One iconic Skins star has a lesser known link to Angelina Jolie.
Jack O’Connell got his first breakout role as Cook in the gritty British drama Skins, which helped skyrocket his career. The actor went on to land roles in This Is England, Eden Lake, Dive and United before earning a Critic’s Choice Television Award nomination.
This led him to Angelina as the pair worked together on 2014’s Unbroken. O’Connell played Louis Zamperini, an American World War II veteran and an Olympic distance runner. He later became a Christian evangelist and from 1952 onwards he devoted his life to helping at-risk youth.
READ MORE: Click for more brilliant Daily Star showbiz stories
READ MORE:Charli XCX strips topless to flash g-string for smoking hot Brat Summer selfie
Zamperini has three biographical films based on his life and in Unbroken, Jack portrays his time surviving on a raft after his bomber “ditched in the ocean during the Second World War”. He is then captured by the Japanese and sent to prisoner of war camps.
(Image: FilmMagic)
Jolie directed the film and taught O’Connell a lot from their time working together. He told E! Online: “She’s a very selfless individual. That’s one trait I hope to inherit from her. She knows where my priorities are; she knows I have a good relationship with my mom and that’s very important to her.”
(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
Angelina even presented him with the New Hollywood Award at the Hollywood Film Awards, during which he branded her “my esteemed boss, a good friend, her ladyship.” Jack commented on the “unconditional support and dedicated leadership” she’d taught him.
(Image: WireImage)
After meeting Jack, Angelina gave an interview and touched upon what she thought of the Skins actor: “As soon as I met him, I knew he was Louis,” and described him as a “gift”.
Jack told The Guardian that Jolie “was under a lot of pressure from the studio” to “get it right,” and O’Connell said “they did background checks” on him as they were “worried” about his troubled past.
(Image: channel 4)
The actor’s past criminal record was cause for concern and he admitted: “When I was younger, I got into a lot of trouble and was made to feel guilty for a long time.”
Join the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
