Cressida Bonas' heart stolen by Edward Holcroft who has part in London Spy

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Edward Holcroft, 27, was named a 'UK star of tomorrow' by industry bible
Has appeared in Kingsman and played George Boleyn in Wolf Hall
Upcoming parts include London Spy and Lady Chatterley's Lover
Was pictured watching the tennis with Cressida Bonas at Wimbledon
Shares an agent with Rush star Daniel Brühl and actor friend Freddie Fox
Attended Catholic boarding school Ampleforth College in Yorkshire
Father Patrick Holcroft is the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire

Published: 04:50 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 09:49 EST, 15 July 2015

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When Cressida Bonas was spotted leaving a Mayfair restaurant in the back of a taxi with a mystery man last week, the world scratched its head and wondered who he could be.

Fast-forward three days to an appearance at Wimbledon and his identity had become clear: Edward Holcroft, a 27-year-old actor best known for his turn as George Boleyn in BBC2's Wolf Hall.

But while he might be making headlines for stealing the heart of Miss Bonas and displacing Prince Harry in the process, there's more to Holcroft than a famous other half.

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Going public: 27-year-old Edward Holcroft joined Cressida Bonas at Wimbledon last Friday

Low profile: Three days earlier, they had been pictured leaving a London restaurant in a taxi together

Dubbed a 'UK star of tomorrow' by industry bible Screen Daily last year, the British thespian is part of a group of talented actors beginning to make waves in Hollywood.

Douglas Booth, best known for turns in The Riot Club and Julian Fellowes' recent revising of Romeo and Juliet, is one friend.

Freddie Fox, who was himself linked to Miss Bonas earlier this year and is the younger brother of Silent Witness star Emilia, is another.

Fox also shares an agent with both Holcroft and Miss Bonas: Tavistock Wood who, among others, represent Sophie Dahl, Max Irons and Rush star Daniel Brühl.

But while Booth and Fox have become increasingly familiar faces in recent years, Holcroft's acting career got off to a slower start.

The son of Worcestershire's Lord Lieutenant Patrick Holcroft and his wife Annie, the publishing director of Vanity Fair, he was privately educated at Ampleforth College and began his acting career there with roles that included Tybalt in a school production of Romeo and Juliet.

Now something of a stage veteran, the early years of 6ft 1" Holcroft's working life were a mixture of low-budget plays and occasional cameo appearances on screen.

Edward Holcroft talks about 'posh' role in Kingsman (related)

Friends in high places: Holcroft at an Old Vic party with (left to right) Douglas Booth, Rob Brydon, Freddie Fox and Jack Whitehall. Holcroft and Bonas both share an agent with Freddie Fox.

Familiar faces: Holcroft with (left to right) Fox, Allen Leech, Sarah Ovens, Annabel Scholey and Booth

Going places: Holcroft is signed to the same agency as Rush star Daniel Brühl (right, with Chris Hemsworth)

Society friends: Holcroft is also friends with Jemima Goldsmith (right), wife of Ben Goldsmith

In 2011, he was starring as Romeo in a production of Romeo and Juliet at the Bridewell Theatre - a small London institution where 'anyone can stage or put on a play' according to its website.

More minor roles followed before, in 2014, he was handed the part of Aaron Drozdov in Vampire Academy, a supernatural film starring Lucy Fry, Joely Richardson and Gabriel Byrne.

The film, which eventually grossed $15.4m worldwide - just over half of its $30m budget - was a critical and commercial flop, but Holcroft's performance was enough to persuade Hollywood to take note.

Vampire Academy led to a role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, in which Holcroft played Charlie Hesketh a posh rival to Taron Egerton's working class hero, Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin.

The role saw him appear alongside Hollywood heavy-hitters such as Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as veteran actor Michael Caine.

This time, the film, which got its UK release last January, proved a hit and grossed $403m worldwide, making it director Matthew Vaughn's most commercially successful film to date.

The stage was set for Holcroft to start making inroads into meatier roles, with Kingsman followed by starring roles in Wolf Hall and London Spy.

In Wolf Hall, the critically acclaimed BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's weighty novel, he played George Boleyn to Claire Foy's doomed Anne - although Holcroft himself appears to have little sympathy for the siblings.

Speaking to Harper's Bazaar, he described George, who met his end on Tower Green after being accused of having an incestuous affair with his sister, as a 'jumped up w**ker'.

But if George Boleyn wasn't to Holcroft's taste, co-star Mark Rylance, who he describes as 'an inspiration', certainly was.

'There are times when you pinch yourself and think you might just wake up from what’s been a wonderful dream,' he told the magazine.

'It was an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. There are no words to describe him [Rylance]. Not only is he a remarkable actor, he is a remarkable person.'

And there's more to come from Holcroft, who recently finished filming London Spy, a political thriller, alongside Ben Whishaw - the actor most famous for his role as Q in the James Bond series.

Big break: Holcroft (second left) starred in Kingsman alongside Colin Firth, Taron Egerton and Mark Strong

Unimpressed: Holcroft described his Wolf Hall character George Boleyn as a 'jumped up w***er'

Co-stars: Holcroft's next outings will see him star opposite Richard Madden (left) and Ben Whishaw (right)

The drama, which will also appear on BBC2, is due to air in the autumn with Holcroft playing the role of Alex - the enigmatic love interest to Whishaw's Danny.

News of Holcroft's casting brought the actor his first taste of controversy: the BBC had initially wanted to cast 'an immensely talented non-Caucasian actor' in the role.

When the 27-year-old was unveiled, activists were outraged with Act for Change campaigner Danny Lee Wynter slamming the 'cavalier' decision to change the character's race.

Speaking to the Evening Standard at the time, he added: 'It may seem like one small thing from the outside but once again this highlights the subtle, repeated erosion of opportunities available for black British artists in British drama.'

For his part, Holcroft has never spoken about the controversy and, when not squiring Miss Bonas at sporting events, is focusing on his latest role - that of Duncan Forbes in a new adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Cosy: Holcroft and Miss Bonas appeared smitten with each other during their appearance at the tennis

Talent: Holcroft, pictured left at the Kingsman premiere and right at the afterparty, is a rising star

Tipped for the top: The actor, seen with Miss Bonas at Wimbledon, has been named 'a UK star of tomorrow'

Cressida Bonas to appear on April's Miss Vogue cover

The TV film will be the seventh screen adaptation of DH Laurence's 1928 novel, with Holliday Grainger in the title role and Richard Madden starring as lusty gardener Oliver Mellor.

Currently filming in Wales, the production is likely to keep Holcroft away from London for some time - something unlikely to please his new leading lady.

There are some compensations however - Miss Bonas has an upcoming film to look forward to herself in the shape of Tulip Fever, an adaptation of the Deborah Moggach novel of the same name.

So what next for Holcroft? Filming on Lady Chatterley's Lover is not yet complete while London Spy is still some months away.

Holcroft himself plans to 'just crack on' according to Screen Daily and was recently signed by US agency WME.

But despite his success, he isn't expecting an easy ride. 'Nothing is a breeze in acting — you have to fight your corner,' he said.

Having Miss Bonas there to help might be some compensation.