Josh O’Connor, a 35-year-old actor from Southampton, has played a diverse range of roles, including Lawrence Durrell in the TV series *The Durrells*, a quiet farm worker in *God’s Own Country*, and Prince Charles in *The Crown*.
Before appearing in the upcoming *Knives Out* and a new, unannounced sci-fi movie directed by Steven Spielberg, he’s starring in *The Mastermind*, where he plays a carpenter turned art thief—though not a very good one.
You’ve portrayed many characters who are quite different from yourself, such as Prince Charles in *The Crown* and a former tennis player in *Challengers*. Do you find it challenging to adopt these new personalities?
Many actors struggle with insecurity, and that’s often what drives us. Essentially, we’re asked to transform into someone else – a character who is often very different from who we are. The real skill lies in subtly incorporating parts of ourselves into that new persona.
I used to be really hesitant to acknowledge any similarity between myself and Prince Charles – it felt strange! At first, I’d joke it was just the ears, that was all. But working on ‘Challengers’ was different. Luca [Guadagnino] had a clear vision for the character – someone incredibly self-assured and bold – and honestly, that wasn’t a side of myself I immediately recognized. I realized a lot of my reactions usually come from a place of insecurity, not confidence.
Work fears aside, what are you most scared of in life?
Honestly, I’m scared of everything!
What’s the hardest part of acting?
It’s often challenging, and you can feel lonely and disconnected from friends when you’re going through it.
How were your early years when you started out?
I spent years auditioning for parts, often getting close to landing them, but ultimately facing rejection.
Are there any experiences that still haunt you?
My very first audition was for the 2012 movie Les Misérables starring Russell Crowe. They were holding auditions for tons of people, but I didn’t realize that at the time. Since I don’t come from a family of actors, the whole process was completely new to me. I hadn’t even seen the movie before – but I have now! I sang the song ‘Empty Chairs’ (which is Marius’s song) during the audition, and they told me they wanted me to come back for a second audition. I did get a callback, which was great, but I have dyslexia, so I only quickly scanned the email and just saw that they wanted me to return – I didn’t read the whole thing!
A week later, I was walking through central London on my way to a callback audition when I ran into a friend. He’d been performing in *Richard II* with Eddie Redmayne. He asked where I was headed, and I told him I was really nervous about a callback for the *Les Misérables* movie. He then mentioned that his friend Eddie was playing Marius!
Your new movie, The Mastermind, features you as James Mooney, marking your second role as an art thief following your performance in 2023’s La Chimera. What sets these two characters apart?
He consistently makes the wrong choices. I recall director Kelly Reichardt talking about which artist’s style to borrow from. She felt Arthur Dove was a good choice because he was well-regarded, but not as iconic as someone like Jackson Pollock. Dove’s work has value, but it’s not exceptionally expensive. Ultimately, Mooney just doesn’t seem to understand what works.
Did you enjoy dipping into the film’s very 70s vibe?
I was just thinking about how different things used to be. I remember watching these young actors playing kids, and during a dinner scene, they started building little sculptures out of their mashed potatoes! It really took me back. It reminded me of a time before phones and TVs, when you had to get creative and find fun in simple things – like turning dinner into an art project. It was so sweet and nostalgic to see that playful spirit.
The film is really about the best laid plans of mice and men going wrong. Are you a good planner?
It’s tough for actors to make long-term plans. For the past thirteen years, I haven’t been able to book a vacation more than two weeks in advance, because my work schedule is so unpredictable. Because of that, I’ve learned to live without firm plans. Being flexible is key – otherwise, you risk missing out on opportunities and seeing very few people.
Away from acting, is it true you’re into making ceramics?
Yes! The dream is to have my own studio with a kiln.
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Writer, Star Revisit the Show’s ‘Seinfeld’ Reunion
- Stalker: Rusted Dawn may be the best Stalker 2 modpack yet that aims to make the game closer to GAMMA
- Battlefield 6 Campaign Gameplay Features Extensive Destruction and Bad Company 2 Vibes
- Lauren Jauregui Was “Really Disappointed” by DWTS Elimination
- You Need to Hear the Advice Rhea Raj Gave KATSEYE’s Lara
- 10 Best Completed Manga of the Last 10 Years, Ranked
- Hell Let Loose: Vietnam announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
- Football Manager 26 Gets New Trailer Showcasing New Possession Tactics and Formations
- Disney World Is Fixing The Worst Part Of The Frozen Ride And I’m So Glad They Finally ‘Let It Go’
2025-10-14 03:21