Skandar Keynes was born on 5 September 1991 in London, United Kingdom. His father, Randal Keynes, is a noted author and conservationist, while his mother, Zelfa Hourani, comes from a prominent Middle Eastern family. Skandar has one older sister, Soumaya Anne Keynes, an economist and former child actress.
His paternal lineage is English, and on his mother's side, he is of Lebanese and Turkish descent. Skandar's grandfather, Richard Keynes, was a professor at the University of Cambridge. His great-grandparents, Edgar Adrian and Hester Adrian, were distinguished scientists; Edgar Adrian was a Nobel Prize-winning physiologist. On the maternal side, his grandparents served as advisors to former Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba and were renowned for their work as historians and classicists. With such a distinguished heritage, Skandar grew up in an environment deeply rooted in academia, science, and political history, fostering his early interest in the humanities.
Skandar attended the Anna Scher Theatre School in London, where he took acting classes during his childhood. For his secondary education, he enrolled at the City of London School. While in high school, he developed a passion for performance, participating in various school productions and private events. Additionally, he gained experience as a film critic, contributing to The Citizen newspaper during his teenage years. His upbringing in a historically rich environment further influenced his curiosity in history and world affairs.
Skandar Keynes began his acting career in earnest when he was cast as Edmund Pevensie in the film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s novel, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). Although he had also auditioned for the lead role in Nanny McPhee, the part ultimately went to Thomas Brodie-Sangster.
During the filming of his debut movie, Keynes experienced a voice change due to puberty. As a workaround, parts of his dialogue were re-recorded by his sister, Soumaya, whose voice closely resembled his at the time. This solution was effectively executed, as audiences did not notice the substitution.
Following the success of the first Narnia film, Skandar reprised his role as Edmund Pevensie in the sequels Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). During the filming of Prince Caspian, he sustained an injury while performing a fight scene. Despite the discomfort, Keynes completed the scene, which was later commended for its authenticity and intensity.
In interviews, Skandar has expressed that he identifies as an atheist, stating that he does not adhere to any religion or belief system. After completing work on the Narnia trilogy, Skandar stepped away from acting to pursue other interests.
| Birth Date: | 5 Sep, 1991 |
| Age: | 28 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Film actor Stage actor Politician |
| Citizenship: | United Kingdom |
| Birth Place: | London Borough of Camden |
| Education: | Pembroke College Anna Scher Theatre City of London School |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | British actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 4 million |
