Euphoria has been the stepping stone for many young actors to grow far beyond the teen drama, but long before the HBO series, another acclaimed coming-of-age show played a crucial role in paving the road to success for many actors. Since its release in 2019, Euphoria has gradually paved the way for many actors like Jacob Elordi, Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Hunter Schafer to land bigger roles in several other mainstream movies and TV shows. Elordi’s acting portfolio has only been growing from strength to strength with movie projects like Saltburn, Priscilla, and Frankenstein.
Meanwhile, Zendaya, too, has become one of the highest-paid actresses of modern times after her roles in several acclaimed movies, like Dune, Challengers, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, and several other Euphoria cast members have also significantly progressed in their acting careers since their first appearance in the HBO series, proving how the show has benefited many young stars. Interestingly, though, Euphoria is not the first teen drama to serve as a springboard for many actors.
Like Euphoria, UK’s Skins Served As A Stepping Stone For Many Young Talented Actors
Nicholas Hoult, Kaya Scodelario, Dev Patel, Daniel Kaluuya, Jack O’Connell, and Joe Cole Were All In Skins
Just like Euphoria helped Jacob Elordi, Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Hunter Schafer put their acting talent on full display and eventually land even bigger roles, Skins set the stage for actors like Nicholas Hoult, Kaya Scodelario, Dev Patel, Daniel Kaluuya, Jack O’Connell, and Joe Cole to showcase their abilities and launch their careers. Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, and Daniel Kaluuya were all a part of the show’s first generation. While Hoult played one of the main characters, Tony, Dev Patel and Daniel Kaluuya had relatively smaller roles.
Almost two decades since the show’s release, all three actors are doing incredibly well and are even considered the best prospects for the next James Bond casting. While Daniel Kaluuya has an Academy Award win under his belt, Dev Patel has won an Oscar nomination and made waves with his directorial debut with Monkey Man. Similarly, Nicholas Hoult has earned immense acclaim for his roles in The Menu, Nosferatu, and Mad Max: Fury Road and is all set to play Lex Luthor in Superman.
Skins‘ second generation’s leading character, Effy, was portrayed by Kaya Scodelario, who has starred in renowned franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and Maze Runner. She was also recently a part of Netflix’s The Gentlemen as one of the two main characters. Joe Cole, too, who is best known for his work in Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, and Gangs of London, played a role in Skins season 6 early on in his career. Some lesser-known actors from the series, like Hannah Murray, Joe Dempsie, and Luke Pasqualino, also have credits in Game of Thrones and Shadow and Bone.
Why Skins’ Cast Has Been Doing So Well
The Show’s Creators Followed A Meticulous Casting Process
The idea for Skins came to co-creator and writer, Bryan Elsley, when his son, Jamie, asked him to “write a show about teenagers, but one that actually means something.” After the show was commissioned, the casting began through a talent hunt in youth drama clubs, where actors like Daniel Kaluuya hopped on board. Through open auditions, Kaya Scodelario, Hannah Murray, and Dev Patel were also cast (via The Guardian). Given how so many young actors in the series were cast based purely on talent without other agendas, it makes sense that many later had successful careers.
It took an unfiltered approach towards portraying the messy and chaotic days of one’s early years while exploring themes of everything from addiction to dysfunctional families, from trauma to mental health.
Skins was not helmed by experienced filmmakers and writers. However, it completely changed how many viewed the coming-of-age genre because, unlike most other teen dramas, it captured the raw authenticity of growing up in the real world. It took an unfiltered approach to portray the messy and chaotic days of one’s early years while exploring themes of everything from addiction to dysfunctional families, from trauma to mental health.
With lesser-known but incredibly talented actors as its leads, the show’s drama felt even more realistic and relatable. The show’s relatability and realism played a crucial role in helping it go viral. This, in turn, ensured that its talented cast members got the attention they deserved.
18 Years After Its Release, Skins Remains The Blueprint For Many Coming-Of-Age Shows
Skins Inspired Many Shows To Present The Teenage Experience Through An Unflinching Lens
Euphoria seems similar to Skins in more ways than one, which has prompted many viewers to draw comparisons between the two shows’ characters. While Euphoria undoubtedly has better production value, it is hard not to believe that it draws inspiration from Skins‘ refusal to sanitize the teenage experience. Over the years, Skins‘ influence has also seemingly gone far beyond English-language shows.
For instance, the acclaimed Norwegian drama series Skam is very similar to Skins in the sense that it takes an unbiased look at adolescence instead of seeing it from a more patronizing lens. The Netflix Turkish series Love 101 also seems inspired by Skins because of how it captures the harsh realities faced by its ordinary teenage characters who struggle with social pressures, abandonment, and isolation. Way before Euphoria premiered, Skins also received an American remake in 2011, which is considered far inferior to the original show.
