Did You Know They Were in Skins?

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As a dedicated admirer of the enigmatic world that unfolded on the screens during those halcyon days of Skins, I must say, this year has been nothing short of a veritable feast for our collective nostalgic souls. The show, which once captivated us with its raw, unfiltered portrayal of teenage angst and the trials that come with it, has proven time and again to be a launching pad for some truly exceptional talent.

2021 has been an exceptional year for a particular group of fans who fondly remember the British television series “Skins”. The six-season E4 show, interchangeably aired on Megavideo depending on location, was a teen drama reminiscent of the CW network. Set in Bristol, it gained popularity during the 2000s as an endearing drama featuring actors who portrayed troubled teenagers dealing with issues like eating disorders, alcoholism, and love triangles.

2021 began with a bang as Dev Patel made his powerful directorial debut, “Monkey Man“, where he showed off his fighting skills to pursue justice in the lead role. After gaining fame following his departure from “Skins”, Patel became the first alumnus to make a significant impact, after winning multiple accolades for his role in “Slumdog Millionaire” at the 2009 Oscars. On “Skins”, Patel portrayed Anwar, a timid and inexperienced character, which is quite different from the diverse and captivating roles he’s taken on since then. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Patel referred to his time on “Skins” as a lingering issue but also acknowledged that without Danny Boyle’s daughter being a fan of the show, he might not have landed the role in “Slumdog”. So here’s to Danny Boyle’s daughter for making “Monkey Man” possible.

Many former cast members from the show “Skins” have continued their careers in television. Aimee-Ffion Edwards, who played Sketch, moved on from “Peaky Blinders” and now stars as Shirley in Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses”. Kaya Scodelario, known for her role as Effy Stonem in the first four seasons, is currently a key character in Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen”, both the TV show and movie. Prior to this, she held similar roles in the “Maze Runner” films and “Crawl”. While Effy Stonem is a fictional character, it’s reassuring to see that Scodelario, quite different from her early role, is thriving. Freya Mavor, another third-generation alum, recently concluded another season of “Industry”, and Sean Teale, also from the third generation, plays a central role in “Doctor Odyssey”.

In December of last year, Jack O’Connell from Gen Two appeared in Ferrari (hooray), and this year he was back with Back to Black (hmm) – it’s simply refreshing to see him staying busy. Maybe we can put him in The Gentlemen or a more lighthearted project next time, just to recapture some of the enchantment from his portrayal of Cook.

Indeed, it’s not surprising that the former Skins cast member capturing attention is Nicholas Hoult, the original series protagonist who met with a bus accident in Q4 of 2024. Known for his roles in Clint Eastwood’s Juror No. 2, Justin Kurzel’s The Order, and Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu, Hoult’s reunion with About a Boy co-star Hugh Grant received plenty of attention, while his American Cinematheque talkback with Skins co-star Daniel Kaluuya garnered less noise. (Kaluuya, who won an Oscar and is currently working on the Barney movie, is arguably the most successful Skins alum.) Since his days on Skins, Hoult has moved away from the pretty-boy stereotype to portray characters that are more eccentric and humorous. His evolution in character work reflects what’s exciting about encountering Skins alums in the television and film industry: despite their on-screen partying and conflicts during the show, most have demonstrated a wide range of talents. Although there are still many RADA graduates who excel at American accents, you can always find a former Bristol school student from the year 2005 making fans of that era proud.

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2024-12-26 17:55