Onscreen, Jack Barton is Lieutenant John Tonkin; a fearless soldier sweeping coolly into Season Two of the smash hit period adventure SAS Rogue Heroes. Offscreen, Jack is the talented actor bringing him to life, talking excitedly about the honour of portraying a legendary war hero. Despite an impressive repertoire with roles in Heartstopper and Poor Things, Barton refuses to treat his success with anything less than immense gratitude. He approaches his career with a striking mixture of humble diligence and visceral passion, evident in his elastic range across everything from gripping period dramas to modern pop culture phenomena. THE REAL spoke to the adept actor about breakout roles, bringing history to the screen, and the unshakeable love of the craft at the nucleus of it all.
by Maisy Nichols
Thank you for sitting down with us today. You’ve had an amazing year; what has been your highlight of 2024, professionally?
I find these kind of questions really hard to answer! To be honest, I think the best was actually a personal one: my brother got married this summer. I was graciously asked to be the celebrant for the wedding–a job I quite literally couldn’t have been more nervous for. It turned out to the one of the most wholesome and beautiful experiences. To be there and see them tie the knot… it was magical. They didn’t pay me much but I’ll forgive them that.
As a working actor constantly striding forward, can it be difficult to remember to stop and appreciate the work that you have already achieved?
I mean, I’m not that busy just yet! There’s still lots of time for me to stop and take stock, thankfully. It must be tricky when you don’t have a second for that. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re being dragged in every direction all at the same time and it’s really hard to stay grounded when that’s happening. So hopefully I’ll always make time to pause.
Jacket: Selected Homme
Tie: Prada
Shorts: Zara
Your first role is listed as a one-episode feature in Grantchester. Is there anything that you learned on that set that you still use professionally today?
I mean, of course–every job teaches you something. With Grantchester, for example, it was my first job that was released but I actually filmed Letter for the King before that and that had a lot of pressure attached to it. So filming Grantchester helped me learn to take the pressure off and enjoy the fun of what we do, and do enjoy it with gusto.
Top: Zara
Shorts: Zara
Shoes: Giorgio
How does working on a smaller-scale British set like Grantchester compare to the huge scale of a project like War of the Worlds?
I mean, there’s an intimacy and community to long-running shows like Grantchester that you don’t get with Season 1, 2 or even 3 of something. Otherwise, it’s all pretty similar! At the heart of it you have a script, a camera and people pretending to be other people in front of it…that’s it! Of course, things like lighting, VFX, hair and makeup and set design can all change depending on the budget and that will absolutely influence the final product. But in terms of the process itself for someone in my position? It’s pretty much the same every time.
On large sets, is it easy to become overwhelmed by the scale? How do you centre yourself and ensure that your performance is still intimate on a behemoth production?
Yeah, it can take a second and it’s easy to let imposter syndrome creep in especially with the pressure of having that much resting on your shoulders between action and cut. But at the end of the day, it’s all irrelevant and doesn’t serve you. Acting is one of the very few jobs in the world where, I believe, your entire job is basically to play, and to have fun. So, enjoy it–there’s very little point otherwise. There’s some unsolicited advice for you…
Suit: All Saints
Boots: Requisite
Necklace: Dower and Hall
You’ve worked on projects with actors such as Emma Stone and Daisy Edgar Jones. Who is one actor you would love to work with?
Paul Dano is a good one. I’ve always been a huge admirer of his work. He has such a unique intensity to him and his choice of films to work on? Chef’s Kiss. Posthumously, I’d love to include Robin Williams & Heath Ledger as well, but only if that’s allowed…please?
Shirt: FKA Clothing
You scored a role on Poor Things, one of the best films of 2023. How does it feel to see a project that you worked on gain immense critical success and sweep four Oscars?
Yeah, it’s crazy! It means nothing in reference to the amount I contributed overall but you can’t help but feel like it’s a cool thing to have your name associated with. A step in the right direction, I guess? And an absolute honour to have been even just a small part of a production like that.
Heartstopper was another huge role for you. Were you familiar with the show or book before you landed the role?
Not at all if I’m honest. I guess it’s largely aimed at a slightly younger audience and perhaps I had even judged it slightly for that, but boy was I wrong. For a show to have the kind of impact that Heartstopper has had is immense. Even as the detestable older brother I received countless messages about how it had helped people and how much it meant to them. It’s been a real privilege to be a part of.
Beret: David Wej
Jacket: Selected Homme
Shorts: Zara
Shoes: Giorgio
David is a negative, homophobic character in the show. How does this affect your relationship with the character; are you able to develop the same empathy and fondness you would for a character with greater morals?
Ha, it’s definitely a bit more tricky…but where there’s a will…
Congratulations on SAS Rogue Heroes! You’ve spoken about the responsibility of playing a real-life character like John Tonkin; do you think that portrayals of real people are a balancing act between authenticity and your own interpretation, or should the focus be 100% on historical accuracy?
Good question. I’ve thought about that a lot, and while I do think situationally, I now believe that it will ALWAYS be your interpretation of that person–no matter how close you think you’ve got. So, of course, you have to do the work to understand them–their actions, their past, their likes and dislikes, and so on–but then you need to let it all go. No one wants to see you doing an impression of someone else, they want drama and they want truth. It’s a movie or show after all.
Shirt: FKA Clothing
Trousers:
Shoes: Ted Baker
You entered both Heartstopper and SAS Rogue Heroes at the start of Season Two. How does picking up a character at this point compare to playing a role at the start of a project?
I guess there are both pros and cons, really. You’ve already seen season one so can more easily gauge the tone and expectations of the character within season two. But on the other hand, if it’s been enjoyed by people in the way SAS and Heartstopper were, there’s a bit of added pressure knowing that lots of people are waiting to see what’s next… and hopefully we managed to keep them interested!
Jacket: Selected Homme
Tie: Prada
Why do you think that audiences keep returning to WW2 films and series? And on that note, what do you think makes SAS Rogue Heroes stand out from the crowd?
It’s just the ultimate drama, isn’t it? All-out war. The things these soldiers had to endure, day in and day out, and the way they handled it all… It’s such a source of fascination for me personally because of what it says about the human spirit and our indomitable will to survive. I think SAS Rogue Heroes is popular because it looks at that through a slightly different lens and shows these guys as the rockstars they were–punky and irreverent. They lived in dire conditions and fought for their country with abandon that, to be honest, is just really cool. I think people like seeing them this way.
Jacket: Woolrich
Jumper: Uniqlo
This is by no means your first period role. How do you prepare for roles that take place in time periods that you never lived through?
Ah, it’s all just research, you know! I’ve never been one to disappear into the Alps for six months to learn about survival…it’s all in the imagination. The documentaries and films you’ve watch throughout your life, the books you read and the people you’ve spoken to, it all helps build that image and then you step onto these immaculately built sets and bingo! With any luck, you’re there.
SAS Rogue Heroes has recently premiered. What do you hope audiences take away from the show?
I really hope they feel entertained and fuelled by the boisterous, irreverent energy of the whole thing. Through the show, I hope their respect for these men, what they went through and all who served alongside them, grows massively.
Beyond the premiere, what are you looking forward to in 2025?
It’s my 30th birthday this year so I’m really looking forward to reaching that milestone. To stepping into a new decade and to letting go of the last one! I’m also trying to go to Japan too, so that would be fun.
SAS Rogue Heroes is available to stream on BBC1 now.
Follow Jack on Instagram @jack.barton
Team:
Photographer: Massimiliano Giorgeschi @maxgiorgeschi
Photography Assistant: Isabella Armora @howimwastingtime
Set Designer/Creative Director: Laurie TB @laurietb
Fashion Stylist/Editor: Charmaine McKoy @charmainemckoystyle
Fashion Assistant: Silvia Asuquo @asnegreg
Movement Director: Mikey Boateng @mikeyboats
Grooming: Charlie Cullen @charlieculleneducation
Deputy Editor: Sean Mckoy @sean.amck
Videographer: Nano Opoku Agyeman @officialsolarflare
Interview: Maisy Nichols @maisynic
Cover Design: Sofia DeVita @sofia.devita
