Brit A-lister's early role in 'fun and cheesy' noughties rom-com before Marvel fame

Daily Mirror

22-07-2025

British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has come a long way since his first big screen appearance in 2003, but it was his role in a 2008 film that made him a teen heartthrob
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has certainly come a long way since his early acting days, having graced the screen in a variety of genres and even stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But before all the glitz and glamour, there was a role that set the stage for his future stardom.
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At just 35-years-old, Aaron made his cinematic debut as a child actor in the 2003 film Shanghai Knights, followed by a role in The Illusionist in 2006. Yet, it was at the tender age of 17 that an unrecognised Johnson truly made his mark, capturing the hearts of young viewers throughout the UK as a teenage heartthrob.
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The 2008 teen flick Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, based on Louise Rennison's series of young adult novels, showcased Aaron Taylor-Johnson's burgeoning talent before he hit the Hollywood big time. The film follows the cringe-worthy yet endearing life of 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson, portrayed by Georgia Groome, as she deals with the ups and downs of adolescence in Eastbourne.
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Audiences are hooked by the authentic portrayal of teenage woes, from friendship dramas to what Georgia dubs 'boy stalking' in the movie, along with her comical attempts to grasp the complexities of growing up. One aspect consistently highlighted in Rotten Tomatoes reviews is the abundance of unforgettable quips scattered throughout the movie.
A candid review states: "Fun and cheesy in all the right ways! A favourite when I was a teenager and still a source of quotable one-liners for me today. Not an entirely serious film but definitely something fun to watch every now and again."
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Taylor-Johnson's character, Robbie, is the new kid on the block, dealing with his parent's fresh split and helping out at the family's greengrocer's, reports the Express. Yet, it's the strum of the bass guitar that truly gets his heart racing, as he jams with his band, the Stiff Dylans. Their track, Ultraviolet, still resonates with fans, featuring in a swoon-worthy moment in the movie. Critics have praised the film, saying: "Charming, amusing and a great teen watch, this one always has me coming back, perhaps for nostalgia's sake."
Despite its reliance on well-worn tropes, many viewers feel the film nails the teenage girl experience. One sentimental fan remarked: "It may seem silly and immature at some points, a little too slapdash for most, but this is the exact portrayal of what a common British teenage girl's life is like."
This flick was the springboard for Johnson's career-defining role as John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, where his stellar performance snagged him the Empire Award for Best Newcomer and led him to meet his now-wife, director Sam Taylor-Wood.
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Fast forward to today, and Johnson is a hot property in Tinseltown, taking on roles worlds apart from the indie Brit rom-com that put him on the map.
In 2020, he graced the big screen in Christopher Nolan's film Tenet and later starred in the 2022 blockbuster Bullet Train, before taking on another Marvel character. Most recently, the actor made waves in the horror flick Nosferatu, which garnered significant buzz, and 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle's follow-up to his 2002 hit 28 Days Later.