Josh O’Connor: From young Prince Charles to shooting star

Josh O’Connor
From young Prince Charles to shooting star

“The Crown”, “La Chimera”, “Challengers” and now “Knives Out 3”: The name Josh O’Connor (34) is currently on everyone’s lips. The British actor is currently one of the most sought-after shooting stars in the film and television world – and not just since yesterday. “GQ” recently described O’Connor as part of the “group of young male film stars of this micro-generation” – alongside Timothée Chalamet (28), Austin Butler (32) and Paul Mescal (28). He has long been one of the fan favorites on the Internet. But his career began in 2012…

Breakthrough with “God’s Own County”

After his acting training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Southampton-born Josh O’Connor has appeared on the theatre stage and in smaller TV and film roles since 2012, including in three episodes of “Peaky Blinders” in 2013 and in “Cinderella” in 2015. His breakthrough finally came in 2017 with the drama film “God’s Own Country”, in which he played the leading role.

He won a British Independent Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of young sheep farmer Johnny Saxby. Fun fact: For the role, he learned to help with lamb births. O’Connor revealed to the New York Timesthat he gave birth to a total of around 150 lambs.

Just one year later, Josh O’Connor received another British Independent Film Award in the category – for his role in the drama “Only You” (2018).

This role made him a star

In 2019, Josh O’Connor landed the role that made him internationally famous: In the Netflix hit series “The Crown” he played the young Prince Charles, now King Charles III (75), alongside Olivia Colman (50), Tobias Menzies (50), Helena Bonham Carter (58) and Emma Corrin (28) in the third and fourth seasons.

The role, which he initially did not find appealing at all, as he in an interview with “The Guardian” explainedbrought O’Connor several nominations and awards: For his portrayal of the Prince of Wales, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2020 BAFTA TV Awards and for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2021. He was honored for the role in 2021 with a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a SAG Award, among others.

Luckily, “The Crown” creator Peter Morgan (61) was able to convince O’Connor to audition for the role. “I was drawn to his sensitivity and the fact that he is complex but likable,” said the director about O’Connor. Co-actress Olivia Colman is also a fan of her son from the series: “Fragility, shine, strength, doubt: everything is there in a second. Every scene we had together became my favorite scene.”

“La Chimera”, “Challengers” and “Knives Out 3”

Josh O’Connor may also have “The Crown” to thank for his subsequent, almost meteoric rise: in 2020, he starred alongside Anya Taylor-Joy (28) and Johnny Flynn (41) in the British comedy film “Emma,” followed by roles in “Ein Festtag” (2021) and “Aisha” (2022). O’Connor appeared in Alice Rohrwacher’s feature film “La chimera” in 2023 and was nominated for Best Actor at the 2023 European Film Awards. He also had roles in “Lee” (2023) and “Bonus Track” (2023).

The Brit has just been seen in the cinema with other stars of the moment: In Luca Guadagnino’s (52) hot tennis drama “Challengers” (2024), he played the conceited tennis player Patrick Zweig in a love triangle with Zendaya (27) and Mike Faist (32). Also announced is the drama “The History of Sound” by Oliver Hermanus (41), in which O’Connor plays alongside Paul Mescal and Molly Price (57).

At the end of May 2024, the shooting star was also confirmed as an actor in the next part of the “Knives Out” series. Alongside him, Cailee Spaeny (25) will be seen in the third part of the franchise with Daniel Craig (56). It is not yet known which roles the two will play.

Josh O’Connor sees no “movie star potential” in himself

Despite all the praise from critics and colleagues, Josh O’Connor has apparently managed to stay grounded. When asked if he sees potential in himself to become a film star, he told the Guardian: “No! I don’t think I have that. That’s not false modesty. I’m too timid a person. I don’t know if I really have those qualities. I don’t think I’m strong enough to be a movie star.” On the possibility that “Challengers” could increase his celebrity status, O’Connor said: “That’s a terrible thought.”

Perhaps it is precisely this modesty that has made Josh O’Connor a fan favorite on social media. The lifestyle blog “Highsnobiety” recently described the actor as “the anti-fashion babygirl we deserve” – ​​his simple clothes match his equally simple public charisma. The actor is regularly celebrated for his casual looks, which according to one user sometimes look “like they came from a children’s catalog.” After the “Challengers” premiere in Los Angeles went a tweet to a photo of the 34-year-old in the suit, which described him as a “very kind-hearted mouse who was turned into a prince.”

The Guardian describes O’Connor as an actor who has the talent to completely disappear in the roles he plays and draws an example from Hollywood star Tom Cruise (61): “You never forget that you are watching Tom Cruise in a Tom Cruise film. You never feel like you are watching Josh O’Connor in a Josh O’Connor film, even if you do.”

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