Before Peter Quint, Oliver Jackson-Cohen Was Actually Meant to Play Another Bly Manor Role
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Oliver Jackson-Cohen might play villainous roles like The Haunting of Bly Manor's Peter Quint and The Invisible Man's Adrian Griffin, but don't let those projects scare you away. The 33-year-old actor likes to break the tension with laughs on set and actually seeks out acting opportunities that allow him to express his "sensitive" and "emotional" nature. That's what made him such a compelling character when he portrayed Luke Crain in The Haunting of Hill House, which is where many fans fell in love with him for the first time.
He's certainly no sweetheart in these new Netflix episodes — Peter Quint is manipulative and terrifying — so if you need help separating the actor from the role, keep reading. We've rounded up a few of our favorite facts about Oliver that'll help you rest easy. For example, did you know he was originally set to play a totally opposite part in Bly Manor?
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He's From London
Oliver has tried his hand at American and Scottish accents for the Haunting anthology, but in real life, he's English. He was born in London, to fashion designer Betty Jackson and her business partner and husband, David Cohen.
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He Used to Be a Model
Before he started focusing on acting full-time, Oliver was signed to the Models 1 agency in the United Kingdom.
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He Was Originally Cast For a Different Bly Manor Role
After his heartbreaking portrayal of Luke Crain in The Haunting of Hill House, Oliver signed on for the series's next season without really knowing what his role would be. It turns out, he was originally intended to play the gardener, aka the love interest of Dani (played by Victoria Pedretti).
"It was an iteration where Victoria and I were going to play lovers," he told Entertainment Weekly, recalling the initial role. "And then I think Netflix was like, 'No, that's a bit weird seeing as [you played] twins.'"
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He'll Star as Dakota Johnson's Husband in His Next Project
Since wrapping Bly Manor and social distancing at home, Oliver has resumed filming The Lost Daughter in Greece. Oliver will play Dakota Johnson's husband in the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed film, also featuring Olivia Colman and Paul Mescal.
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His Relationship Status Is Unknown
If you're wondering whether Oliver is single IRL, the answer is a little fuzzy. He was rumored to be dating Arrow actress Jessica De Gouw after they worked on Dracula together, but neither has ever confirmed a relationship. Oliver remains tight-lipped about his love life.