Joel Edgerton was born on 23 June, 1974 in Melbourne, Australia. He went to Hills Grammar School in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, and after leaving, he attended Nepean Drama School in 1994. Joel has done many projects on stage and off, but most people will recognise him from his work on the Australian television show, The Secret Life Of Us, in which he played the character of Will. This gave him his first big break through in the television industry. For this role, he was nominated in 2001 for an AFI Award. As well as The Secret Life of Us, he has also appeared in other television projects such as The Three Stooges telemovie, Dossa and Joe, Secret Men's Business, Never Tell Me Never and Saturn's Return. Joel has done a lot of work on the theatrical stage having played King Henry in Henry V, Prince Hal in Henry III, and others including Road, Third World Blues, and Dead White Males. As well as acting he has also starred, co-written and produced the movie Bloodlock.

His first international break came from when he played Uncle Owen in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones. Since then he has also starred in Ned Kelly, King Arthur, and the up coming Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith. Joel is currently dating the retired Australian runner, Cathy Freeman.
The Edgerton brothers have collaborated on several film projects. Joel's brother, Nash Edgerton, was also in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Nash was the stunt double for Ewan McGregor (Obi-wan Kenobi). Joel appears in the video clip for Ben Lee's (Claire Danes's then-boyfriend) 2002 single 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue'. The clip was directed by Joel's brother, Nash Edgerton. Attended Hills Grammar School in Sydney's north-west. When he graduated from high school he attended University of Western Sydney-Nepean Kingswood Campus and studied Drama there Has been going out with Australian ex-Olympian Cathy Freeman since 2003. Is the second Star Wars actor to have played Sir Gawain in a King Arthur movie. Liam Neeson played the role in Excalibur. Auditioned for the role of "Ty-Zor" in McG's now-aborted version of "Superman." Starred in Ned Kelly with Orlando Bloom. Bloom in turn starred with Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Kiera also starred in King Arthur with Edgerton.