In the new thriller film American Star, Oscar Coleman plays Max opposite Ian McShane as Wilson, and is directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego, with filming taking place in the Canary Islands. Following his time filming American Star, Oscar went on to film in Ireland as Joshua for feature film Woken alongside Maxine Peake and Erin Kellyman, which as yet, no release date has been confirmed. With the Netflix series Bodies recently airing, Oscar plays Jawad Hasan, and he played Young Jack Caffery (Ukweli Roach) in Wolf for the BBC. Further projects for Oscar include playing Anthony Sims in the Apple TV+ science fiction dystopian series Silo, which has been renewed for Series 2, Evan Favreau in the Amazon film All the Old Knives, Dylan Trask in Silent Witness, and 4-Year-Old Simon Basset in Bridgerton for his first screen role. Oscar has voiceover experience, playing Isaiah in JoJo & Gran Gran for CBeebies, and on stage, he made his West End debut last year in Medea at @sohoplace alongside Sophie Okonedo. Also, Oscar has a few upcoming projects, which he is unable to announce as yet. Answering our questions, Oscar spoke about playing Max in the new thriller film American Star, his upcoming role of Joshua in Woken and making his West End debut last year in Medea.

You play Max in the new thriller film American Star, can you tell us about the film and your character?

American Star follows the journey of Wilson, played by Ian McShane, who is on a job on the island and while he’s waiting to do this job. He befriends Max, my character, who is staying at the same hotel.

How was it filming opposite Ian McShane and the rest of the cast, and being directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego?

Ian was really funny. Gonzalo was so patient and took a lot of time to work with me on the scenes. I didn’t film with the rest of the cast as all my scenes were just between me and Ian but the entire team, cast and crew were brilliant.

Was there anything that drew you to the role of Max and what did you enjoy most about working on American Star?

I remember it was a really fun self-tape to do and the face-to-face audition experience with casting director Vicky Wildman and director Gonzalez López-Gallego was thorough but at the same time really relaxed. Max loves football and I love football so that was an instant connection. Getting to wear a Real Madrid shirt in a film was awesome! Getting to go to Fuerteventura and staying on the beach for a few weeks also was really cool!

It has been announced that you will be playing Joshua in the feature film Woken, what can you say about filming this?

I had just finished filming American Star in the Canary Islands and then we filmed Woken in Ireland straight after. It was very different. Woken was a little bit more of a scary film. Working with Maxine Peake and Erin Kellyman was amazing.

What was the Netflix series Bodies like to be part of as Jawad Hasan and what was it like on set?

Amaka Okafor and Nitin Ginatra were my on-screen mum and grandpa. They were lovely. There were lots of late night shoots. I had to stay up late on my very first day. I was really sleepy, but I had to pretend I was partying and excited to celebrate my grandpa’s birthday. We filmed in Leeds over the summer holiday and my younger brothers were able to come and stay for a while.

How was it voicing the role of Isaiah in Series 3 of JoJo & Gran Gran for CBeebies?

It was so much fun. It was my first voiceover and first job. I could really enjoy it fully as it is for children and all my other jobs I am not able to watch. The JoJo & Gran Gran production is a great team to be part of. I feel very lucky.

What was it like playing Young Jack Caffery (Ukweli Roach) in Wolf for BBC and how was it getting into character?

Wolf was an amazing job and I made a really good friend, Frankie Keita, who played my brother. It was really cool getting to meet Ukweli Roach, and I loved working with the director, Lee Haven Jones. He is really passionate and creates a wonderful atmosphere on set.

In the Apple TV+ series Silo, you play Anthony Sims, how would you describe the character?

Anthony is a really cool kid and he is very close to his parents. My parents were really excited about this job as I was working with Common. I didn’t know who he was but they played me some of his tunes before we started. I obviously knew of Rebecca Ferguson, as I am a massive fan of The Greatest Showman.

How is it filming for a science fiction dystopian series and hearing that Silo had been renewed for Series 2?

The costumes and the sets were really cool. It’s really exciting news for all the cast and crew having been renewed for Season 2.

How was your time playing Evan Favreau in the Amazon film All the Old Knives?

All the Old Knives is quite a special job because it was where I discovered my love of dance. I had to play a little boy who did ballet, but at this stage I’d never had a ballet lesson in my life so, after being cast, production arranged for me to have ballet lessons with a great teacher called Jamie Lee Tuffrey. Thandiwe Newton played my mum and she used to dance too!

Can you tell us about working on Silent Witness as Dylan Trask?

This was a really special job because I got to work with one of my brothers, Eiden-River, and my mum. I feel like I always say it but the director on this was also really cool. Delyth Thomas has such a good way of working with children, and my little brother was quite young at this point and she was able to bring out the best in him.

What do you remember most from playing 4-Year-Old Simon Basset in Bridgerton for your first acting project?

I remember bits about Bridgerton, but my dad always tells me the story of going for my recall and not saying a word. I had done a self-tape previously, which I think went really well but when I got to the face-to-face recalls, it must’ve been overwhelming because I just froze. Thankfully they saw something in me and trusted that I could do it.

How did you find the experience making your West End debut last year in Medea alongside Sophie Okonedo at @sohoplace?

Medea was a great job to do, again working with my brother Eiden-River. Doing a long run in the West End was a really fun experience but also really tough alongside school but you get into a routine very quickly. There were lots of late nights so we did get tired, but it was so much fun. Seeing the audience at the end of every show when you take your bow is quite special. My mum is a huge fan of Sophie and I know she found the whole experience special.

Do you remember what it was like finding out you’d booked your role and how you felt on your opening night of Medea?

I remember being told, and I just couldn’t believe it. You don’t see all the things that you go up for and don’t get, and there are quite a few jobs I don’t get so when you do get that phone call from your agent, it’s really exciting. Dominic Cooke, the director, was really nice.

How did you get into acting and can you tell us about your dance training?

My parents are both actors and they help me with auditions and work at home. After doing All the Old Knives, I started ballet lessons, I joined the Royal Academy of Dance, and then had my current ballet school, Natalia Kremen Ballet School, recommended to me. It is such an amazing school and my two younger brothers also go there now and I believe it’s because of the wonderful teachers Miss Natalia, Miss Tatyana, Miss Julia and Miss Maya that I was able to audition and successfully make it to a junior associate at the Royal Ballet School. I love dancing, it makes me feel free.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch and how do you like to spend your free time?

I have three brothers and a Weimaraner so there is always a lot going on at home. I play for Carshalton FC and Balham Ballers and dance a lot. I love drawing, riding my bike and spending time with family and friends too. I don’t get to watch a lot of TV.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping 2024 brings for you?

I have a few things coming up but I cannot talk about them yet. I am looking forward to taking part in my ballet school show and playing in my year’s music recital at school. I hope 2024 brings new adventures.

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