Jack O'Connell (born 1 August 1990) is an English actor celebrated for his intense portrayals of dark, volatile characters, earning him a BAFTA Rising Star Award, among other accolades. Growing up in a working-class Derbyshire family, his dreams of becoming a professional footballer were dashed by injuries, and a juvenile criminal record prevented him from joining the army—a turbulent youth that later informed his gritty performances. He first gained recognition as James Cook in the hit TV series Skins (2009–2010, 2013), following early roles in This Is England (2006) and Eden Lake (2008). O'Connell delivered critically acclaimed performances in the independent films Starred Up (2013) and '71 (2014), before starring as war hero Louis Zamperini in the 2014 film Unbroken, which cemented his international status. His subsequent work spans a wide range, including Money Monster (2016), the Netflix Western Godless (2017), the BBC series The North Water (2021) and SAS: Rogue Heroes (2022–present), as well as the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black (2024) and the post-apocalyptic horror 28 Years Later (2025).