Sam Taylor-Johnson Biography: Husband, Age, Children, Net Worth, Parents, Height, Movies

Biography

Sam Taylor-Johnson (born Samantha Louise Taylor-Wood, 4 March 1967) is a gifted British filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist.

A key figure in the Young British Artists movement, she gained prominence in the 1990s with works like the video David (2001), featuring David Beckham sleeping.

Her photography often explores celebrity, vulnerability, and mortality, including the series Crying Men (2002–2004). She transitioned to directing with the acclaimed short Love You More (2008) and the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (2009).

Her 2015 adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey became a global box office phenomenon. Later films include A Million Little Pieces (2018) and Back to Black (2024), a biopic of Amy Winehouse.

Taylor-Johnson has exhibited at the Venice Biennale and Tate Modern. She was appointed OBE in 2011 and has four daughters: two with art dealer Jay Jopling (m. 1997–2008) and two with actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson (m. 2012).

British filmmaker
Sam Taylor-Johnson
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Samantha Louise Taylor-Wood
Stage Name:	Sam Taylor-Johnson
Born:	4 March 1967 (age 58 years old)
Place of Birth:	Croydon, London, England, United Kingdom
Nationality:	British
Education:	Beacon Community College, University of London
Height:	1.65 m
Parents:	David Taylor, Geraldine Taylor
Siblings:	Kristian Taylor-Wood, Ashley Taylor
Spouse:	Aaron Taylor-Johnson (m. 2012), Jay Jopling (m. 1997–2008)
Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Angelica Mara Jopling, Jessie Phoenix Jopling, Romy Hero Taylor-Johnson, Wylda Rae Taylor-Johnson
Occupation:	Filmmaker • Photographer
Net Worth:	$25 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Sam Taylor-Johnson, born Samantha Louise Taylor-Wood, entered the world on 4 March 1967 in Croydon, London, England.

Of English and Welsh ethnicity, she grew up in a bohemian household shaped by her mother’s influence, as a Christian.

Her parents were David Taylor-Wood, her father, who departed the family when she was nine, and Geraldine Taylor, her mother, a yoga teacher and astrologer who fostered a creative, alternative environment.

Taylor-Johnson has a younger sister, Ashley Taylor, and a maternal half-brother, Kristian Taylor-Wood, reflecting a close-knit yet evolving family dynamic amid her parents’ separation.

For her education, she attended Beacon Community College in East Sussex before pursuing fine arts at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she immersed herself in the vibrant Young British Artists scene that would define her early career.

This formative period in the late 1980s and early 1990s honed her talents in photography and video, blending personal vulnerability with cultural commentary.

Career

Sam Taylor-Johnson is a British artist and filmmaker who rose to prominence in the early 1990s as part of the Young British Artists (YBA) movement. A graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London (1990), she began her career at London’s Chisenhale Gallery, where she started creating thought-provoking photographs and video works that explored themes of identity, fame, and emotional vulnerability.

Her breakthrough came with video installations such as Killing Time (1994) and Pent-Up (1996), which combined domestic drama with operatic soundtracks. By 1997, she had earned a nomination for the Turner Prize, confirming her place among Britain’s leading contemporary artists.

In 2001, her 16mm film David, featuring footballer David Beckham asleep, merged pop culture with intimate portraiture. Another notable series, Crying Men (2002–2004), captured Hollywood icons like Robin Williams, Paul Newman, and Sean Penn in moments of visible emotion, challenging traditional ideas of masculinity.

Taylor-Johnson’s personal battles with colon cancer in 1997 and breast cancer in 2000 deeply influenced her art. Works such as Soliloquy I (1998) and Self-Portrait in Single-Breasted Suit with Hare (2001) reflected her confrontation with mortality and resilience. She represented Britain at the 2001 Venice Biennale and held major solo exhibitions at the Hayward Gallery (2002) and Tate Modern (2006).

Her transition into film began with the short Love You More (2008), written by Patrick Marber, which earned a BAFTA nomination. Her first feature, Nowhere Boy (2009), a biopic about the young John Lennon, received critical acclaim and won the BIFA for Best British Independent Film. She reached global audiences with Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), a film that grossed over $570 million worldwide and demonstrated her skill in adapting complex, intimate stories for mainstream cinema.

Taylor-Johnson went on to co-write and co-direct A Million Little Pieces (2018) with her husband, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and later directed Back to Black (2024), the Amy Winehouse biopic praised for its authentic portrayal of 1960s Camden. Beyond film, she has directed music videos for artists like Elton John and The Weeknd, as well as commercials for major brands including Dior and Sky.

Alongside her filmmaking career, Taylor-Johnson continues to exhibit her photography and video installations at leading galleries such as White Cube and Gagosian. Honored with an OBE in 2011 for her contributions to the arts, she remains a powerful creative force, exploring themes of fame, intimacy, strength, and survival across both art and film.

Social Media

• Facebook: Sam Taylor-Johnson
• Wikipedia: Sam Taylor-Johnson
• IMDb: Sam Taylor-Johnson
• Instagram: Sam Taylor-Johnson (@samtaylorjohnson)

Personal Life

Sam Taylor-Johnson is 58 years old, having been born on March 4, 1967.

Her current husband is actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, whom she married in June 2012 in Somerset, England. The couple, who share a 23-year age gap, first met in 2008 on the set of her directorial debut Nowhere Boy, where Aaron, then 18, starred as a young John Lennon.

They became engaged in 2009 and have since maintained a high-profile yet private partnership, often collaborating professionally.

Taylor-Johnson has had two marriages. Her first was to British art dealer Jay Jopling in 1997; the couple divorced in 2008 after 11 years together. She has spoken of the split as amicable, influenced by her health struggles and personal growth.

The director has four daughters in total. From her marriage to Jopling, she shares Angelica Mara Jopling (born April 1997) and Jessie Phoenix Jopling (born September 2006). With Aaron, they welcomed Wylda Rae Taylor-Johnson in July 2010 and Romy Hero Taylor-Johnson in January 2012.

Taylor-Johnson has described family as her anchor, with Aaron embracing his role as stepfather to her older daughters from a young age. At 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters) tall, Taylor-Johnson possesses an average stature that complements her poised, artistic presence in both creative and social circles.

Her dating history is relatively low-key and centred on long-term commitments, with no major public relationships documented before her marriage to Jopling. Post-divorce, her romance with Aaron has been her sole notable partnership, evolving from professional collaboration to an enduring union marked by mutual artistic support and family expansion.

Net Worth

Sam Taylor-Johnson‘s net worth is estimated at $25 million, derived primarily from her multifaceted career as a filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist.

This figure reflects earnings from blockbuster films like Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), which grossed over $570 million worldwide, alongside sales of her acclaimed artworks, music videos, and commercials for brands like Dior.

Some sources vary slightly, citing $20–$32 million, often including combined assets with her husband, actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, such as properties in London and Los Angeles. Her wealth underscores her influence in the Young British Artists movement and Hollywood transitions.

Fine Art (Selected)

Photography & Installations

• Brontosaurus (1993) – Video installation
• Killing Time (1994) – 4-screen video
• Pent-Up (1996) – 5-screen video
• Travesty of a Mockery (1996) – Video
• Soliloquy I (1998) – Panoramic self-portrait with hare
• Third Party (1999) – 7-screen video with Kate Moss
• David (2001) – 16mm film portrait of David Beckham sleeping
• Crying Men (2002–2004) – Photographic series (Robin Williams, Paul Newman, Sean Penn, etc.)
• Self-Portrait in Single-Breasted Suit with Hare (2001)
• Bram Stoker’s Chair (2003–2005) – Series
• Strings (2007) – Suspended violin series
• Ghosts (2009) – Eerie domestic interiors
• A Little Death (2010) – Still life with decaying fruit

Major Exhibitions

• Venice Biennale (2001) – Represented Britain
• Hayward Gallery, London (2002) – Sam Taylor-Wood
• Tate Modern, London (2006) – Mid-career retrospective
• White Cube, London (multiple solo shows)
• Gagosian Gallery, global (2010s–2020s)

Movies & TV Shows (Director)

Feature Films

1. Nowhere Boy (2009) – John Lennon biopic
2. BIFA Best British Independent Film
3. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) – Erotic drama
4. Worldwide gross: $570M+
5. A Million Little Pieces (2018) – Addiction drama (co-directed with Aaron Taylor-Johnson)
6. Back to Black (2024) – Amy Winehouse biopic

Short Films

• Misfit (1996)
• Love You More (2008) – Script by Patrick Marber
• BAFTA-nominated

TV & Documentary

• Gypsy Caravan (2006) – Documentary (co-director)

Music Videos (Director)

• Elton John – I Want Love (2001, starring Robert Downey Jr.)
• Pet Shop Boys – I’m with Stupid (2006)
• The Weeknd – Earned It (2015, Fifty Shades soundtrack)
• James Blunt – You’re Beautiful (2005, uncredited elements)
• R.E.M. – Imitation of Life (2001, concept)

Commercials & Fashion

• Dior Homme (2010s) – Campaign films
• Sky Arts – Idents & promos
• H&M – Holiday campaigns

Books & Publications

• Sam Taylor-Wood: Birth of a Clown (2002)
• Crying Men (2004)
• Still Lives (2006)
• Contact (2014) – Monograph

Awards & Honors

• Turner Prize shortlist (1997)
• OBE (2011) – Services to the arts
• BAFTA nomination – Love You More (2009)
• BIFA – Best Director nominee (Nowhere Boy)