British actor Shea Cole plays a prominent role in Thea Sharrock’s Netflix original film “The Beautiful Game.”
The film revolves around the Homeless World Cup, an annual soccer tournament that brings together displaced or disadvantaged players from nearly 50 countries, playing not just for the trophy, but for a second chance at life. Cole plays Jason, a wanna-be ladies’ man who gets a sharp education in #MeToo when he inappropriately meets flamboyant Mexican-American player Rosita (Cristina Rodeo).
“One thing that was great about Thea was that she chimed in with any concerns that we had, she was willing to have conversations and she was able to basically alleviate any concerns that we had, surrounding that conversation with Jason,” Cole said. diverse. “I think what she really wanted to highlight was Jason’s naivety and innocence. And not having a role model in his life. So, even though Jason makes terrible mistakes, she didn’t want that to come from an informed place. I think she wanted that to come from A place of innocence and a place of childish naivety that she wanted to explore.
“Even though he makes these mistakes, I wanted to make the audience really feel for him. And I really wanted the audience to look at Jason and say, ‘Oh, I wish I could take him under my wing and give him some direction.’
“The beautiful game”
Netflix
Much of the film is set in Rome and the actors underwent training camp under the tutelage of football choreographer Mike Delaney. “He worked with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and all these big heads in the football industry. I felt like a professional footballer,” Cole said.
Cole says that Jason’s character’s behavior is influenced by a lack of role models, something the actor had plenty of in real life. Cole studied at The Brit School and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His phone wallpaper from Britt’s school has been Sidney Poitier, and he has an Oscar.
“That’s something I think about day in and day out, and it’s what really inspired me to not only become an actor, but to be able to be an actor at the highest level, and truly achieve greatness, and collective success in this craft,” Cole said. “Sidney Poitier was the person who really pushed me, and there would be people like Daniel Kaluuya and Denzel Washington. And of course, honestly, the best, my favorite actor I’ve ever met and the most exciting actor, has to be Leonardo DiCaprio. He’s someone who never fails.” All my life he surprises or inspires me. I love his work.
In his gap year after Brit School, Cole joined several youth theater groups. He also found representation with the Artists Partnership. While studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Cole continued auditioning, and that’s when his big break came, playing the lead role of Alex Whittle, a black British novelist who was sentenced to prison after the 1981 Brixton Uprising, in a clip from a Steve McQueen film. Popular anthology film “Small Axe” (2020). “She Cole, who has never been in a movie before and has a witty sensuality that can take him far, makes Alex a glowing chameleon,” the film said. diverse Review of the movie.
Shee Cole as Alex Whittle in “Small Axe.”
Everett Group
“Steve is a living legend. He’s an icon, he’s a genius. When someone of that caliber reaches out to you and sees those qualities in you, there’s an element of responsibility, an element of pure nerve that runs through your body,” Cole said. “Playing with Alex Whittle will always be Its an honor for me. This is something I will never forget. Steve gave me my own space to really get involved in this industry and throw myself in the deep end, without any stabilizers. At the time, it was completely nerve-wracking, and I was filled with fear. But when I look back at that moment, at that period of time, I feel so grateful. Because I learned a lot, I learned how to drive. I have learned how to express myself in different ways. Physically, I was able to take myself back to a time when I was unable to live or exist. But thanks to the research, thanks to his help and the team around me, I was able to really, in a way, take myself there.”
“He’s almost like a dad to me in this industry. I honestly owe him so much. I wouldn’t be here without him,” Cole added. “When you work with an auteur like Steve McQueen, the whole world wants to benefit from him and everyone wants to see what he creates. So, I had a lot of eyes at the beginning of my career.” The actor says that “Small Axe” opened doors to later roles in Donald Glover’s “Atlanta,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Full Circle” and the romantic film “Boxing Day.”
Upcoming for Cole are several independent films and he is also working on some music, which he describes as his “first love.”
“The Beautiful Game” is now streaming on Netflix. Cole is repped by Artist Partnership and WME.