It has been five years since Skins first hit UK screens to terrify Daily Mail readers with its depiction of modern day teens as drink, drug and sex obsessed delinquents. The show has gone on to win a number of awards, provide huge ratings, spawn an American remake and manages to geniusly keeps things fresh by renewing the cast every other series. Returning this week to E4 for a brand new sixth season, the kids are just as wild and debauched as always. We caught new recruit Sam Jackson – who plays energetic, fun-loving Alex who joins the group at a point when they’re feeling a bit low – to talk to him about this latest character, find out how he got the job and discuss his name-sake, Samuel L.
How did you get your role in the Skins?
My agent sent me info on a new part for series 6. Was lucky enough to get an audition with Jane Ripley (the casting director) in London. Then get got called back for a second one, which went pretty well. Then later in the week, got a phone call saying I hadn't got it but a few hours later got another one saying I had got it. Was a bit of a roller-coaster.
Were you always a fan of the show?
Yeah definitely. It was ground breaking when it first came out wasn't it? I watched all of the previous series and enjoyed every one of them. I love how every two years, we get a switch of cast. I think the show is unique in that way.
How does it feel to have joined the cast?
Yeah it's great. When you're watching it on TV, you never ever think of yourself being a part of it. So joining was pretty surreal at first. I had an amazing time filming, everybody is really nice to you. So it's sad, now that it's all over and everyone's moving onto to other stuff. It went ridiculously quick.
What do you like most about your character, Alex?
I think I like how genuine he is. What you see is what you get with Alex. None of that two-faced bitchy girl stuff you sometimes get with other characters. I also love his attitude towards life. He cares and looks out for the people he's close to, but equally he lives life to the full. Parties hard and does some all-round mental stuff.
Do you have a similarly wild lifestyle to the Skins characters?
Sometimes yeah...It's probably not as relentless as in Skins. The thing is with Skins, it always picks out the highlights, the wild parties and all that. You never see the horrendous hangovers the next morning, which makes sense because nobody wants to watch that for entertainment do they?
Is it a bit frustrating being called Sam Jackson? If anyone Googles you, Samuel L Jackson appears...
Who's Samuel L Jackson? Never heard of him....Oh that other actor guy? Suppose I've just gotta work hard to see if I can get my name ahead of his!
Do people ask questions like "what was it like working with Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction?"
Funnily enough, they don't. I don't share many similarities with him really- apart from the name. You'd have to be pretty stupid to get us mixed up. Especially if you've actually seen Pulp Fiction. I mean come on- we're poles apart.
Do you ever get mistaken for anyone else?
Apart from Samuel L Jackson? No not really.
[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com]
