Jack O’Connell was born in Alvaston, Derby, England on August 1, 1990. He started acting from a young age, attending the prestigious Television Workshop in Nottingham, where the likes of Vicky McClure, Bella Ramsey, and Samatha Morton also got their start. After a supporting role in This Is England, O’Connell has been steadily climbing ever since.
Although his major breakthrough in the UK came with the teen drama series Skins, it was his leading role in Angelina Jolie‘s Unbroken that made him known to the masses worldwide. Since then, Jack O’Connell has continued his ascend, starring in Hollywood movies like Money Monster, indie flicks like Back to Black, and Jungleland, as well as acclaimed TV series like Netflix’s Godless. However, it feels like 2025 will really be the year where he becomes an A-List actor.
Jack O’Connell Will Return as the Iconic Paddy Mayne
In 2022, Jack O’Connell joined the cast of Steven Knight‘s action series, SAS Rogue Heroes. The show follows the early days of the SAS and the men who were instrumental in its formation. Blending drama, action, and acid humour, the show displayed a perfect balance that made it a huge hit, particularly in the UK. Due to Steven Knight’s popularity as the creator or Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes managed to find a worldwide audience as well.
In the series, O’Connell stars as Paddy Mayne, an iconic (and slightly notorious) real-life war hero. The actor is no stranger to playing men prone to violence, as exemplified as the boisterous criminal Cook in Skins, wayward prisoner Eric in Starred Up, and bareknuckle boxer in Jungleland. However, over the years, O’Connell has attempted to break free from this kind of role, starring in romantic dramas like Little Fish and Lady Chatterley’s Lover. In SAS Rogue Heroes, he returned to classic form, yet, underneath the character’s penchant for violence was a layer of vulnerability and desire to do right by his country.
Although many argued that O’Connell’s frame and height did not match that of the real Paddy Mayne (who was 6’2 and burly), his powerful performance managed to prevail and take precedent. SAS Rogue Heroes has completed filming for its second season. As of yet, no release date has been announced. However, it is expected to roll out weekly towards the end of 2024. So, this means that the season will likely overflow into 2025 – where O’Connell will also reach audiences with two more exciting projects.
Watch SAS Rogue Heroes on Fubo
The Actor Will Echo an Early Performance That Made Him So Captivating
As mentioned, Jack O’Connell has made efforts in recent years to stay away from troubled characters, leaning in to more heroic roles like that of Roy Goode in Godless. While his character in SAS Rogue Heroes was indeed violent – he was still a hero who was easy to root for. However, in 2025, O’Connell will return to his darker roots, starring as the lead villain in Ryan Coogler‘s upcoming supernatural thriller. Although the plot is being kept under the wraps, and the movie currently has no title, O’Connell will reportedly play the lead villain, described as a “racist white villain”, in a deep South setting.
As proven with many great actors, playing a villain can often elevate their careers to massive heights of fame, take Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, or Javier Bardem‘s Oscar-winning role as the evil Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men. And this will not be O’Connell’s first rodeo as a despicable villain. In 2008, at just 18 years of age, he delivered a terrifying rendition as Brett, a psychopathic teenager in the grim but captivating movie, Eden Lake. In the film, O’Connell exuded a level of menace that was truly unsettling and enthralling. He played quite possibly one of the most haunting villains ever captured on film, with many scenes extremely difficult to watch.
Since Eden Lake, the closest he has come to playing a villain was in 2016’s Money Monster. However, by the end of that picture, his character was turned into a hero as his troubles and disparity are learned. So, with O’Connell once again taking on the role of a bad guy, it will be interesting to see him re-explore the area but with over a decade of experience under his belt. Furthermore, Ryan Coogler has proven to be a box office machine, increasing the chances that the movie will be a hit, therefore landing more eyes on Jack O’Connell.
Jack O’Connell’s Partnering With Danny Boyle Could Kickstart a New Realm of Fame
Since the glaring success of 28 Days Later, Danny Boyle has gone on to further success in TV and film. However, he did not return to the director’s chair for the sequel 28 Weeks Later. In 2025, he will finally return and take the helm of the long-awaited 28 Years Later. With Aaron Taylor-Johnson taking on the lead role, O’Connell will join the cast in a supporting role alongside Cillian Murphy, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes. Not only is this another major project in which can further ignite his career, O’Connell will reportedly step up from supporting actor to lead actor in the movie’s second and third instalment.
So, with three solid projects being added to his portfolio in 2025, it’s hard to think that this will not be Jack O’Connell’s year to shine. And who knows, maybe he will land himself on The Hollywood Reporter‘s annual list of the new A-Listers of Hollywood, something he missed out on in 2024 despite his many acclaimed roles. Want to read more about 28 Years Later? Here’s what to expect from the movie.
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