_pbss_dorrit/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010, Serkis played 1970s new wave singer [[Ian Dury]] in ''[[Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (film)|Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2010/04/andy-serkis-mines-ian-durys-c-word-ishness-in-sex-drugs-rock-roll |title=Andy Serkis Mines Ian Dury's C-Word-ishness in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll |last=Hogan |first=Mike |date=27 April 2010 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=24 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224181006/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2010/04/andy-serkis-mines-ian-durys-c-word-ishness-in-sex-drugs-rock-roll |archive-date=24 February 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Andy Serkis Comic-Con 2011.jpg|upright|thumb|Serkis at the 2011 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]]]
Serkis reunited with Peter Jackson, as a cast member in Jackson's and [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|Tintin]]'' trilogy, based on ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]''. Serkis supplied the voice and motion capture performance of [[Captain Haddock]] as well as his ancestor, [[Sir Francis Haddock]]. Filming began in January 2009 and the film was released in 2011.<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Jay A. |last1=Fernandez |first2=Borys |last2=Kit |title=Anchors aweigh for 'Tintin' |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=26 January 2009 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic323ae8a6486e91c8f3aab35cbff3722 |access-date=27 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131161003/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic323ae8a6486e91c8f3aab35cbff3722 |archive-date=31 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Filming was due to begin in September 2008, but was delayed due to Universal pulling out of backing the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/10046/andy_serkis_interview_robert_rankin_the_hobbit_tintin_more.html |title=Andy Serkis interview: Robert Rankin, The Hobbit, Tintin & more! |website=Den of Geek |first=Martin |last=Anderson |date=15 February 2008 |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122073908/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/10046/andy_serkis_interview_robert_rankin_the_hobbit_tintin_more.html |archive-date=22 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, Serkis voiced the role of the demon [[Screwtape]] in [[Focus on the Family]]'s [[Radio Theatre]] audio adaptation of [[C. S. Lewis]]'s ''[[The Screwtape Letters#Audio drama|The Screwtape Letters]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screwtape.com/about |title=About the Audio Drama |website=Screwtape.com |access-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210185854/http://www.screwtape.com/about |archive-date=10 February 2010}}</ref> In 2010, Serkis was cast as [[Burke and Hare murders|William Hare]], with [[Simon Pegg]] as Burke, in the [[John Landis]] black comedy film ''[[Burke & Hare (2010 film)|Burke and Hare]]'' based on the [[Burke and Hare murders]] in Scotland in 1828.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35442/new-burke-and-hare-casting-news |title=New Burke and Hare Casting News |first=Steve |last=Barton |date=20 January 2010 |website=[[Dread Central]] |access-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007061934/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35442/new-burke-and-hare-casting-news |archive-date=7 October 2012}}</ref> He also featured in the TV series ''The Accused'', in "Liam's Story", written by [[Danny Brocklehurst]] and Jimmy McGovern. He played [[Caesar (Planet of the Apes)|Caesar]] in the 20th Century Fox science-fiction film ''[[Rise of the Planet of the Apes]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20743 |title=Andy Serkis Grabs a Banana and Becomes King of 'Planet of the Apes' |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |first=Brad |last=Miska |date=29 June 2010 |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703045235/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20743 |archive-date=3 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Serkis was acclaimed for his performance as Caesar in 2011, and in a high-profile campaign by 20th Century Fox for him to be honoured with a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, his co-star [[James Franco]] stated: "Andy Serkis is the undisputed master of the newest kind of acting called 'motion capture,' and it is time that Serkis gets credit for the innovative artist that he is."<ref name="acclaim">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/09/james-franco-andy-serkis-oscar |title=James Franco calls for Andy Serkis Oscar recognition for mo-cap turn |last=Child |first=Ben |date=9 January 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=12 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512115228/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/09/james-franco-andy-serkis-oscar |archive-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, Serkis played Monkey, the lead character along with [[Lindsey Shaw]] in the videogame ''[[Enslaved: Odyssey to the West]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Arnott |first=Jack |date=8 November 2010 |title=Andy Serkis on Enslaved and acting in video games |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/nov/08/andy-serkis-enslaved-interview |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 June 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216170719/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/nov/08/andy-serkis-enslaved-interview |archive-date=16 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="varied">{{cite web |last=Chester |first=Nick |date=27 September 2010 |title=Interview: Ninja Theory's Tameem Antoniades on Enslaved |url=https://www.destructoid.com/interview-ninja-theory-s-tameem-antoniades-on-enslaved-184933.phtml |website=[[Destructoid]] |access-date=30 June 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124164157/https://www.destructoid.com/interview-ninja-theory-s-tameem-antoniades-on-enslaved-184933.phtml |archive-date=24 January 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Andy Serkis (13925501886).jpg|thumb|left|Serkis promoting ''[[Dawn of the Planet of the Apes]]'' at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con]]
Serkis would reprise the role of [[Gollum]] in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'', the first film in the three-part ''[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]'' films. It was released in 2012, and the follow-ups were released in 2013 and 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/jan/11/the-hobbit-ian-mckellen-andy-serkis |title=Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis sign up for The Hobbit |date=11 January 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=11 January 2011 |location=London |first=Ben |last=Child |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113213545/http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/jan/11/the-hobbit-ian-mckellen-andy-serkis |archive-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was also the trilogy's second unit director, which included directing aerial shots and battle scenes.<ref name="independent-20121207">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/gollums-precious-moments-andy-serkis-unexpected-journey-from-the-lord-of-the-rings-to-the-hobbit-8390096.html |title=Gollum's precious moments: Andy Serkis's unexpected journey from The Lord of the Rings to The Hobbit |first=James |last=Mottram |newspaper=The Independent |date=7 December 2012 |access-date=7 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209021717/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/gollums-precious-moments-andy-serkis-unexpected-journey-from-the-lord-of-the-rings-to-the-hobbit-8390096.html |archive-date=9 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was invited to join the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] in June 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20120629a.html |title=Academy Invites 176 to Membership |website=The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702000236/http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20120629a.html |archive-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> In 2014, Serkis reprised his role as Caesar in ''[[Dawn of the Planet of the Apes]]'',<ref name=boston_serkis>{{cite news |last1=Burr |first1=Ty |title=Andy Serkis breathes life into 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2014/07/10/andy-serkis-breathes-life-into-dawn-planet-apes/UUx0mDpE63IOXDt3yAmO3L/story.html |date=10 July 2014 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=3 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730033252/http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2014/07/10/andy-serkis-breathes-life-into-dawn-planet-apes/UUx0mDpE63IOXDt3yAmO3L/story.html |archive-date=30 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and again in 2017 for ''[[War for the Planet of the Apes]]'', the last of the trilogy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/movies/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-review.html |title=Review: New 'Planet of the Apes' Makes You Root Against Your Species |first=A. O. |last=Scott |date=12 July 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=14 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214035431/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/movies/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-review.html |archive-date=14 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[Gareth Edwards (filmmaker)|Gareth Edwards]]' 2014 science-fiction monster film ''[[Godzilla (2014 film)|Godzilla]]'', Serkis was the consultant on the film's motion capture sequences to "control the souls" of the creatures.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0S-y6VxlLY |title=Godzilla: Andy Serkis on Mo Cap & Monster's Motives&nbsp;— WonderCon 2014 |author=IGN |website=YouTube |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018215630/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0S-y6VxlLY |archive-date=18 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG_tfx6nghE |title=Godzilla Director on Making the Monster Scary Again&nbsp;— IGN Conversations |author=IGN |website=YouTube |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426012336/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG_tfx6nghE |archive-date=26 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Serkis played [[Klaw (Marvel Comics)|Ulysses Klaue]]<!--DO NOT CHANGE, IT'S THE OFFICIAL NAME FROM THE MOVIE--> in [[Marvel Studios]]' ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'' (2015), and was also a motion capture consultant on the film.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/08/motion-capture-maestro-andy-serkis-on-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-and-revolutionizing-cinema.html |title=Motion Capture Maestro Andy Serkis on 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' and Revolutionizing Cinema |last=Stern |first=Marlow |website=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=14 July 2014 |access-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708124610/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/08/motion-capture-maestro-andy-serkis-on-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-and-revolutionizing-cinema.html |archive-date=8 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> He reprised the role in Marvel Studios' ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' (2018), and provided the voice in the sixth episode of [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel]]'s ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/marvel-what-if-andy-serkis-return-klaw-ulysses-klaue/ |title=Marvel Actor Teases MCU Return In Upcoming Project |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |date=12 July 2021 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=7 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715030302/https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/marvel-what-if-andy-serkis-return-klaw-ulysses-klaue/ |archive-date=15 July 2021}}</ref> He played [[Supreme Leader Snoke]] in ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'' (2015) and reprised the role in ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]'' (2017),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-vii-cast-announced |title=Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Announced |date=29 April 2014 |website=StarWars.com |access-date=11 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207160046/http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-vii-cast-announced |archive-date=7 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]'' (2019). Serkis appeared as the [[Ghost of Christmas Past]] in the 2019 [[BBC]]/[[FX (TV channel)|FX]] three-part miniseries ''[[A Christmas Carol (miniseries)|A Christmas Carol]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/steven-knight-a-christmas-carol-dickens-adaptations-bbc-ridley-scott-tom-hardy-1202215436/|title=Steven Knight To Adapt Charles Dickens Novels For BBC One; Ridley Scott, Tom Hardy Exec Producing|first1=Nancy|last1=Tartaglione|work=Deadline|date=28 November 2017|access-date=4 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509140846/https://deadline.com/2017/11/steven-knight-a-christmas-carol-dickens-adaptations-bbc-ridley-scott-tom-hardy-1202215436/|archive-date=9 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, it was announced that Serkis would play [[Alfred Pennyworth]] in [[The Batman (film)|''The Batman'']] (2022).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/batman-matt-reeves-confirms-alfred-andy-serkis/ |title=Batman Director Confirms Andy Serkis as Alfred |last=Aguilar |first=Matthew |date=13 November 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=10 May 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228220409/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/batman-matt-reeves-confirms-alfred-andy-serkis/ |archive-date=28 February 2021}}</ref>

In late 2015, it was announced that Serkis was working on a modern film adaptation of [[Rumpelstiltskin]], titled ''Steelskin''.<ref name=Steelskin>{{cite web |last1=McHenry |first1=Jackson |title=Andy Serkis Is Making a Movie About Rumpelstiltskin, One of the Few Villainous Creatures Left for Him to Play |url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/andy-serkis-is-directing-a-rumpelstiltskin-movie.html?mid=imdb |date=13 December 2015 |website=[[Vulture.com]] |access-date=14 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216201141/http://www.vulture.com/2015/12/andy-serkis-is-directing-a-rumpelstiltskin-movie.html?mid=imdb |archive-date=16 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to starring in the film, Serkis will serve as producer and director.<ref name=Steelskin/>

Serkis received a [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Fiction Program in 2021 for his role as Mayor of Mistrinaut, the father of his real life daughter [[Ruby Ashbourne Serkis|Ruby]]'s character, in the [[Netflix]] fantasy series ''[[The Letter for the King (TV series)|The Letter for the King]]''.<ref name="emmy"/> Also for Netflix, Serkis is scheduled to star alongside [[Idris Elba]] and [[Cynthia Erivo]] in ''[[Luther: The Fallen Sun]]'', a television film continuation of Elba's series, ''[[Luther (TV series)|Luther]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis Join Idris Elba, Neil Cross in 'Luther' Movie for Netflix (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cynthia-erivo-andy-serkis-join-luther-netflix-movie-1235012996/ |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=13 September 2021 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=13 September 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Serkis returned to the [[Star Wars|''Star Wars'' franchise]] in a different, non-CGI role in the [[Disney+]] television series [[Andor (TV series)|''Andor'']], as [[Kino Loy]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |title=Andor Actor Andy Serkis Discusses Kino Loy's Fate As Fans Hope For Answers In Season 2 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/andor-actor-andy-serkis-discusses-kino-loys-fate-as-fans-hope-for-answers-in-season-2/1100-6513081/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408025817/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/andor-actor-andy-serkis-discusses-kino-loys-fate-as-fans-hope-for-answers-in-season-2/1100-6513081/ |archive-date=8 April 2023 |date=7 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2024 it was revealed that Serkis would star as Renoir in the video game ''[[Clair Obscur: Expedition 33]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editor |first=Ed Nightingale Deputy News |date=16 October 2024 |title=Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 trailer reveals Andy Serkis, Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and more |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/clair-obscur-expedition-33-trailer-reveals-andy-serkis-ben-starr-charlie-cox-and-more |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref> which released on 24 April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editor |first=Ed Nightingale Deputy News |date=23 January 2025 |title=Belle Epoque RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gets April release date |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/belle-epoque-rpg-clair-obscur-expedition-33-gets-april-release-date |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref>

===The Imaginarium Studios===
In 2011, Serkis founded [[The Imaginarium Studios]] with film producer [[Jonathan Cavendish]]. The Imaginarium is a production company and creative digital studio based in [[Ealing]], London and is dedicated to inventing digital characters using performance capture technology, which Serkis has often worked with.<ref name="The Imaginarium">{{cite web |title=Who We Are |url=http://www.theimaginariumstudios.com/who-we-are |website=The Imaginarium Studios |access-date=5 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031092554/http://www.theimaginariumstudios.com/who-we-are |archive-date=31 October 2012}}</ref> On 20 October 2012, the studio acquired rights to ''[[The Bone Season]]'' by [[Samantha Shannon]], and in 2023 was in production with a new [[Animal Farm (2025 film)|motion capture adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm]].

===Directing===
Serkis served as the [[second unit|second unit director]] for ''The Hobbit'' films and made his directorial debut with ''[[Breathe (2017 film)|Breathe]]'' (2017). He also directed and starred in the film, ''[[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Andy Serkis to Direct 'Jungle Book' for Warner Bros. |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/andy-serkis-to-direct-jungle-book-for-warner-bros-1201141202/ |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=20 March 2014 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051739/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/andy-serkis-to-direct-jungle-book-for-warner-bros-1201141202/ |archive-date=22 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2019, Serkis closed a deal to direct the superhero film ''[[Venom: Let There Be Carnage]]'', the sequel to ''[[Venom (2018 film)|Venom]]'' (2018).<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 August 2019|last=Kit|first=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/venom-2-andy-serkis-direct-1228724/|title=Andy Serkis Closes Deal to Direct 'Venom 2' (Exclusive)|access-date=9 May 2019|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> It was released in theatres in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=30 March 2021 |title='Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Release Date Pushed Back A Week |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/venom-let-there-be-carnage-release-date-pushed-back-a-week-1234716867/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331122909/https://deadline.com/2021/03/venom-let-there-be-carnage-release-date-pushed-back-a-week-1234716867/ |archive-date=31 March 2021 |access-date=9 May 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a860043/venom-2-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-spoilers-spider-man-tom-hardy/ |title=Venom 2 Let There be Carnage release date, cast and more |last1=Sandwell |first1=Ian |last2=Geisinger |first2=Gabriella |last3=Armitage |first3=Hugh |date=10 September 2021 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=14 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914121525/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a860043/venom-2-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-spoilers-spider-man-tom-hardy/ |archive-date=14 September 2021}}</ref> In April 2022, he was set to direct ''[[Animal Farm (2025 film)|Animal Farm]]'', an animated adaptation of [[George Orwell]]'s [[Animal Farm|novella of the same name]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/andy-serkis-to-direct-animated-adaptation-of-george-orwells-animal-farm-1235005933/|date=19 April 2022|title=Andy Serkis Directing Animated Adaptation Of George Orwell Classic 'Animal Farm' Penned By Nicholas Stoller|first=Matt|last=Grobar|work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> In May 2024, it was announced that Serkis would direct, executive produce, and star in ''The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'' for [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], a [[working title]] for a new instalment in the ''Lord of the Rings'' film series, with [[Fran Walsh]] and [[Philippa Boyens]] co-writing the screenplay and Jackson co-producing alongside Walsh and Boyens; the film is expected to be released in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=9 May 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/first-film-new-lotr-series-to-be-released-in-2026-warner-bros-1235909812/|title=Andy Serkis To Direct, Star In New 'Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum' Set For 2026 Release – Update|access-date=9 May 2024|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

==Other activities==
Serkis made an appearance in the music video for [[Neneh Cherry]]'s "Woman", portraying an abusive boyfriend, in 1996.<ref>{{Citation|title=Andy Serkis Recalls Miming Dangerously In Neneh Cherry's Music Video For 'Woman' {{!}} PeopleTV| date=31 December 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLHUff7rwaA|language=en|access-date=7 September 2021}}</ref> After portraying Gollum in ''The Lord of the Rings'' series, he published a memoir about his experiences, titled ''Gollum: How We Made Movie Magic'', published in late 2004. In 2015, Serkis collaborated with rock band [[Coldplay]] in the making of the music video for "[[Adventure of a Lifetime]]". The group performed as chimpanzees with Serkis acting as a motion-capture consultant.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6777857/coldplay-monkeys-around-in-adventure-of-a-lifetime-video-watch |title=Coldplay Monkeys Around in 'Adventure of a Lifetime' Video: Watch |first=Mitchell |last=Peters |date=27 November 2015 |website=[[Billboard.com]] |access-date=28 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130024711/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6777857/coldplay-monkeys-around-in-adventure-of-a-lifetime-video-watch |archive-date=30 November 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2018, he appeared in a video for [[People's Vote]] as UK Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] using the voice of Gollum, spoofing May's [[Brexit negotiations|Brexit deal]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1056483/Lord-of-the-Rings-Gollum-Andy-Serkis-Theresa-May-Brexit-deal-vote |title=Andy Serkis reprises Gollum for Theresa May Brexit deal parody |last=Simpson |first=George |date=9 December 2018 |publisher=The Express |access-date=10 December 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210080857/https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1056483/Lord-of-the-Rings-Gollum-Andy-Serkis-Theresa-May-Brexit-deal-vote |archive-date=10 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gollum-star-andy-serkis-releases-13711513 |title=Gollum star Andy Serkis releases hilarious Brexit deal parody of Theresa May |publisher=The Mirror |date=9 December 2018 |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210001055/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gollum-star-andy-serkis-releases-13711513 |archive-date=10 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also appears in the [[BBC Earth]] programme, ''Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors''.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b3ljc3 "Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205092332/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b3ljc3 |date=5 February 2019 }}. BBC. Retrieved 4 February 2019</ref>

Serkis, together with fellow ''Lord of the Rings'' castmates [[Sean Astin]], [[Sean Bean]], [[Orlando Bloom]], [[Billy Boyd (actor)|Billy Boyd]], [[Ian McKellen]], [[Dominic Monaghan]], [[Viggo Mortensen]], [[Miranda Otto]], [[John Rhys-Davies]], [[Liv Tyler]], [[Karl Urban]] and [[Elijah Wood]], plus writer [[Philippa Boyens]] and director [[Peter Jackson]], on 1 May 2020 joined [[Josh Gad]]'s YouTube series ''Reunited Apart,'' which reunites the cast of popular movies through video-conferencing due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and promotes donations to non-profit charities.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Kane |first=Caitlin |date=1 June 2020 |title=Actor Josh Gad reunites stars of "Lord of the Rings" while raising money for kids in need |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-josh-gad-reunites-stars-of-lord-of-the-rings-while-raising-money-for-kids-in-need/ |work=[[CBS News]] |access-date=2 June 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602044117/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-josh-gad-reunites-stars-of-lord-of-the-rings-while-raising-money-for-kids-in-need/ |archive-date=2 June 2020}}</ref>

Serkis and producer [[Andrew Levitas]] are creating a comic book series titled ''Eternus'', about [[Heracles]], the son of [[Zeus]], trying to identify Zeus's killer. The first issue of the series was released on 3 August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/andy-serkis-tackles-greek-mythology-eternus/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Andy Serkis Tackles Greek Mythology With New Series Eternus |last=Blum |first=Jeremy |date=1 July 2022 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=1 July 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220701172127/https://www.cbr.com/andy-serkis-tackles-greek-mythology-eternus/ |archive-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>

===Audiobooks and charity===
During the COVID-19 lockdown, on [[VE Day]], Serkis read the entire book of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' to raise money for [[NHS Charities Together]] and Best Beginnings, a pregnancy charity of which he has been an ambassador. More than 650,000 people tuned in worldwide, and Serkis raised more than £283,000 ($351,000).<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Andy Serkis reads entire Hobbit live online for charity |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52568497 |work=BBC News |date=9 May 2020 |access-date=9 May 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509012803/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52568497 |archive-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> On 2 July 2020, [[HarperCollins]]UK<ref>{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/HarperCollinsUK/status/1278640822892838912 |user=HarperCollinsUK |number=1278640822892838912 |date=2 July 2020 |title=We are delighted to announce the release of a brand-new audiobook of The Hobbit, read by @andyserkis |access-date=2 July 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702104544/https://twitter.com/HarperCollinsUK/status/1278640822892838912 |archive-date=2 July 2020}}</ref> announced that Serkis would professionally narrate ''The Hobbit'' again to be published for [[Audible (service)|Audible]]. The audiobook was released on 3 September 2020 in the UK, published by HarperCollins, and 21 September in the US, published by [[Recorded Books]]. The cover art, by [[Alan Lee (illustrator)|Alan Lee]], was drawn specially for the release.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Serkis, Andy (narrator) |date=2020 |title=The Hobbit |type=Audiobook |language=English |url=https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Hobbit-Audiobook/1705009050 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=978-0008439415}}</ref>

On 7 July 2021, HarperCollinsUK and Recorded Books announced Serkis would follow up his narration of ''The Hobbit'' with a professional recording of all three ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' novels that were released on 16 September.<ref>{{cite web |title=Andy Serkis records Lord of the Rings audiobooks for HarperCollins {{!}} The Bookseller |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/andy-serkis-records-lord-rings-audiobooks-harpercollins-1267526 |last=Bayley |first=Sian |date=7 July 2021 |website=The Bookseller |access-date=9 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190124/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/andy-serkis-records-lord-rings-audiobooks-harpercollins-1267526 |archive-date=9 July 2021}}</ref> The CDs were released on 14 October 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://geektyrant.com/news/andy-serkis-is-narrating-a-new-audiobook-version-of-the-lord-of-the-rings |title=Andy Serkis Is Narrating a New Audiobook Version of THE LORD OF THE RINGS |last=Williams |first=Tommy |date=12 July 2021 |website=GeekTyrant |access-date=12 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, Serkis recorded a new audiobook version of the [[Terry Pratchett]] ''[[Discworld]]'' book ''[[Small Gods]]'' with [[Bill Nighy]] and [[Peter Serafinowicz]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/may/27/small-gods-terry-pratchett-audiobook-review-andy-serkis-bill-nighy-peter-serafinowicz |title=Small Gods by Terry Pratchett audiobook review – terrifically narrated by Andy Serkis |last=Sturgis |first=Fiona |date=27 May 2022 |magazine=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 October 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007222529/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/may/27/small-gods-terry-pratchett-audiobook-review-andy-serkis-bill-nighy-peter-serafinowicz |archive-date=7 October 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne.jpg|thumb|upright|Serkis and his wife Lorraine Ashbourne in 2013]]

Serkis married actress [[Lorraine Ashbourne]] in July 2002. He lives in [[Crouch End]], [[North London]] with Ashbourne and their three children: [[Ruby Ashbourne Serkis|Ruby]] (b. 1998), Sonny (b. 2000) and [[Louis Ashbourne Serkis|Louis]] (b. 2004), all of whom are actors.<ref name="independent-20121207" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ageofthering.com/atthemovies/cast/andyserkis.php |title=Andy Serkis as Gollum and Smeagol |website=AgeoftheRing.com |date=1 May 2011 |access-date=1 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707094323/http://www.ageofthering.com/atthemovies/cast/andyserkis.php |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Louis and Ruby starred in the 2019 film ''[[The Kid Who Would Be King]]'' and the 2020 [[Netflix]] series ''[[The Letter for the King (TV series)|The Letter for the King]]'' respectively. Serkis also starred alongside Ruby, and they played father and daughter.<ref>{{cite news |last=Olsen |first=Mark |date=25 January 2019 |title=Joe Cornish on the Brexit parallels of 'The Kid Who Would be King' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-joe-cornish-the-kid-who-would-be-king-20190125-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=27 January 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126200421/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-joe-cornish-the-kid-who-would-be-king-20190125-story.html |archive-date=26 January 2019}}</ref> Louis also voiced Bhoot in ''[[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]]'', which was directed by and co-starred his father as [[Baloo]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://parade.com/722408/paulettecohn/andy-serkis-on-how-mowgli-legend-of-the-jungle-differs-from-jungle-book-and-why-we-need-both/ |title=Exclusive Video: Andy Serkis and Son Louis Working Together on Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle |last=Cohn |first=Paulette |date=7 December 2018 |website=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]] |access-date=20 December 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207221656/https://parade.com/722408/paulettecohn/andy-serkis-on-how-mowgli-legend-of-the-jungle-differs-from-jungle-book-and-why-we-need-both/ |archive-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>

Although Serkis was raised in the [[Catholic]] faith of his parents, he has been an [[atheist]] since his teenage years,<ref name=beastie/> but has stated the culture of Catholicism is still important to him and his family.<ref name=GuardianMoorhead/>

==Filmography and accolades==
{{Main|Andy Serkis filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Andy Serkis|l2=awards and nominations}}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Directed features
! Year
! Title
! Distribution
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Breathe (2017 film)|Breathe]]''
| [[Bleecker Street (company)|Bleecker Street]]
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]]''
| [[Netflix]]
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Venom: Let There Be Carnage]]''
| [[Sony Pictures Releasing]]
|-
| 2025 
| ''[[Animal Farm (2025 film)|Animal Farm]]''
|TBD
|-
| 2027 
| ''[[The Hunt for Gollum]]''
|[[New Line Cinema]]
|}

==Selected theatre==
* The Porter in ''[[Macbeth]]''. Directed by [[Braham Murray]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester. (1988)
* Tony Lumpkin in ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' by [[Oliver Goldsmith]]. Directed by [[James Maxwell (actor)|James Maxwell]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester. (1990)<ref>{{cite news |title=Just what the doctor ordered |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19900104/107/0021 |url-access=registration |work=[[The Stage]] |date=4 January 1990 |page=21 |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>
* Sean Grogan in ''Your Home in the West'' by Rod Wooden. World premiere directed by [[Braham Murray]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester. (1991)
* Doctor Jan Heart in ''Doctor Heart'' by Peter Muller. English premiere directed by [[Braham Murray]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester. (1991)
* David in ''[[Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love]]'' by [[Brad Fraser]]. Directed by [[Braham Murray]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester. (1995)
* Iago in ''[[Othello]]''. Directed by [[Braham Murray]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester. (2002)<ref>{{cite news |last=Hickling |first=Alfred |date=18 September 2002 |title=Othello |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2002/sep/18/theatre.artsfeatures |work=The Guardian |access-date=9 September 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909202456/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2002/sep/18/theatre.artsfeatures |archive-date=9 September 2014}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Motion-capture acting]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.imaginariumuk.com/ Official website for The Imaginarium Studios]
* {{IMDb name|785227}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090130010723/http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/01/andy-serkis-interview.php Andy Serkis on Inkheart and Tintin at AMCtv.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070227122219/http://numberonestars.com/kingkong/andy_interview.htm Andy Serkis Interview]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061029052944/http://www.spiritlevelfilm.com/trailer/jollyboystrailer.html The Jolly Boys Last Stand]

{{Andy Serkis}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Andy Serkis|Awards for Andy Serkis]]
|list1 =
{{BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award}}
{{Empire Award for Best Actor}}
{{Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo}}
{{San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Serkis, Andy}}
[[Category:Andy Serkis| ]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Haringey]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Hillingdon]]
[[Category:Alumni of County College, Lancaster]]
[[Category:Alumni of Lancaster University]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award]]
[[Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:English atheists]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Iraq]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:English male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:English male Shakespearean actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:English non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:English people of Arab descent]]
[[Category:English people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:English people of Iraqi descent]]
[[Category:English theatre directors]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male motion capture actors]]
[[Category:Method actors]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:People educated at St Benedict's School, Ealing]]
[[Category:People from Baghdad]]
[[Category:People from Crouch End]]
[[Category:People from Ruislip]]
[[Category:Serkis family|Andy]]