Josh O’Connor says he was sacked as altar boy for smiling too much as he plays a Catholic priest in Netflix role

Josh O’Connor says he was sacked as an altar boy for smiling too much, a memory he shared while promoting his new Netflix role as a Catholic priest in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The Crown alumnus, 35, described how his playful attitude led to the dismissal. "I was smiling in the presence of the Lord," he said, adding that he was "brilliant" at the job. He recalled the moment as an early sign of theatrical impulse, noting that he was told by his mother about his reaction to the moment: "I think my mum said to the priest: 'He's smiling in the presence of the Lord'."

I was an altar boy and it was sort of my first foray into being what I thought was being on stage, and I was red for smiling too much. It was a funny memory, and I think that mild rebellion and sense of theater have always lived in me," O’Connor told a TV host in a lighthearted chat that touched on how his on-screen persona began to emerge even in his youth.

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O’Connor first rose to prominence on television as a young Prince Charles in The Crown’s third season and later shared scenes with Emma Corrin’s Princess Diana in season four. Beyond royal drama, he has established himself as a leading man in contemporary cinema and television. His performance as Patrick, a confident tennis pro, in Challengers helped cement his growing status in Hollywood, where he has become known for portraying nuanced, complex versions of masculinity.

In discussing his broader career, O’Connor has been candid about the kinds of roles that challenge him. He has spoken about his comfort with vulnerability and physical openness in his projects, noting that he is "pretty comfortable" with intimate moments when they serve a character’s truth. His past work includes God’s Own Country (where his character’s emotional journey was paired with intimate scenes) and the darker, more provocative Mothering Sunday, both of which showcased his willingness to push boundaries in service of character realism.

The actor has also commented on the evolving portrayal of masculinity in modern cinema, saying, "I think we're all still trying to figure out what the f*** is wrong with men." His remarks reflect a broader conversation in which performers like him are increasingly sought after for exploring multifaceted identities rather than one-dimensional archetypes.

O’Connor’s personal life has also drawn public interest. He was previously linked to Saltburn co-star Alison Oliver, with paparazzi photographs of the pair together in Italy fueling chatter about the relationship. He has not publicly commented beyond the reports, emphasizing instead a focus on his craft and upcoming projects.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery marks another shift in O’Connor’s trajectory, as he takes on a priestly role in a Netflix mystery that blends contemporary crime storytelling with his evolving screen presence. The project sits within the broader appetite for reimagined whodunits that mix humor, suspense and human drama, and O’Connor’s casting aligns with a push to diversify the types of leading men featured in prestige streaming films.