Houston, Texas-born actor Colin O’Brien discovered his deep passion for performing at just four years old. Since then, his career has skyrocketed, taking to the stage in an impressive 17 theatrical productions before seamlessly transitioning to the big screen. His feature film debut saw him featuring alongside the legendary Halle Berry in Netflix’s The Mothership.

O’Brien’s meteoric rise has only gained momentum, landing him the coveted role of young Willy Wonka opposite Timothée Chalamet in Wonka. Now, he takes on his most chilling role yet in Neon and Osgood Perkins’ psychological horror The Monkey, portraying Petey, the son of Theo James’ character.

Watch the trailer…

We caught up with Colin to discuss how childhood make-believe sparked his acting journey, Osgood Perkins’ signature dark humour, and the invaluable advice Halle Berry once shared with him.

Read the interview…

What first sparked your interest in acting?

I guess the first thing that sparked my interest in acting was playing make believe as a child. In preschool, I enjoyed playing in the kitchen and would be the dad, uncle or brother in our skits. We created stories that continued every day, adding characters, like a soap opera. Then, I started in musical theater at the Crighton Theatre in Conroe, Texas. The main stage play that summer was The Wizard of Oz. I loved every aspect of it, watching the show come to life, the excitement we created every night, and even the encores. I was hooked.

Is there a role or genre you haven’t done yet but would love to try?

A genre I haven’t done yet but have always been really captivated by is sci-fi. One of my favourite movies of all time is Interstellar, and I’d be really interested in working on something in the same vein.

What was it like working with director Osgood Perkins and horror legend James Wan? Did they give you any specific advice on approaching horror?

Oz’s approach is not to take things too seriously. He finds humour in everything, including a lot of dark elements that people usually turn away from, especially really gory deaths.

The film is premiering soon—what are you most excited for audiences to see?

I’m really excited for audiences to see The Monkey’s pairing of its shockingly grotesque deaths with comedy, as well as Theo’s incredible performance as the Twins. It’s a really fun film & I think there’s something for everyone.

You’ve worked with some incredible directors and actors already—who’s on your dream collaboration list?

I am very open to new story-telling experiences, so my dream collaboration list is way too far reaching to print. Let’s just say there’s nothing I can’t imagine and no one I wouldn’t enjoy collaborating with on a project.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as an actor so far?

The best advice I’ve gotten is to keep something for yourself and to not take rejection personally. There are many reasons you don’t book a role and a lot of those are out of your hands. Halle Berry once told me, “The universe has something better in mind,” after I didn’t book a role. Her advice really hit home the next week when I booked Wonka.

If you could give advice to young actors just starting out, what would it be?

Try to enjoy what you do whenever you get a chance to do it, whether it’s in an audition or a role. Every character you play, even if only for 5 minutes, is an opportunity to do something you love. It also adds to your palette as an artist, helping you hone your skills.