Joseph Michael Cole (born 28 November 1988) is an English actor. He gained prominence through his role in the BBC series Peaky Blinders (2014–2017) and received a British Academy Television Award nomination for his performance in the Black Mirror episode "Hang the DJ" (2017). He has since starred in the Channel 4 series Pure (2019), the Sky Atlantic series Gangs of London (2020–2025), the ITV series The Ipcress File (2022) and the BBC series Nightsleeper (2024).
Cole won a British Independent Film Award for his performance in A Prayer Before Dawn (2017). His other films include Secret in Their Eyes (2015) and Against the Ice (2022).
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 filmOffender 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 Kyle Parson 2022 Against the Ice Iver Iversen 2024 The Damned Daniel 2025 The Actor Nick The Birthday Party Ian Forster 2026 He Bled Neon Ethan Rian Post-production rowspan="3" Alexander McQueen Post-production Post-production Filming
Television 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 2020–2025 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
References
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