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Alfie Williams: The Heart of 28 Years Later

Alfie Williams


Some actors spend years building a career before getting the role that makes people notice them. Alfie Williams had a rather different beginning.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2011, Williams began acting at a very young age, following in the footsteps of his father, actor Alfie Dobson. Before landing the role that would change his career, he had appeared in projects including Phallacy, His Dark Materials and A New Breed of Criminal.

Then came 28 Years Later.

For his feature-film debut, Williams wasn't given a small supporting role. He was cast as Spike, the young protagonist at the center of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's return to the world of 28 Days Later.

And suddenly, a very young newcomer had to carry a major horror film.

Becoming Spike

Spike is a difficult character to play because so much of his story depends on watching him grow.

He has been raised in an isolated community where survival is part of everyday life. His father teaches him how to deal with danger, while his mother tries to protect his childhood for as long as possible.

When Spike finally ventures onto the mainland, he is forced to confront a world that is much more frightening than the one he knows.

That makes his performance particularly important. The audience needs to believe that Spike is still a child while also believing he can survive in an adult world.

Williams manages to capture that balance.

There is innocence in Spike, but there is also curiosity, determination and a growing understanding that nobody can protect him forever.

A Remarkable First Feature

Williams was working alongside actors such as Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes, while being directed by Danny Boyle.

That could be intimidating for an established actor, let alone someone making his feature-film debut.

Williams has spoken about being nervous before the film's release, particularly about audiences judging his performance. During filming, however, he said he didn't feel the same pressure because he was focused on the work. He also joked that you don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of Ralph Fiennes.

Spike's Story Continues

Williams returned as Spike in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland.

The sequel changes Spike's situation considerably. After his experiences in the first film, he is no longer simply the sheltered child learning about the mainland. He has been changed by what happened to him.

Williams described Spike's journey as moving from becoming stronger in the first film to finding himself vulnerable again in the second.

That development is important because Spike was always more than just another survivor.

He was the character through whom we experienced this world.

And as he grows, the audience gets to discover what surviving this world actually does to a person.

A Career Just Beginning

It is difficult to say where Alfie Williams' career will go because it has barely started.

But that is also what makes his story interesting.

His first major role placed him at the center of one of modern horror's most recognizable franchises. He had to work alongside some of Britain's most established actors and carry a character whose entire story depends on growing from a child into a survivor.

Eventually, he will leave Spike behind and build an identity of his own.


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