I am truly captivated by the remarkable journey and tenacity of Jack O’Connell. His relentless pursuit of challenging roles in remote, grueling locations is nothing short of inspiring. From the icy expanses of the Arctic Circle to the blistering heat of the Moroccan desert, this man pushes himself to the limits, embodying characters that demand resilience and grit.
Jack O’Connell excels at taking on intense, physically demanding roles set in isolated locations. Five years ago, he was shooting The North Water, a BBC whaling drama filmed near the Arctic Circle where he had to kill, skin, and live inside a polar bear. Prior to that, he worked on Godless, a Netflix western revenge thriller filmed in the New Mexican mountains. Earlier in his career, he played the main role in Angelina Jolie’s film Unbroken, which required him to spend nearly six months in Australia portraying Louis Zamperini, a Japanese prisoner of war survivor.
Lately, he experienced his toughest job yet in the Moroccan desert for the initial season of SAS Rogue Heroes, a role he acknowledged as his most challenging at that point. However, it appears that the 34-year-old actor relishes hardships and was thrilled when the BBC series was renewed for additional episodes featuring more daring SAS missions from World War II. The original season took place in 1941 during the North African desert campaign, where a team of ruggedly efficient soldiers, led by Lieutenant Paddy Mayne (played by O’Connell), was formed under the guidance of Lieutenant David Stirling (Connor Swindells). For season two, the battlefield shifts to Europe and the 1943 invasion of Sicily, a nearly suicidal frontal attack led by the SAS.
Compared to season two’s four-month filming, which used Croatia as a stand-in for Sicily, one might have thought it would be less challenging. However, as O’Connell humorously points out, “If anyone had assumed it would be much simpler, they would have been in for a surprise.” Despite not being in the desert and having more accessibility, it was still swelteringly hot.
The series commences in Cairo, starts with a chilling sea-based Italian invasion, followed by intense land battles against both Germans and Mafia members, making for a packed six episodes. This show is incredibly ambitious; fitting all the necessary elements within the allocated time was quite challenging. Therefore, you must be in top shape – not just physically but mentally too, as it’s a heavy subject matter.
Starting off, it’s evident that war leaves a heavy impact, even on the most resilient individuals. In this instance, Main is prevented from going back to Ireland for his father’s funeral, leading him to retaliate violently against an entire military patrol unit in anger. This sentiment resonates with O’Connell, who hails from a working-class background in Alvaston, Derbyshire, and first appeared on the big screen at 15 in Shane Meadows’s film, “This Is England.
Currently, O’Connell is spoiled for choice when it comes to roles. Lately, he completed filming for Danny Boyle’s reboot of the zombie series titled 28 Years Later, where he played a sinister character. He also took on an ominous role in Sinners, a horror movie by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), which they filmed over the summer in Louisiana. Earlier this year, he portrayed Blake Fielder-Civil in Back to Black, an Amy Winehouse biopic. In this production, he played a different kind of antagonist: the turbulent ex-boyfriend who some claim contributed to the singer’s drug addiction.
Due to having a lot on his plate, O’Connell is juggling tasks today, promoting his latest project before heading to the gym. “I enjoy boxing,” he mentions, preparing for his workout. “I love playing football.” He emphasizes self-care, stating, “Remember, you are your own toolkit in the end of the day.
In the gaps between employment, I find myself pondering on two perspectives: one could view this period as a chance to unwind, relax, perhaps even indulge a bit too much, or one could choose to maintain their readiness and keep themselves sharp for the upcoming opportunities that may come knocking.
He’s bound to depart shortly for a remote, challenging setting where he’ll be shooting his upcoming intense yet magnificent drama for several months.
On New Year’s Day at 9pm, SAS Rogue Heroes season 2 will be aired on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer. If you haven’t seen it yet, season 1 is currently available for viewing on BBC iPlayer.
If you’re searching for other shows to watch, check out our TV Schedule or browse through our Drama section. For more on the most popular names in television, tune into The TopMob Podcast.
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2024-12-23 19:37