SITTING opposite me on a sofa in the Corinthia hotel, dressed all in off-white, Jack O'Connell half-smiles, does that exhaling thing people do when they're deeply contemplating something and then - in response to my very first question- says: "All right, well... this one's loaded."
I have always really, really liked Jack O'Connell. Who hasn't? As a teen he was - by miles the best thing in Skins, with much more of a natural edge than any of the other breakouts; reflective of a sometimes tough working-class upbringing in Alvaston, Derbyshire. He has been incredible in 2013's Starred Up and the following year's '71 and plenty of other things since.
But more than that he just seems - has always seemed like a decent, humble sort of a guy. When, for example, he later tells me that he's just made his directorial debut with a music video for Paul Weller, he is fizzing with the kind of obvious excitement you cannot help but find endearing.
I thus wish that I didn't have such problems with Back to Black - directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, and in which O'Connell of course co-stars opposite Marisa Abela's Amy Winehouse as Blake Fielder Fielder-Civil, now known as Blake and problems, in particular, with what an easy ride it gives the latter.
It lets him off the hook for introducing Winehouse to class A drugs, despite the fact that he is on record accepting responsibility for this. It credits him, via scenes that feature O'Connell dancing around the Good Mixer pub in Camden, with introducing Winehouse to the music that directly inspired her biggest and most enduring songs (Mark Ronson, by the way, is only mentioned in passing and not featured in the film).
But most of all, it portrays her as violent towards him, to the extent that, I think, anyone taking this version of their relationship as the reality might be inclined to side with Fielder.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Only £65k a month to live like Boy George
The Karma Chameleon singer listed his house for £17m in 2022, turning down offers. Now, he's looking for a tenant
Welcome to London, unicorn capital of Europe
We're flying far ahead of anywhere outside US for tech investment
Arteta's Arsenal evolution The next phase
Malik Ouzia and Simon Collings assess how the Spaniard will try to bring down Man City after he signs up for another three years with the title in his sights
Title fight catches fire after Gunners embrace dark side
Arsenal-City clashes take on a welcome edge of animosity
Whack the hippy gong-boho's back
It happened in Paris one grey February day. Sienna Miller was in an oversized, black leather jacket, lace-trimmed silk slip and clumpy great wedges.
There's a Starlink waiting in the sky... 7,000 in fact.Can Elon Musk stop them crashing to Earth?
As he was preparing his fields for seeding this year, Barry Sawchuk came across a giant slab of space debris. It had come from a spacecraft belonging to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
'Politicians are only into power-mongering, corruption and cronyism'
We speak to alt revolutionary DEEPAK CHOPRA about biomarkers, his digital twin and his work to save humanity from disease
I've been waiting for a production of Godotthis brilliant all my life
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati bring a potent, tragicomic chemistry to James Macdonald’s rich revival of Samuel Beckett’s challenging play.
Trust me, the Ritz is London's bestrestaurant
To whom we turn in moments of gloom and glory can be instructive, a filter of our truest friends. I've fallen out with the Ritz a couple of times, including once after a visit to the bar which didn’t warrant a review (“But you said it was lovely!” they said.
'Healing is a dirty word'
After four traumatic years, FKA twigs is back with a new album -and a thrilling metamorphosis