Olly Alexander

Oliver Alexander Thornton
Born	(1990-07-15) July 15, 1990 Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, actor, LGBTQ rights advocate
Years active	2008–present
Known for	Frontman of Years & Years; role as Ritchie Tozer in It's a Sin; UK Eurovision entrant 2024

Oliver Alexander Thornton (born 15 July 1990) is an English vocalist, actor, and advocate for LGBTQ rights, who rose to fame as the frontman of the pop group Years & Years. The band secured two chart-topping albums on the UK Albums Chart, a number one single, and five Top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart. From 2021 until their disbandment in 2024, Alexander continued to release music under the band's name. Throughout their tenure, Years & Years earned six nominations at the Brit Awards.

In his acting career, Alexander received widespread praise for portraying Ritchie Tozer in Channel 4's drama It's a Sin (2021). His performance garnered Best Actor nods from the British Academy Television Awards, Critics' Choice Television Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards. Representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, he performed his debut solo single "Dizzy", finishing 18th in the grand final with 46 points. His first solo album, Polari, was released on 7 February 2025.

Early life

Born on 15 July 1990 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Alexander's mother, Vicki Thornton, was a co-founder of the Coleford Music Festival. He attended St John's Primary School in Coleford and later studied at Monmouth Comprehensive School, where he participated in school productions such as Guys and Dolls and The Caucasian Chalk Circle. After completing his GCSEs, he pursued Performing Arts at the Hereford College of Arts. According to The New York Times, he composed his first song on his father's Casio keyboard at age ten. Following his parents’ separation when he was thirteen, Alexander and his brother Ben were raised by their mother.

At sixteen, while auditioning for the British television series Skins, Alexander secured representation. He left Hereford College of Arts to focus on acting opportunities abroad, describing this as an "amazing" chance. Although initially aiming to be a singer or musician, acting soon became a major component of his career. He has noted that drama classes offered a safe haven during periods of bullying at school. During adolescence, Alexander also faced challenges with bulimia.

Acting career

In 2008, Alexander featured in CBBC's Summerhill, a series centered on the progressive Summerhill School in Suffolk; the show received three nominations at the children's BAFTA awards. His film debut came with Bright Star, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Achievement in Costume Design. He appeared in the 2009 films Tormented and Enter the Void. In 2010, he portrayed Evan in The Aliens at the Bush Theatre. Additionally, he contributed to both scriptwriting and music for the independent film The Dish & the Spoon, released in early 2011. In 2012, Alexander took on the role of Naz in Mercury Fur at The Old Red Lion, Islington.

Between March and June 2013, he played Peter Pan in the West End production Peter and Alice, sharing the stage with Ben Whishaw and Judi Dench. He also had a supporting role during the final season of Skins, portraying Cassie’s stalker in "Skins Pure". That same year, he appeared in an internal corporate video for Google Analytics, playing a demanding customer.

Alexander featured in The Riot Club alongside British actors such as Sam Claflin, Max Irons, and Douglas Booth. In 2014, he briefly portrayed vampire Fenton in the British-American horror series Penny Dreadful. He starred as Titty, a troubled teen, in the independent film Funny Bunny (SXSW 2015), co-writing it with director Alison Bagnall and fellow leads; it was released theatrically on 13 November 2015.

In January 2021, Alexander assumed a leading role in Channel 4 and HBO Max’s drama It's a Sin, which explores gay life during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. Both the series and his portrayal received critical acclaim with strong calls for him to win a BAFTA. In 2024, he made a guest appearance as himself on BBC’s soap opera EastEnders, broadcast on 2 May.

Music career

Years & Years came into existence in 2010 when Mikey Goldsworthy relocated to London and connected with Noel Leeman and Emre Türkmen via the internet. Alexander joined subsequently as the lead singer after Goldsworthy recognized his vocal talent. Initially a five-member ensemble including Leeman and Olivier Subria, they released their first single, "I Wish I Knew," in July 2012. Following the departures of Leeman and Subria in 2013, the band continued as a trio.

In 2013, Years & Years secured a contract with the French label Kitsuné and unveiled "Traps," which received airplay on Radio 1 and Radio 6, along with favorable reviews from outlets such as The Guardian and The Fader. This track was also featured on Kitsuné Maison's 15th compilation album. Their follow-up single "Real" came out in February 2014, accompanied by a music video starring actors Ben Whishaw and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. By that year, the group transitioned from Kitsuné to Polydor Records as their prominence expanded. In January 2015, they were honored with BBC's Sound of 2015 award.

Their sixth single, "King," premiered on BBC Radio 1 in January 2015 as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record. Upon its March release, it climbed to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and charted internationally across Australia, various European countries, and Ireland. The band earned a nomination for the Critics' Choice Award at the 2015 BRIT Awards. Their debut album, Communion, was launched in July 2015 and debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.

The sophomore album, Palo Santo, released on 6 July 2018, generated five singles including UK Top 10 hits "If You're Over Me" and "Play." The accompanying Palo Santo Tour covered nineteen countries and featured their inaugural UK arena concerts. In September 2018, the video for "All For You" highlighted Alexander’s energetic stage presence. Collaborations included a feature on Pet Shop Boys’ 2019 single "Dreamland," followed by a cover of their classic "It’s a Sin," linked to Alexander’s acting role in the namesake television series.

On 18 March 2021, Years & Years evolved into Alexander’s solo endeavor—a transition he described as challenging yet amicable. His third studio album under the Years & Years banner, Night Call (2022), received critical acclaim and entered the UK Top 3 upon release. In December 2023, Alexander was announced as the United Kingdom’s entrant for Eurovision Song Contest 2024, releasing his debut solo single "Dizzy" in March 2024. He performed "Dizzy" during Eurovision’s initial semi-final; ultimately, the UK finished in 18th place overall.

Alexander’s inaugural solo album, Polari, was released on 7 February 2025. Singles such as "Cupid’s Bow" (October 2024), "Polari," "Archangel," and "When We Kiss" (January 2025) were each accompanied by music videos. On 21 March 2025, he publicly declared his exit from longtime label Polydor Records.

Advocacy, politics and personal life

Alexander has been a vocal advocate for safer sex practices and HIV testing, promoting these causes through interviews and charitable efforts while also supporting campaigns against LGBTQ bullying. He has openly shared his experiences with depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and anxiety dating back to age thirteen. As an openly gay man, Alexander presented a BBC Three documentary in 2017 examining the intersection of homosexuality and mental health conditions, candidly discussing his battle with bulimia. In 2018, he took part in Sport Relief’s mental health awareness campaign alongside figures such as Nadiya Hussain and Stephen Fry.

Politically, Alexander identifies as a committed left-wing supporter and expressed admiration for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2016. He briefly dated musician Neil Milan Amin-Smith from Clean Bandit in 2015. During Years & Years’ performance at Glastonbury Festival in 2016, they donned rainbow-themed attire to celebrate PRIDE Week; Alexander delivered a poignant speech addressing discrimination following the Orlando nightclub shooting.

As a gay songwriter, Alexander champions increased use of male pronouns in lyrics to reflect his identity; several Years & Years tracks incorporate male pronouns intentionally to represent his perspective rather than speak for all gay individuals.

In September 2018, Alexander received GQ’s "Live Act Of The Year" award where he advocated for LGBTQ rights alongside raising awareness about men’s mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month. That same month he participated in “The Flag We Shouldn’t Be Proud Of” campaign for World Suicide Prevention Day that highlighted suicide risks within LGBTQ communities.

In an October 2018 interview with British GQ conducted by Alastair Campbell, Alexander discussed his mental health challenges, encounters with homophobia throughout that year, opposition to Brexit (having voted Remain), support for Corbyn as Prime Minister candidate, and criticism of Donald Trump’s policies. During their Glastonbury set in 2019, he delivered an impassioned speech calling for LGBTQ equality while urging an end to racism, ableism, and sexism—earning widespread acclaim.

Amidst the Israel–Hamas conflict, Alexander signed an open letter issued by LGBTQ group Voices4London accusing Israel of apartheid and genocide against Palestinians. This action drew criticism from Israeli officials and the Campaign Against Antisemitism who petitioned the BBC to bar his Eurovision performance; however, the BBC declined intervention citing his non-journalistic role. In March 2024, Alexander dismissed calls for a Eurovision boycott related to Israel’s participation.

Accomplishments

In June 2020, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the inaugural LGBTQ pride parade, Queerty honored him as one of 50 influential figures promoting equality, respect, and inclusion across the country. Later that year, in November 2020, he was awarded the LGBT Celebrity of the Year at the British LGBT Awards.

His portrayal in the lead role of It's a Sin garnered him nominations for both the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television and the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

In 2024, he was bestowed with a gold Blue Peter badge in recognition of his contributions to music. That same year, he achieved a Guinness World Record by catching 27 objects within one minute while spinning on a chair, an act inspired by his Eurovision performance of "Dizzy".

Studio albums

Catalogue of studio albums with key information

Album	Information	Highest chart rankings
		UK	SCO
Polari	Release date: 7 February 2025 Record label: Polydor Available formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming	17	6

Compilation albums

Album	Details
Odyssey	Released on: 3 May 2024 Label: Polydor Formats offered: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Catalogue of singles

Single title	Year released	Peak chart placements				Associated album
		UK	LTU	NZ Hot	SWE Heat.
"Dizzy"	2024	42	12	—	1	Polari
"Cupid's Bow"		—	—	—	—
"Archangel"		—	—	—	—
"When We Kiss"	2025	—	—	—	—
"Whisper in the Waves"		—	—	—	—
"Desire" (feat. Ian Asher)		—	—	27	—	Template:Non-album single
The symbol "—" indicates that the single either did not chart or was not released in that region.

Promotional singles

Title	Year	Album
"Kite" (featuring Benjamin Ingrosso)	2024	Template:Non-album singles
"Desire" (collaboration with Jaxomy)
"Polari"		Polari

Film

Year	Film	Character
2009	Bright Star	Tom Keats
	Tormented	Jason Banks
	Enter the Void	Victor
	Dust	Elias
2010	The Fades	Himself
	Gulliver's Travels	Prince August
	The Dish & the Spoon	Boy
2012	Cheerful Weather for the Wedding	Tom
	Great Expectations	Herbert Pocket
2013	Le Week-End	Michael
2014	God Help the Girl	James
	The Riot Club	Toby Maitland
2015	Funny Bunny	Titty

Television

Year	Series	Role	Details
2008	Summerhill	Ned	Principal role (4 episodes)
2009	Lewis	Hayden Wishart	Episode: "Allegory of Love"
2013	Skins	Jakob	"Skins Pure (Parts 1 & 2)"
2014	Penny Dreadful	Fenton	Appeared in two episodes: "Resurrection" and "Demimonde"
2017	Growing Up Gay	Presenter	Documentary feature
2019, 2021	Celebrity Gogglebox	Himself	Participated in six episodes
2021	It's a Sin	Ritchie Tozer	Lead role across five episodes
	Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway	Himself	Guest announcer on Series 17
2022	RuPaul's Drag Race UK		Guest judge on Series 4
2024	EastEnders		Guest appearance in one episode
	Eurovision Song Contest 2024		Contestant participant

Theatre

Year	Production	Venue
September–October 2010	The Aliens	Bush Theatre
March–April 2012	Mercury Fur	Old Red Lion Theatre
March–June 2013	Peter and Alice	Noël Coward Theatre
September 2025–January 2026	The Importance of Being Earnest	Noël Coward Theatre

Corporate video

Year	Title	Role Portrayed
2013	Google Analytics in Real Life Site Search	Demanding Shopper

Tours

• Up Close and Polari (2025)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Outcome	Reference
2022	TV Choice Awards	Best Actor	It's a Sin	Template:Nom
	National Television Awards	Drama Performance		Template:Nom
	Critics' Choice Awards	Best Actor in a Limited Series		Template:Nom
	Independent Spirit Awards	Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series		Template:Nom
	BPG Awards	Best Actor		Template:Nom
		Breakthrough Award		Template:Nom
	RTS Programme Awards	Best Actor (Male)		Template:Nom
	British Academy Television Awards	Best Actor		Template:Nominated