Less than a year after terrifying audiences as an Irish‑dancing vampire in Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror Sinners, Jack O’Connell returns with an even more outrageous villain. In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, he plays Sir Jimmy Crystal, a devil‑worshipping, pseudo‑evangelical cult leader of a gang called the Jimmies. Introduced briefly at the end of Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, Crystal fully comes to life in Nia DaCosta’s bloody sequel, clad in a rich purple tracksuit and sporting a luxuriant mane of hair — a character O’Connell calls “the maddest I’ve ever seen” and one he relished making his own.
Sony Pictures’ The Bone Temple marks another highlight in what has been a prolific period for the British actor, who recently enjoyed a cinematic resurgence sparked by Back to Black in 2024. Though he downplays any analytical assessment of his career, he admits to savoring the positive reception his performances have received.
On playing Sir Jimmy Crystal:
“It was wild fun, completely unbounded — very freeing,” O’Connell says. The character description alone, simply stating “Sir Jimmy Crystal,” struck him as the height of madness. The casting involved a small meeting at Danny Boyle’s house, which O’Connell describes as a monumental moment for any fan of the director. “I thought, if it went my way, it was going to make an amazing year.”
Crystal’s brief appearance at the end of 28 Years Later elicited a strong “WTF” reaction from audiences, O’Connell notes, enjoying the ambiguity of a character who seems good at first but quickly reveals a dark side. Even the iconic purple tracksuit was his choice: “Purple was the color of monarchs, so I thought it’d give him status.”
A fruitful year for villains:
O’Connell reflects on his recent villainous roles as “nothing but sheer luck,” from Sinners to The Bone Temple. More projects are on the horizon, including portraying ex-Sun editor Larry Lamb in Ink, and joining the MonsterVerse in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, where he plays a “straight shooter” rather than a villain.
Asked about his current streak of high‑profile films, O’Connell remains grounded: “Personally, the view is always on what’s next… But it feels great. It’s worth savoring those moments.”
Influence on younger actors:
He’s aware of his impact, noting how emerging actors without industry connections look to him for inspiration. “It’s probably one of the most rewarding things you could expect to hear… half the reason I get out of bed in the morning.”
And yes — the purple tracksuit? He keeps it. “100%. In case we need it again.”
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