Josh O’Connor is one of the most talented actors in the contemporary cinematic landscape. Through recently released “Challengers” and “La Chimera,” he came into the limelight and gained widespread recognition. However, he has been working for over a decade and has many acclaimed film, theatre, and television projects under his belt. He had his breakthrough playing a lonely sheep farmer in Yorkshire in Francis Lee’s “God’s Own Country.” After winning a British Independent Film Award for his performance, he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for playing Charles III in Netflix’s “The Crown.”
In his fairly brief but fascinating career, Josh has primarily worked in indie cinema and championed independent creative voices. No matter how long his role is, he leaves a strong impression. Be it the hysterically desperate Mr. Elton in “Emma” or the wealthy romantic Paul in “Mothering Sunday,” Josh has aced polar opposite acting styles with exceptional ease. Even in the presence of acting legends like Annette Benning and Bill Nighy in “Hope Gap,” he stands his ground. In Simon Goodwin’s gorgeous “Romeo and Juliet” stage adaptation, he and Jessie Buckley have a swoon-worthy chemistry that deserves to be experienced in person.
Now, Josh is set to star in Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man,” the third installment in the “Knives Out” film series. He will also co-star with Paul Mescal in Oliver Hermanus’ historical romantic drama, “The History of Sound.” Until then, let’s take a deep dive into his five most important movie performances:
1. God’s Own Country (2017)
Francis Lee’s “God’s Own Country” follows young farmer Johnny Saxby working on his family’s land in a desolate part of Yorkshire. He spends most of his days working tirelessly under his father’s commands, caring for their sheep. In spare time, Johnny drinks away his frustrations at a local pub and has casual sex. Unlike his old peers who left the town for a livelier future, he remains stuck in limbo, reluctant to take a step to change his future and wallowing in self-pity. His life takes a swift turn when Gheorghe, a Romanian migrant worker, shows up on their farm.
Unlike Johnny, Gheorghe left his homeland to make a living. Despite his dire circumstances, Gheorghe is far more aware of his place in the world and ready to take the necessary steps to improve his life. He helps Johnny face his vulnerabilities and the truth of his present life. The film builds a bittersweet portrait of their passionate relationship as they seek comfort in each other’s presence. In this heartrending tale, Johnny comes across as a shell of a person who slowly blossoms in Gheorghe’s presence. Gheorghe accepts him unconditionally and does not make him feel less of himself.
Josh bears much of the film’s emotional burden as he maturely presents Johnny overcoming his anguish, accepting his insecurities, and looking forward to a finer future. Josh allows us to feel Johnny’s despair and resonate with him through his muted glances and reserved body language. Josh’s poignant performance effectively turns “God’s Own Country” into an intricate character study.
2. Only You (2018)
Harry Wootliff’s “Only You” revolves around 26-year-old Jake and 35-year-old Elena, who fall for each other after an impromptu meet. Jake, who comes from a family with stable relationships, is a romantic. On the other hand, Elena is cynical about relationships due to her parents’ separation. Initially, she hides her age, worrying a man just past his prime may not accept her. However, their age difference becomes rather a minor issue as they decide to move past their one-night stand and be in a relationship. The couple contemplates the next steps of their relationship as its natural progression. Unfortunately, they face complications while trying to conceive a child.
It comes between them, trying to make it work as a couple. Although deeply invested in each other’s emotional beings, they find it hard to sustain their initial attraction. While navigating these usual aspects of romantic relationships, “Only You” shines due to its careful handling of the material, sensitive direction, and heartrending performances by Josh and Lai Costa. Josh aptly depicts someone in their mid-20s, past the prime of their youthful flings, learning to be comfortable in the new stage of life while battling growing uncertainties. Jake’s fears are rooted in what he considers obsolete, based on his image of his conflictless parents. Josh sensibly approaches Jake’s gradual journey of maturity while exuding warmth and despair with an equal amount of honesty.
3. Aisha (2022)
Frank Berry’s “Aisha” revolves around Aisha Osagie, a young Nigerian woman stuck in Ireland’s immigration system for years. She escaped the torturous past in her homeland, hoping for a better life outside. However, the grueling asylum process keeps her in a perpetual state of uncertainty about her future. Whether due to inherent prejudices or systemic factors, she keeps struggling in this new country and finds it increasingly difficult to hold on to her hopes. During this journey, she becomes friends with Conor Healy, an employee at one of the accommodation centers who once was exploited by those in power.
Although a portrait of Aisha’s resilience, the film does not let itself veer into the cliches associated with such narratives. It does not rely on soaring musical crescendos to make us feel what Aisha feels. Instead, it fleshes out the anguish under the brave face she puts on for the world with realistic details of the consequences. While Letitia Wright is the clear highlight in this gut-wrenching film, which analyzes and presents trauma without banking on its sentimentality, Josh’s character goes beyond the usual tropes of trauma-bonding dramas, and his performance helps it attain that level of sincerity.
As a man trying to overcome the emotional pain of his past suffering, Josh presents Connor as a kind-hearted soul with no sinful motives. His generous presence never steals the spotlight from Letitia but lets Conor remain a reliable figure in her continuous struggle for survival.
4. Challengers (2024)
Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” is one of the most talked-about projects from 2024. This was bound to happen with Zendaya at the front and center of the film. Starring Zendaya in the lead role, the romance drama follows a love triangle between three professional tennis players – Tashi, Art, and Patrick, spanning two decades. Art and Patrick, who pretty much grew up together, met Tashi in their late teens. Tashi was at her peak at the time, destined to be the next big thing in the sport. The boys desired her more so as their lustful teenage fantasy. However, over the years, they had to face the harsh reality of their adult lives.
Written by Justin Kuritzkes, the script is non-linearly structured with a pace near-identical to the sport’s pace. Throughout the film, we are left to wonder whose court the ball falls into. The script examines power dynamics in the sport and their romantic relationships. In this sex-fuelled, vibrant equation, Josh plays Patrick through different stages in his life. As a youngster, Patrick is innocent and carefree. Slowly, his smugness starts to show its face, revealing his lack of ambition paired with an unearned arrogance. Years later, he becomes a failure of a person and a desperate underdog hoping to revive his career.
Through all these stages, Josh portrays a wide range of emotions in Patrick’s journey with a few underlying constants. Patrick remains just as vain and self-centered as he once was. Despite the setbacks, he is more interested in a pissing contest than self-fulfillment. Josh skillfully presents Patrick as the most turbulent part of the triangle without sacrificing the nuances while exploring Patrick’s genuine desires.
5. La Chimera (2023)
Alice Rohrwacher’s “La Chimera” is a magical realist comedy-drama about a group of gravediggers in a small town in 1980s Italy. The film revolves around Arthur, a British archaeologist arrested for stealing artifacts from tombs. Upon his release, he returns to his late girlfriend’s mother in Italy, hoping for a change, but succumbs to his old ways of being. He helps tomb raiders with his psychic ability to locate graves with artifacts from which they can profit. Without a goal or direction, he continues on this soul-sucking journey.
Eventually, Arthur returns to his senses and realizes the inherent exploitation in his adventures. He wakes up to the lack of innocence in his practice, which uses his mystical abilities for something dishonest and impure. While mainly following his arc, the film excels due to its captivating directorial style, gorgeous visuals, and Josh’s heartwarming central performance. Josh’s earnest devotion to the script’s core fleshes out a lot of its underlying themes. He presents Arthur as a kind soul stuck in a world that does not value beauty beyond its material gain. Josh makes Arthur’s sincerity shine in this wonder of a film.
