Joseph Michael Cole is an English actor. Some of his most notable roles include Luke in Skins, John Shelby in Peaky Blinders, Marzin and Beckwith in Secret in Their Eyes, Billy Moore in A Prayer Before Dawn, Frank in the Black Mirror episode "Hang the DJ", Sean Wallace in Gangs of London, and Iver Iversen in Against the Ice.

Joe Cole
Born
Joseph Michael Cole

1988 or 1989
Alma materNational Youth Theatre
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present
RelativesFinn Cole (brother)

Early life and education

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The oldest of five boys, Joe Cole was born around 1988 or 1989 and grew up in Kingston upon Thames in London. His younger brother is actor Finn Cole, who starred alongside him in Peaky Blinders.[1]

He attended Hollyfield Secondary School in Surbiton.[2]

Career

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Cole at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in 2020

Cole's acting career began when he was accepted into the National Youth Theatre.[1] He obtained his first roles in a one-night show in the West End,[3] on The Bill and Holby City, and then in roles on stage at the Bush Theatre's sell-out School Season.[4] In the 2010s, he wrote a comedy series with Matt Lucas.[1]

From 2013 to 2017, Cole starred as John Shelby in the historical crime drama Peaky Blinders. In 2017, he starred in a season 4 episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror, earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor.

For his role as Billy Moore in A Prayer Before Dawn, Cole won Best Actor at the 2018 British Independent Film Awards.[5]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Assessment Michael Short film
2012 Volume Sam Short film
Offender Tommy
Now Is Good Scott
2014 A Long Way Down Chas
Slap Connor Short film
The Falling Kenneth Lamont
Peterman Johnny
Callow & Sons Short film
2015 Green Room Reece
Pressure Jones
Secret in Their Eyes Marzin / Beckwith
2017 Eye on Juliet Gordon Tiantan Award for Best Actor
Woodshock Nick
Thank You for Your Service Billy Waller
2018 A Prayer Before Dawn Billy Moore British Independent Film Award for Best Actor
2019 Happy New Year, Colin Burstead Ed
2020 One of these Days Kyle Parson
2022 Against the Ice Iver Iversen
2024 The Damned Daniel [6]
TBA The Actor Nick Post-production[7]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 The Bill Leo Cooper 1 episode
Holby City Shaun Jackson 2 episodes
Stanley Park Lee Television film
2011 Come Fly with Me Jordan 2 episodes
Injustice Alan Stewart 4 episodes
2012 Skins Luke 2 episodes
The Thick of It Jack 1 episode
The Hour Trevor 3 episodes
2013 Playhouse Presents Stephen 1 episode
2013–2017 Peaky Blinders John Shelby Main role, 20 episodes
2017 Black Mirror Frank Episode: "Hang the DJ"
Nominated – BAFTA TV Award for Best Leading Actor
2019 Pure Charlie Main role, 6 episodes
2020–present Gangs of London Sean Wallace Main role, 16 episodes
2022 The Ipcress File Harry Palmer Miniseries, 6 episodes
2023 A Small Light Jan Gies Miniseries, 8 episodes
2024 Nightsleeper Joe Roag BBC Miniseries, 6 episodes [8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Playing A Blinder: Joe Cole Interviewed". Clash. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Alumni - The Hollyfield School". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Joe Cole". Interview. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  4. ^ "THE KNOWLEDGE". Bush Theatre. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  5. ^ Pulver, Andrew (3 December 2018). "The Favourite conquers British independent film awards with record 10 wins". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  6. ^ Ritman, Alex (1 February 2024). "'The Damned' First Look: Odessa Young and Joe Cole Endure a Cruel Winter in Upcoming Horror Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Joe Cole - B-Side Management". B-Side Management. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Alexandra Roach and Joe Cole board BBC drama Nightsleeper". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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