# Joe Cole (actor)

Joseph Michael Cole (born 28 November 1988) 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.

## Early life and education

The oldest of five boys, Joe Cole was born 28 November 1988 and grew up in Kingston upon Thames in London. His younger brother is actor Finn Cole, who starred alongside him in Peaky Blinders.
He attended Hollyfield Secondary School in Surbiton.

## Career

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

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes projects that have not yet been released |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Assessment | Michael | Short film |
| 2012 | Volume | Sam | Short film |
| 2012 | Offender | Tommy | |
| 2012 | Now Is Good | Scott | |
| 2014 | A Long Way Down | Chas | |
| 2014 | Slap | Connor | Short film |
| 2014 | The Falling | Kenneth Lamont | |
| 2014 | Peterman | Johnny | |
| 2014 | Callow & Sons | | Short film |
| 2015 | Green Room | Reece | |
| 2015 | Pressure | Jones | |
| 2015 | Secret in Their Eyes | Marzin / Beckwith | |
| 2017 | Eye on Juliet | Gordon | Tiantan Award for Best Actor |
| 2017 | Woodshock | Nick | |
| 2017 | 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 [de] | Kyle Parson | |
| 2022 | Against the Ice | Iver Iversen | |
| 2024 | The Damned | Daniel | |
| 2025 | The Actor † | Nick | Post-production |
| TBA | The Birthday Party † | TBA | Post-production |
| TBA | He Bled Neon † | Ethan | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | The Bill | Leo Cooper | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Holby City | Shaun Jackson | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Stanley Park | Lee | Television film |
| 2011 | Come Fly with Me | Jordan | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Injustice | Alan Stewart | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Skins | Luke | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | The Thick of It | Jack | 1 episode |
| 2012 | 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 |