How do you prepare to play an iconically disliked person of history in one of the most popular television series? You make a scrapbook, of course. That is what actor Josh O’Connor did, per Esquire, while preparing for his role in the Netflix show The Crown, portraying a young Prince Charles. O’Connor collected items that reminded him of the character and kept them in a book for him to look back on, and pulled from this to play the beloved Princess Diana’s star-crossed lover.
Before he became royalty, O’Connor was a French rebel in the Les Misérables miniseries, played Annette Bening’s son in Hope Gap, was in the Jane Austen classic Emma, and starred alongside Colin Firth in Mothering Sunday. He is a budding young star, already with an Emmy win, two BAFTA nominations, and two British Independent Film Awards.
O’Connor also has an extensive list of popular co-stars ranging from Oscar-winner Olivia Colman to Stranger Things rising star Joseph Quinn. Two of his upcoming projects are set to come out in the next year: Ellen Kuras’ Lee starring Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Jude Law, according to Deadline, and look out for him starring alongside Paul Mescal in The History of Sound, a gay romance set in WWI about two men recording America’s voices. Altogether, in his 10 years of acting on the screen, his talent has grabbed the attention of the world and only seems to be going up from here. From rebel to royalty, here are Josh O’Connor’s best performances.
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6 Mothering Sunday
Number 9 Films
In the 2021 drama Mothering Sunday, O’Connor plays a young man who has swooned the family maid, Jane Fairchild, who is played by Odessa Young. His character, Paul Sheringham, is to be wed to another woman, but the two young lovers are determined to find time for each other before then. In this tragic love story, O’Connor plays a very charming character. Paired with wonderful cinematography, this film is a beauty to watch.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Les Misérables
BBC One
In a six-part miniseries adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic, Les Misérables, O’Connor plays the rich counterpart to the rebellion leader, Enjolras (played by Stranger Things star, Joseph Quinn). O’Connor brings the heart and the fire behind this character to life, and plays him in such a way that showcases Marius’ wealth, but also his compassion for his partner and his fight for the cause.
4 The Durrells
PBS
In The Durrells, O’Connor plays the chaotic, unemployed son in this television series about the Durrell family and their move from England to Greece. His character, Lawrence, is a spoiled, over-dramatic writer, whom O’Connor plays with hilarity and such a whiny nature that gives a good laugh whenever he is on-screen. This television series shows his range and gives a nice break from his more serious roles.
3 Hope Gap
Orion Pictures
In the family drama about Grace (portrayed by Annette Bening) and Edward (Bill Knightly) and their sudden separation after 29 years, Hope Gap, O’Connor plays their son who is left to try and balance this new life between his parents. Jamie finds out his father is going to leave his mother and doesn’t want any part of their separation. O’Connor plays this character with so much heart and with a gentle demeanor that it is impossible to not fall in love with his character and root for him.
2 God’s Own Country
British Film Institute
O’Connor plays a lost-in-the-world farmer, trying to get through life as fast as possible, God’s Own Country. He is quiet and has this hardened exterior, which begins to shed when a migrant worker is hired and the two become more than just co-workers. O’Connor is able to play this rough character, who expresses himself mostly without words, and elegantly transforms into a softer soul as the film goes on. One of his best works to date, O’Connor won the Best Actor Award at the British Independent Film Awards.
1 The Crown
Netflix
At number one is O’Connor’s portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown. Not only because of the popularity of the show and the uncanny physical similarities between actor and actual, but also because O’Connor made you like the character of Prince Charles and ultimately feel for him and understand his side of the story. In the hit Netflix original series, O’Connor holds himself in a way that feels like royalty and captivates every scene, equally balancing the attention between both himself and Emma Corrin as Princess Diana.
