Dominic Anthony Sherwood Bio
Dominic Anthony Sherwood is an English actor and model born on 6 February 1990 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. He began his professional career in 2010 and has since become known for his work across fantasy, horror, and drama genres in both film and television. Sherwood is best recognized for his portrayal of Christian Ozera in Vampire Academy, Jace Wayland in the Freeform series Shadowhunters, Kurt in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and Jeff Murphy in the Netflix drama Partner Track. He has also built a presence as a model and continues to expand his portfolio across film and television projects.
In addition to his screen work, Sherwood co-hosts the Shadowhunters rewatch podcast Return to the Shadows alongside his former co-star Katherine McNamara. He possesses sectoral heterochromia, a distinctive trait in which one of his eyes is entirely blue while the other is half blue and half brown. This unique feature has contributed to his recognition among fans and within the entertainment industry. Sherwood maintains an active presence in acting and modeling, with a career spanning from 2010 to the present day.
Early Life and Background
Dominic Anthony Sherwood was born in Tunbridge Wells, a town in Kent, England, on 6 February 1990. He spent his formative years in the Kent region, attending Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone for his secondary education. Growing up in the southeastern part of England, Sherwood was exposed to the performing arts during his school years, which laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in drama and theatre.
After completing his secondary education at Oakwood Park Grammar School, Sherwood pursued studies in drama and theatre in Maidstone and Sevenoaks. His dedication to the craft led him to leave England to work abroad, beginning in Kenya where he spent six months before relocating to London. This international experience and willingness to explore opportunities outside his home country reflected a determination that would serve him well in the competitive entertainment industry. His background in theatrical study provided him with a strong foundation in performance techniques before he transitioned to on-camera work.
Path to Actor and Model
Sherwood’s early interest in drama and theatre naturally guided him toward professional acting. After his formal studies in Maidstone and Sevenoaks and his time working abroad in Kenya and London, he began pursuing acting as a full-time career. The combination of his academic training in performance and his lived experience across different cultures and environments contributed to a versatile approach to character work that would later distinguish his performances.
His decision to move to London placed him at the center of the United Kingdom’s entertainment industry, providing access to casting opportunities, networking, and the professional resources necessary to launch a career in film and television. Sherwood’s early commitment to developing his craft through structured drama education, followed by practical experience abroad, created a well-rounded foundation that supported his transition into professional acting roles starting in 2010.
Dominic Anthony Sherwood Career
Early Career (2010–2013)
Dominic Anthony Sherwood launched his professional acting career in 2010 with his first credited role as Jack Simmons in the third season of the British television series The Cut. This early television appearance marked his entry into the industry and provided him with valuable on-set experience. The following year, in 2011, he expanded his television work with a guest appearance as a waiter named Tom in the episode Cherylistic of the children’s series Sadie J. In 2012, Sherwood took on a notable supporting role in the drama film Not Fade Away, portraying a young Mick Jagger. This role placed him alongside established actors and introduced him to a broader film audience, signaling his transition from small-screen appearances to feature film work.
Breakthrough (2014–2019)
Sherwood achieved his first major breakthrough in 2014 when he was cast as Christian Ozera in the satirical horror film Vampire Academy, based on the novel by Richelle Mead. This teen vampire film provided him with a high-profile role in a major studio production and introduced him to a global audience. The film’s fantasy and horror elements aligned with his theatrical background and allowed him to showcase a charismatic on-screen presence that would become his signature style. In February 2015, Sherwood gained widespread visibility beyond the film itself when he appeared in Taylor Swift’s music video for her single Style, directed by Kyle Newman. The music video received significant airplay and online attention, substantially raising his public profile.
Later in 2015, Sherwood was cast in what would become his most defining role: Jace Herondale in the Freeform fantasy drama series Shadowhunters, an adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments book series. The announcement on 20 April 2015 marked a turning point in his career. Shadowhunters ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2019, during which Sherwood became the face of the franchise and cultivated a dedicated fan base. During this period, he also appeared in the thriller film Billionaire Ransom alongside Ed Westwick and Jeremy Sumpter, as well as the horror-thriller film Don’t Sleep with Drea de Matteo and Cary Elwes. These varied roles demonstrated his range beyond the fantasy genre and established him as a working actor capable of carrying projects across multiple genres.
Continued Work and Expansion (2020–Present)
Following the conclusion of Shadowhunters in 2019, Sherwood continued to build on his success with new and varied roles. In 2020, he starred as Kurt in the dark fantasy television series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, a spin-off of the critically acclaimed Penny Dreadful franchise. Although the series was cancelled after one season, Sherwood’s performance contributed to the show’s dark and atmospheric tone. In 2022, he took on the role of Jeff Murphy in the Netflix legal drama Partner Track, based on Helen Wan’s novel of the same name. Production for the series began in September 2021 and concluded in late February 2022 in New York, with the show released on Netflix in 2022. Sherwood also appeared in the action film Eraser: Reborn, a reboot of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1996 film Eraser, which was released on 31 March 2022. In April 2022, he launched the podcast Return to the Shadows with Katherine McNamara, a rewatch companion series to Shadowhunters that has allowed him to maintain a direct connection with the show’s fan community.
Notable Works and Milestones
Dominic Anthony Sherwood’s most significant professional milestones include his role as Christian Ozera in Vampire Academy, which launched him into mainstream recognition, and his portrayal of Jace Herondale in Shadowhunters, which defined his career for over three years and earned him a devoted international fan following. His appearance in Taylor Swift’s Style music video represented a crossover moment that extended his reach beyond traditional film and television audiences. His subsequent roles in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Partner Track, and Eraser: Reborn demonstrated his continued relevance and willingness to pursue diverse and challenging projects across different platforms and genres. The launch of Return to the Shadows in 2022 further cemented his connection to the fan community that supported him throughout the Shadowhunters era.
Dominic Anthony Sherwood Award Nominations
No verified award nominations are recorded in available sources for Dominic Anthony Sherwood at this time.
Dominic Anthony Sherwood Awards Won
No verified awards are recorded in available sources for Dominic Anthony Sherwood at this time.
Dominic Anthony Sherwood Family
Available sources do not include verified information about Dominic Anthony Sherwood’s parents, siblings, or extended family members. Public records and biographical materials do not provide details on his family background beyond his birthplace and early education in Kent, England.
Personal Life
Dominic Anthony Sherwood was in a relationship with his Vampire Academy co-star Sarah Hyland from 2015 to 2017. He later dated Decker Sadowski, with their relationship ending in early 2024. In addition to his acting and modeling work, Sherwood is known for his distinctive eyes, which display sectoral heterochromia, giving him one fully blue eye and one eye that is half blue and half brown. He has no publicly recorded children. Sherwood studied at Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone, England, and pursued further drama and theatre education in Maidstone and Sevenoaks before beginning his professional acting career in 2010.