interview by JANA LETONJA

British actor Oliver Jackson-Cohen recently starred in the miniseries ‘Wilderness’. He will soon be reprising his role in the second season of Apple TV+ series ‘Surface’, and we will be able to watch him in the leading role on the UK indie film ‘Jackdaw’, which is being released today (26th January). 

Oliver, we’re currently able to watch you in the action thriller film ‘Jackdaw’, that follows a former motocross champion and army veteran who has fallen on hard times. Tell us more about the whole story of this film.
Well, it’s fundamentally about a man who is forced to confront all the ghosts of his past. He agrees to pick up a mysterious package from the North Sea, it inevitably goes wrong and his brother ends up missing, so he heads out into the night to get him back. The movie takes place over one night and we follow him deep into the underworld of what he’s spent a whole lifetime running away from.

jacket CHEMA DIAZ
shoes CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
jewelry PAWNSHOP LONDON
trousers stylist’s own

How has your experiece of portraying Jack, a former motocross champ and army veteran, been like? What was the most challenging part of filming this film?
The cold. We shot in December and January of last year in the north east of England, predominantly at night. Throw in a cute swim in the North Sea and there’s your challenge right there. Also Learning to ride a motor cross bike and trying to not look like twat was pretty high up there too. But it was all quite exciting to be a part of because I think Jamie Childs is a really exciting new director. 

coat DIESEL
shirt CHEMA DIAZ
trousers VERSACE
boots BOTTEGA VENETA
jewelry PAWNSHOP LONDON

You’ll also soon reprise your role in Apple Tv+ ‘Surface’. What can the fans expect from the second season?
The show has grown dramatically since season 1 and we’re now in London instead of San Francisco, so the scope of where it goes is endless. There is also the introduction of a whole new plethora of characters so I’m excited to see how fans react to it. We’re in the middle of shooting it now.  

What is the biggest message of this series to its audiences in your opinion?
Never run from your past because it always catches up to you. I think that’s quite a truism for us all really. 

Out of all the roles you’ve done so far, which one left the biggest and most lasting impact on you, and why?
A couple of years ago, I did a show for Netflix called ‘The Haunting Of Hill House’ and that character of Luke I still think of to this day. I think it was probably the first time where I was allowed to be myself and just be as vulnerable as I feel most of the time. I think there’s historically been this idea for men in particular, that they need to be a certain way or be defined in a certain way, and I have definitely struggled with trying to be what people think I am or expect me to be over the course of my life. Luke was the chance to be all the parts of me without hiding. 

full look VERSACE
jewelry PAWNSHOP LONDON

Tell us more about how your career as an actor began. What made you want to pursue it?
I watched ‘Home Alone’ and wanted to be Macaulay Culkin. I think at a very young age I fell in love with the idea of hiding away in a place that sort of wasn’t real. It became this sort of safe space where you could experience anything and be anything you wanted to be. And that grew and grew. That, coupled with a dangerous mix of delusion and misplaced confidence is how we are here today. 

coat and jeans VERSACE
tank top ENTIRE STUDIOS

Who is your biggest inspiration, not only in acting, but in life in general?
This is going to sound incredibly wanky, but I find the human experience fascinating. The resilience that people have and the hardships that people face and yet they still push forward. I think that is incredibly inspiring. 

Besides acting, what are you most passionate about in life?
Tony’s Chocolonely.

What can you share with us about your next, upcoming projects?
I shot a movie last year about the true story of the first prisoner who escaped the Nazi camp in Chelmno in 1942 and managed to get the message out about what was going on inside these camps to the rest of the world. It’s an incredibly powerful story. I’m excited about that one. 

Otherwise, I’m finishing filming ‘Surface’ in April, so if anyone needs someone who is 70 % chest hair to wear leather tassels and PVC shine as per our shoot, give me a shout. 

coat DIESEL
shirt CHEMA DIAZ
trousers VERSACE
boots BOTTEGA VENETA
rings PAWNSHOP LONDON


tank top ENTIRE STUDIOS

TEAM CREDITS:
talent OLIVER JACKSON-COHEN
photography KOSMAS PAVLOS
styling JOSEPH KOCHARIAN
hair and make up JOSH KNIGHT using Horace
post production ALEXANDRA HEINDL
styling assistant AARON PANDHER
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
special thanks to Public Eye Communications