Josh O’Connor is a British actor recognised for playing Prince Charles in The Crown, Lawrence Durrell in The Durrells and James in Peaky Blinders. His television career includes British crime dramas, historical series and literary adaptations, while his film work spans independent cinema and major international productions.
Born on 20 May 1990, O’Connor trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before building his career through a series of supporting and leading roles. His performance in The Crown brought him international recognition and a Primetime Emmy Award in 2021. He later appeared in films such as Challengers and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
This article explores his television roles, Netflix appearances, filmography, personal life and future projects, with a closer look at the performances that have shaped his career.
What TV Shows Has Josh O’Connor Been In?
Josh O’Connor has appeared in several well-known British television programmes, including The Crown, The Durrells, Peaky Blinders, Ripper Street, Doctor Who, Father Brown and Les Misérables. His roles range from brief guest appearances to leading performances across multiple seasons.
Before becoming internationally recognised, he worked in crime dramas and established television series. These early credits helped him develop experience in different genres before he took on the role of Prince Charles in The Crown.
TV Shows with Josh O’Connor Including The Crown and Peaky Blinders
| TV show | Character | Year |
| Lewis | Charlie Stephenson | 2012 |
| Doctor Who | Piotr | 2013 |
| Law & Order: UK | Rob Fellows | 2013 |
| London Irish | James | 2013 |
| Peaky Blinders | James | 2014 |
| Ripper Street | PC Bobby Grace | 2014 |
| Father Brown | Leo Beresford | 2015 |
| The Durrells | Lawrence Durrell | 2016–2019 |
| Les Misérables | Marius Pontmercy | 2018–2019 |
| The Crown | Prince Charles | 2019–2020 |
The table covers his principal scripted television credits rather than every television appearance. O’Connor has also appeared in interviews and entertainment programmes, including Saturday Night Live.
Josh O’Connor in The Crown
The Crown is the television series most closely associated with Josh O’Connor. He plays Prince Charles in seasons three and four of the Netflix royal drama, which follows the British monarchy during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
His performance explores Charles’s complicated relationship with his family, his position within the royal institution and his personal relationships. The character often struggles to reconcile his private feelings with the expectations placed upon him as heir to the throne.
O’Connor portrays Charles during a period of significant change, including his relationship with Camilla Shand and his marriage to Diana Spencer. His performance gives the character emotional complexity rather than presenting him solely as a historical figure.
In 2021, O’Connor won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on The Crown. The award marked a major achievement in his career and helped establish his reputation among international audiences.
For anyone discovering his work for the first time, this series is an excellent starting point. It demonstrates his ability to carry a complex character across multiple episodes while balancing historical events with personal drama.
Josh O’Connor in Peaky Blinders
Josh O’Connor played James in Peaky Blinders, the British crime drama set in Birmingham after the First World War. The series follows the Shelby family as they expand their criminal activities and navigate conflicts involving rival gangs, politicians and the police.
O’Connor’s part is a supporting role rather than one of the central Shelby family characters. His appearance belongs to the earlier stage of his television career, before The Crown brought him widespread recognition.
The series has a different tone from his later royal drama. Its focus on organised crime, family loyalty and political tension offers a contrasting example of the genres in which he has worked.
Although his role is smaller than his performance in The Crown, the programme remains relevant to viewers exploring his television credits in chronological order. It also demonstrates how his career developed through guest and supporting roles before he moved into more prominent parts.
Josh O’Connor in The Durrells
In The Durrells, O’Connor plays Lawrence Durrell, commonly known as Larry, the eldest son in a British family living on the Greek island of Corfu. The ITV series is inspired by Gerald Durrell’s autobiographical books about his family’s experiences away from England.
Lawrence is portrayed as an aspiring writer with an intellectual outlook and a strong personality. His relationships with his mother and siblings provide much of the programme’s family drama, while the setting creates opportunities for humour and adventure.
O’Connor appeared throughout the series, which ran from 2016 to 2019. The role allowed him to develop a character over several seasons, giving viewers a different perspective on his acting from his shorter television appearances.
The series is a good choice for audiences who enjoy period dramas with family relationships at their centre. Its lighter tone also contrasts with the darker atmosphere of Peaky Blinders and the formal royal setting of The Crown.
Josh O’Connor in Ripper Street
O’Connor played PC Bobby Grace in Ripper Street, a period crime drama set in London’s Whitechapel district after the Jack the Ripper murders. The series follows police officers investigating crimes amid the poverty, social divisions and political tensions of Victorian London.
His role is part of the show’s wider ensemble. Unlike The Crown, which examines the private lives of members of the royal family, Ripper Street centres on police investigations and the challenges facing officers in a troubled urban environment.
The programme gave O’Connor experience in another historical drama before he became widely recognised for his later performances. His work in this series belongs alongside his other early television credits, including Peaky Blinders and Doctor Who.
Viewers interested in British crime dramas may find it a useful addition to their watchlist, particularly if they want to explore more of his work beyond his best-known roles.
Josh O’Connor in Les Misérables
O’Connor plays Marius Pontmercy in the BBC television adaptation of Les Misérables, broadcast in 2018 and 2019. Based on Victor Hugo’s novel, the drama explores poverty, political unrest, love and the struggle for a better life in nineteenth-century France.
Marius is a young man whose romantic relationships become intertwined with the social and political upheaval surrounding him. The character gives O’Connor another opportunity to work within a historical setting, although the story differs considerably from the royal history portrayed in The Crown.
The BBC production is a television miniseries, not the 2012 musical film starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. The two adaptations tell the same broad story but feature different casts and approaches.
For viewers who enjoy literary adaptations and character-led period drama, Les Misérables is another significant entry in O’Connor’s television career.
Josh O’Connor in Doctor Who and Other Early TV Roles
Before taking on his best-known roles, O’Connor appeared in several established British programmes. His early credits include Lewis, Doctor Who, Law & Order: UK, London Irish and Father Brown.
In Doctor Who, he plays Piotr in the episode “Cold War”. The story takes place aboard a Soviet submarine and combines science fiction with a tense, confined setting. It is very different from the historical dramas that later became a major part of his career.
He appeared as Charlie Stephenson in Lewis and Rob Fellows in Law & Order: UK. In Father Brown, he plays Leo Beresford in an episode of the period detective series.
These appearances were generally smaller than his roles in The Durrells and The Crown, but they show how he gained experience across different types of television production. Exploring these early credits gives a fuller picture of his development as an actor.
Josh O’Connor’s Netflix Shows
The main Netflix series featuring O’Connor is The Crown, in which he portrays Prince Charles during seasons three and four. His performance is one of the defining parts of this stage of the royal drama.
He also appears in the Netflix film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. However, this is a feature film rather than a television series, so it belongs in his filmography rather than his list of TV shows.
Other productions in his career originally appeared on different broadcasters. The Durrells is an ITV drama, while Les Misérables is a BBC adaptation. Their current streaming availability can vary by country and over time.
UK viewers should check the latest local catalogue when looking for a particular title. A programme’s original broadcaster does not necessarily determine where it can be streamed today.
Josh O’Connor Movies and Film Career
Although television helped bring O’Connor to a wide audience, his film career is equally important. His breakthrough came with God’s Own Country in 2017, in which he plays Johnny Saxby, a young Yorkshire sheep farmer whose life changes after a Romanian migrant worker arrives to work on the family farm.
The film received strong critical attention, and O’Connor won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actor. His performance established him as a compelling leading actor and helped him secure a wider range of film roles.
His film credits include Only You, Hope Gap, Emma., Mothering Sunday, Aisha, La Chimera, Challengers, Lee, The Mastermind and The History of Sound.
In Emma., he plays Mr Elton in the adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. In Challengers, he portrays Patrick Zweig, a tennis player whose personal relationships become entangled with competition and ambition. The two performances illustrate his range across period comedy and contemporary drama.
His film work also includes international productions and independent cinema. Rather than being defined by a single role, O’Connor has continued to choose projects that place him in different settings and genres.
Josh O’Connor in Knives Out
Josh O’Connor stars as Father Jud Duplenticy in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third film in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out franchise. Daniel Craig returns as detective Benoit Blanc, who investigates a murder involving a church community and its complicated relationships.
The film features an ensemble cast that includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott and Cailee Spaeny. O’Connor’s character is central to the story, which explores secrets, belief and competing motives.
Released in 2025, Wake Up Dead Man is a feature film rather than a television show. It became another high-profile project in O’Connor’s career following the success of Challengers.
For viewers who know him primarily as Prince Charles, the film offers a very different performance. Instead of portraying a real historical figure, he plays a fictional priest caught up in a contemporary detective mystery.
Josh O’Connor’s Upcoming Movies and New Projects
Interest in O’Connor’s upcoming movies reflects his growing profile in international cinema. His recent film work includes The History of Sound, The Mastermind and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. He also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction film Disclosure Day, a 2026 project.
It is important to distinguish upcoming projects from films that have already been released. Production schedules, release dates and distribution plans can change, so older announcements may no longer describe a film’s current status.
New projects should only be added to an article when the casting or production has been confirmed by a reliable source. Rumours and unannounced roles should not be presented as established facts.
Readers looking for his next film should check current industry announcements and release listings. This keeps the information accurate without relying on speculative dates or unconfirmed casting reports.
Is Josh O’Connor Married and Who Is His Wife?
Josh O’Connor has not publicly confirmed a wife, and his relationship status should not be assumed from online speculation. He generally keeps his personal life private, so claims about a marriage or partner require reliable confirmation.
Searches about his wife reflect interest in the actor beyond his screen roles. However, being seen with someone at an event or working alongside a co-star does not establish that the two people are married or in a confirmed relationship.
O’Connor is more widely documented for his professional work, including The Crown, The Durrells, God’s Own Country and Challengers. Unless he or a reliable representative confirms a change in his personal circumstances, it is better not to assign him a spouse based on rumours.
This distinction helps keep celebrity biographies accurate and avoids presenting unverified personal claims as fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Josh O’Connor most famous for?
He is widely known for playing Prince Charles in The Crown. His other notable roles include Lawrence Durrell in The Durrells, James in Peaky Blinders and Johnny Saxby in the film God’s Own Country.
How many seasons of The Crown feature Josh O’Connor?
O’Connor plays Prince Charles in seasons three and four of The Crown. His performance earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2021.
Was Josh O’Connor in Peaky Blinders?
Yes. He played James in Peaky Blinders. It was a supporting role in the British crime drama, before he became internationally recognised for his performance in The Crown.
Is Josh O’Connor in a Knives Out film?
Yes. He plays Father Jud Duplenticy in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, released in 2025. The film features Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc.
What are Josh O’Connor’s most notable movies?
His notable films include God’s Own Country, Emma., Hope Gap, Mothering Sunday, La Chimera, Challengers and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
Does Josh O’Connor have a wife?
He has not publicly confirmed a wife. He keeps his personal life private, so claims about his marital status should be treated cautiously unless supported by reliable confirmation.
What is Josh O’Connor’s latest movie?
His recent filmography includes The Mastermind, The History of Sound, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and Disclosure Day. Which one is the latest depends on the release date and market being considered.
Conclusion
Josh O’Connor has developed a varied career across British television, independent films and international productions. His performance as Prince Charles in The Crown remains his best-known television role, while The Durrells, Peaky Blinders, Ripper Street and Les Misérables show the range of his earlier work.
His film career adds another dimension, from the acclaimed drama God’s Own Country to Challengers and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. These projects demonstrate his ability to move between historical characters, intimate relationships and contemporary stories.
For viewers starting with his television work, The Crown is a natural first choice. The Durrells offers a lighter period drama, while Peaky Blinders provides a look at one of his earlier supporting roles. Exploring these productions alongside his films gives a broader understanding of his career and the different characters he has brought to the screen.
