MCM: Jack O’Connell

British actor Jack O’Connell is currently the talk of the online world with his role in the recently released Sinners (2025), so I’ve been inspired to credit him with a Man Candy Monday feature. He’s been largely cast as misfits throughout his career as a young actor and well into adulthood, but going through the list here, it’s apparent he has a much more varied range than maybe he’s been credited for. He’s always someone I enjoy watching, and I hope you do too!

Wuthering Heights (2009)

This is the version with Tom Hardy in a bad wig. Jack O’Connell is credited as “Shepherd Lad.”

United (2011)

O’Connell plays Bobby Charlton, one of the survivors of the 1958 Munich air disaster that killed 8 of his Manchester United teammates when their plan overran the runway during takeoff and slammed into houses at the end of the runway.

Private Peaceful (2012)

Jack O’Connell plays Thomas “Tommo” Peaceful in this adaptation of a YA novel set during WWI and sounds like a real feel good flick. Just kidding. It actually reads like a total bummer.

’71 (2014)

Jack O’Connell plays Gary Hook, a British soldier that is sent to Belfast during the height of the Troubles in the 1971.

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

I debated on including this in the list because it’s based on a comic book and leans very heavily towards fantasy. Also, I can’t even justify that little clothing constitutes costuming, but whatever. This is Man Candy Monday, after all. O’Connell plays Calisto.

Shelter (2014)

A short film about three British paratroopers who find themselves left behind enemy lines during WWII. O’Connell plays Private Charlie Miller, one of the paratroopers.

Unbroken (2014)

Another WWII flick, but this one is interesting because it was directed by Angelina Jolie. It tells the true story of Capt. Louis “Louie” Zamperini (played by Jack O’Connell), a former Olympian who ends up becoming a prisoner of war captured by the Japanese.

The Man With the Iron Heart (2017)

Jack O’Connell plays Jan Kubiš, a Czech soldier who participates in the assassination of high-ranking Nazi Reinhard Heydrich, who was tasked with implementing the Final Solution. The Wikipedia article on Project Arthropoid is actually really interesting and gives a great overview of the subject matter.

Tulip Fever (2017)

Gorgeous costumes, probably some of the most historically accurate you’re ever likely to see on film before or since. Also deadly dull film about tulip speculation in 17th century Holland. Jack O’Connell plays Willem Brok, a handsome fishmonger.

Godless (2017)

Jack O’Connell plays the main character, Roy Goode, an outlaw with a heart of gold who is trying to break ties with his criminal boss. He winds up in a town populated almost entirely by women after nearly all the men died in a mining accident. For a Western (which I am generally unexcited about) it actually sounds kind of interesting. Except the costumes are uninspiring.

Seberg (2019)

This is a film I had totally forgotten about but remembered that I was interested in watching it at one point. It’s based on the true story of Jean Seberg (played by Kristin Stewart), an American actress who becomes the subject of a character assassination plot by the FBI to discredit her after she falls in love with Hakim Jamal (played by Anthony Mackie), a high ranking member of the Black Panthers. Jack O’Connell plays Jack Solomon, the FBI agent running the operation to ruin Seberg’s reputation, which seems so astoundingly absurd by today’s standards, but it was the 1960s, man. Shit was wild back then.

The North Water (2021)

The North Water is a TV miniseries based on a novel of the same name. It follows Patrick Sumner (Jack O’Connell), a ship’s surgeon aboard the whaler Volunteer as the crew do all manner of unspeakable acts to animals, women, and each other. Sounds like a fabulous time. Not.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

Another adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s racy-by-the-1920s-standards novel of the same name. Jack O’Connell plays Oliver Mellors, the “lover” of Lady Chatterley in the title.

SAS: Rogue Heroes (2022)

Despite my general dislike of World War 2 flicks, I actually enjoyed this miniseries quite a bit. It was helped a lot by the fact that it wasn’t flogging the same old slog through Europe to murder Nazis premise. *Rogue Heroes* focuses on the formation of the British Special Air Services, comprising several of the most unhinged characters you’re likely to ever encounter in history as they blow up their way through the North African desert. Jack O’Connell plays Lt. Paddy Mayne, the most unhinged of all of them.

Ferrari (2023)

Set in 1957, the film deals with Enzo Ferrari’s messy public and private life. Jack O’Connell plays British racing driver Peter Collins.

Sinners (2025)

YES THE REVIEW IS COMING SOON, I PROMISE. Jack O’Connell plays supposed Irishman Remmick who is actually a vampire in this extremely popular Southern gothic film that everyone is raving about right now.

What’s your favorite Jack O’Connell role? Tell us in the comments!

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6 thoughts on “MCM: Jack O’Connell”

M.E. Lawrence says:

June 23, 2025 at 10:26 am

Nothing like a handsome fishmonger. (Fishmongering was a profitable business back then.) I’d like to see “Tulip Fever,” if only for the costuming and J O’C.
Kat says:

June 23, 2025 at 10:34 am

I wanted to like The North Water since it has such a great cast (Stephen Graham, Colin Farrell and of course Jack O’Connell) but god was it bleak and depressing to sit through. I didn’t love Seberg as I hoped because Kristen Stewart was just a little too passive as Jean Seberg (it often seems more like things are happening to/around her, rather than her taking an active part the way the real Seberg did) but it’s got a good cast and gorgeous costuming so I can’t fault it too much.
RobinTMP says:

June 23, 2025 at 10:49 am

I won’t deny that The North Water is more than a little dark and depressing, but it’s honestly one of the best and best-made productions I’ve seen in a long time. The direction and screenplay on point, the cinematography is amazing, and all the acting is brilliant, particularly O’Connell and Colin Farrell, both of whose work here is possibly a career best (Farrell in particular–see the bit in Episode 2 when he’s crooning to the whale he’s about to harpoon and tell me what you think). It has a 96% from Rotten Tomatoes, and I’m still disappointed that it was totally ignored by so many people and all the various awards; here’s an article that discusses this:
https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/amc-plus/the-north-water-streaming-legacy-andrew-haigh-peak-tv
ED says:

June 23, 2025 at 2:26 pm

The Mayne Man! I admit to having a soft spot for SAS: ROGUE HEROES because it’s characters really do put the ‘Special’ in ‘Special Forces’.

You know, because they’re almost completely bonkers and Major Mayne in particular is a fully-functioning homicidal artist.
Bel says:

June 23, 2025 at 9:01 pm

I have a soft spot for any classically handsome actor who has an obvious committee to play oddball and sinister whenever possible (see also: Nicholas Hoult)
1. ED says:
  
  June 24, 2025 at 2:47 am
  
  May they someday bless us with the classic Bond villains so clearly lurking under their handsome hide.