Those teen drama TV series are not to be taken lightly. Because they could produce the most promising Oscar-nominated or winning actors. For example, consider Skins, created by Jamie Brittain and Bryan Elsley.
Every episode usually centers on a specific character or group of characters and the challenges they encounter in their daily lives. Themes of mental illness, dysfunctional families, bullying, and s*icide were also covered in greater detail. Not only did Skins receive positive reviews and good box office results, but it also gained a cult following. Of course, this is due to the stellar cast.
Jordan Peele also agreed on this. Unbelievably, he has not watched Skins but he still gives the popular TV series credit for “producing” two of the best actors in contemporary film history—Dev Patel and Daniel Kaluuya.
The Skin Effect: Jordan Peele’s Say on Dev Patel and Daniel Kaluuya’s Work
While having worked earlier with two of Skins’ famous alumni, Dev Patel and Daniel Kaluuya, Jordan Peele disclosed that he has not actually seen the series, according to Empire Magazine (via Discussing Film). Both Patel and Kaluuya got their start in the acclaimed British teen drama, which chronicled the lives of a group of teenagers as they dealt with the challenges of adolescence.
Peele has nothing but high praise for Patel and Kaluuya, calling them two of the “greatest actors in modern cinema”. He continued by expressing gratitude to the show for helping to launch their careers.
“It produced two dudes who are amongst the greatest in modern cinema. Skins ain’t no joke!”
Peele appears to hold a special regard for Kaluuya. In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the former stated that the Get Out star was his “all-time favorite actor”.
Skins featured a wide variety of characters in an effort to capture a realistic picture of English school life. The best example of this was Anwar Kharrel (Dev Patel), who frequently struggled with reconciling his religious beliefs with his drug and alcohol abuse.
Patel was able to work on developing Anwar’s deep character, most of which revolved around his struggle to win over his demanding Pakistani parents and his wild, partying friends. And today, he is unquestionably the biggest success story to emerge from Skins, having starred in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire (2008) as a breakout star and earning an Oscar nomination for Lion (2016).
Kaluuya, who went by the nickname Posh Kenneth, was a recurring character in the first 2 seasons of Skins rather than a main cast member. However, each scene he starred in was hilariously funny and ought to have made him a major character. He had a few amusing one-liners, but other than that, he was largely absent.
And now, following a highly anticipated performance in Black Mirror, Kaluuya starred in Jordan Peele’s groundbreaking horror film Get Out, which earned him praise and an Oscar nomination.
The Toll of Criticism: Dev Patel’s Experience Working on Skins
In a 2021 interview with the New York Times, Dev Patel reminisced about his time on Skins and discussed the impact remarks made about his appearance and the stories he told on screen had on him:
“I was a young kid going on these chat rooms, and it was quite brutal. There were all these lists of who’s the favorite character on the show or who was the best-looking character, and I was always the ugliest, the least attractive.”
As the British actor, 33, went on, nobody “liked Anwar. It really took a toll on me personally.” He further recalled that he had felt scrutinized by his peers for his choice to join the Skins cast. Patel explained:
“It felt like suicide in the community to put your kid into a TV show and let him drop out of school at 16. While everyone else’s kid is off becoming a doctor or a dentist, I’m here on this TV show…simulating sex and taking drugs.”
Since then, he has worked on a number of projects and has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Supporting Role category for his role in Lion.
Skins developed a cult following while becoming a critical and commercial success. It has been deemed revolutionary since then, according to The Guardian. In the rapidly evolving entertainment landscape, it can be easy to underestimate the influence that a show like Skins can have on the industry. However, Jordan Peele’s recognition of the show’s impact on Patel and Daniel Kaluuya ensures that its legacy will be felt for many years to come.
Stream Skins on Hulu.
