5th May 1983

Superman is born in Jersey

Actor Henry Cavill, who went on to play Superman in various film adaptations, was born in Jersey on 5 May 1983. He first appeared in the role made famous by Christopher Reeve in the 2013 release Man of Steel, reprised it three years later in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and played the superhero for a third time the following year in Justice League.

Cavill has also appeared in a variety of television series, including Midsomer Murders (starring former Bergerac actor John Nettles), The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and The Tudors.

Almost Bond

He had some near misses on the road to super-stardom. He and Daniel Craig were the final two contenders to take over James Bond from Pierce Brosnan. He was a fan favourite to play Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire and he was said to be Twilight author Stephenie Meyer’s favourite to play Edward Cullen in the film of the book series, although both roles ultimately went to other actors. So did the lead in Superman Returns, which had originally been intended as Cavill’s debut in the role.

In 2015, he starred in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and, in 2018, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, in the latter opposite Tom Cruise.