British actor Jack O’Connell has produced an array of magnetic performances over the last few years, all winning him rave reviews and opportunities.

From his role in prison picture Starred Up, to the Northern Ireland set thriller 71 and now Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, Jack is proving his ability to conquer physically and emotionally demanding roles. 

Jack began his career as a supporting actor in TV series' such as Waterloo Road, The Bill and Skins before breaking through as tear-a-ways in Eden Lake, Harry Brown and as a young Bobby Charlton in United. 

It would seem his recent performance as a young British soldier lost on the streets of Belfast in '71 set the course for Jack to emulate a real life American soldier, Louis Zamperini, who was captured by Japanese forces in World War Two and held in a torturous prisoner-of-war camp. 

Jack joined us on The Picture Show to discuss his career to date and his extreme preparation for Unbroken. 

It is reported Jack lost 30 pounds to portray a prisoner of war, however the actor claims that chasing numbers for weight loss "is quite dangerous" and that the transformation was "mainly an aesthetic process". He said "if I looked hollow enough, I knew we were sitting pretty". However the extreme weight loss did take its toll on the young actor, who admitted to occasionally passing out on set.

On the special responsibility of playing the late Louis Zamperini - Louis passed away at age 97 before Unbroken was released- Jack says he hopes "we have a fitting tribute" for "a man of very colourful opinion, most of the time."

Jack also discusses his next project 'Tulip Fever', a period drama about a young artist who falls for his married subject.

Listen back to the full interview here: 

Unbroken Trailer (Cert 12A)