It's hard to think that Jack O'Connell – the BAFTA Rising star-award winner who's enjoyed a pub dinner with his family and Angelina Jolie – is the same Derby-born teen who stole our hearts as bad boy Cook in Skins.
Since then, the 25-year-old he's been called a 'star of the future' by Michael Caine, played an Athenian warrior in blockbuster 300: Rise of An Empire and lost 30 pounds to portray Italian-American Olympic distance runner and prisoner-of-war survivor Louis Zamperini in the 2014 hit, Unbroken.
According to Vogue.co.uk, the actor has admitted he'd love to play the coveted role of James Bond ('100 per cent, but I don't think it's realistic') – a feat we're not so sure is out of O'Connell's grasp given his outstanding acting CV to date.
So, in honor of our teenage Skins crush, we've rounded up why we're so enamoured with the down-to-earth Brit.
1. He's grown up since his Skins days
In 2006, O'Connell was cast as troubled teen Pukey in the critically acclaimed skinhead drama This is England before taking up the role of Cook in Channel 4's British teen drama Skins.
However, playing a self-destructive and violent teen with a penchant for causing havoc wasn't a far cry from the actor's early days as a teenager growing up in Derby.
Aged 17, he was almost sent to prison for driving his Mum's car without a license, over the drink-drive limit and without insurance but was given a suspended sentence. However, he has since come against obstacles in his acting career due to not being able to obtain a visa in the past.
In an interview with ES Magazine he said: 'It's been hard enough trying to get into America with all of that said and done.
So I can't imagine, if that conviction had amounted to anything, how different things would be.'
2. He's still friends with his Skins co-stars
The actor is still friends with his Skins pals and has been spotted on regular nights out in London with Dev Patel (Anwar) and Merveille Lukeba (Thomas).
3. He starred in a film dedicated to highlighting the refugee crisis
To mark World Refugee Day on 20th June, Jack O'Connell and Holliday Grainger starred in the a powerful short film called HOME which centred on an English family who became refugees.
4. He's not too bad on the eye
Last year, the British actor took centre stage in a new campaign for Prada's SS15 menswear collection.
Photographed by Craig McDean, the model sports a selection of knitwear and tailored suits and look pretty darn handsome.
5. He isn't phased by socialising with Hollywood's elite
According to Talk Radio, O'Connell was left red-faced when George Clooney made fun of his exercise regime on the set of Money Monster.
'I was doing press ups and he came and stood behind me in front of the whole crew.
'He pretended to do exercises himself, but really corny ones. I was back on my feet red-faced anyway and I've got the whole crew laughing at me,' he said.
Jolie's husband Brad Pitt also offered him some fatherly advice on the set of Unbroken.
'Brad was like, 'Look man, I know your situation and I know you lost your dad. Just to let you know I'm here if anything's puzzling you',' he told ES Magazine.
Forget Brad, we're right here, Jack.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
