Joe Alwyn’s childhood antics were the stuff of neighborhood legend, though not always in the most flattering way! The 33-year-old actor, known for his riveting performance in The Brutalist, recently shared a hilarious and slightly nerve-wracking story from his early years on The Drew Barrymore Show. And let’s just say, young Joe had a knack for stirring up some drama.
When Drew asked him to recall the funniest thing someone had ever yelled at him, Joe dived into a tale that’s as entertaining as it is cringe-worthy. He began by reminiscing about an 8-year-old version of himself who thought it would be hilarious to prank his neighbors. “I came up with this brilliant idea to write prank letters,” he said, laughing at the memory. But here’s the kicker — these weren’t your run-of-the-mill joke notes. No, they were “threatening-pranky,” complete with fake blood from a toy store.
Alwyn and his older brother, in full mischief mode, spent an afternoon stuffing these creepy letters into their neighbors’ mailboxes. With their prank “successfully” executed, Joe thought it was a job well done. “Prank done, achieved! Great!” he joked.
But things took a dramatic turn when one concerned neighbor found the letter and promptly called Joe’s parents. What followed was nothing short of neighborhood chaos. “The entire street was in an uproar—crying, screaming, panicking,” Joe recalled, clearly amused by how things escalated. “Understandably, they called the police. And Scotland Yard was on its way!”
Yes, you read that right. Scotland Yard. The prank spiraled so out of control that police cars arrived to investigate what must have seemed like the crime of the century. Joe, now realizing the gravity of the situation, thought, This is it. I’m going to jail.
“About three policemen came into the house,” he shared, reliving the moment. “We had to confess to our crime. They stood over me and my brother, and because he’s 18 months older, he took the brunt of it.” The actor, with a grin, added, “I don’t even remember what they yelled, but they yelled!”
Talk about childhood pranks gone wrong!
Shifting gears to Joe’s career, it’s clear he’s come a long way from those prankster days. Earlier this week, he made his late-night talk show debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers to promote his new film The Brutalist. The movie features Joe as Harrison Lee Van Buren, the privileged son of a wealthy industrialist, alongside a stellar cast that includes Adrien Brody as a Hungarian Jewish architect and Guy Pearce.
Seth Meyers, 51, couldn’t help but praise Joe’s performance, describing it as captivating and nuanced. When asked how he felt about his first late-night appearance, Joe’s cheeky sense of humor shone through. “Awful,” he quipped, earning laughs from the audience before quickly clarifying, “No, it’s great. I’m joking.”
This lighthearted, down-to-earth charm is part of what makes Joe so relatable, despite his fame. Over the years, he’s been notoriously private about his personal life, especially his high-profile six-year relationship with Taylor Swift. Following their breakup, a source told PEOPLE that Joe was doing well and focusing on work, splitting his time between London and New York City.
When it comes to handling the pressures of fame, Joe takes a grounded approach. In a recent interview with The Guardian, he shared that his focus remains on what truly matters. “I try to focus on the things that are meaningful for me: friends, family, work, of course,” he said.
Joe Alwyn may have started his journey as a mischievous prankster, but he’s grown into a talented actor with an ability to balance humor, humility, and depth in both his personal and professional life. From pulling pranks that brought police to his doorstep to captivating audiences in critically acclaimed films, Joe’s story is anything but ordinary.
It’s no wonder he’s winning hearts both on and off the screen. Whether it’s his hilarious childhood memories or his compelling performances, Joe Alwyn knows how to keep people talking—and laughing.
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