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interview | finn cole

leather jacket. SANDRO
vest. AHLUWALIA
trousers. PAUL SMITH
loafers. REFRENCE
opposite
full look. Valentino

Credits

What does it take to inhabit the mindset of a man moments from death — suspended in the cold, black stillness of the deep sea, tethered only by hope and memory? For Finn Cole, stepping into the role of diver Chris Lemons in ‘Last Breath‘ wasn’t just an acting challenge; it was a test of endurance, empathy, and emotional precision. Known for his sharp instincts in ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘Animal Kingdom’, Cole has evolved from rising talent to a performer with palpable emotional depth — one who understands that great storytelling lives in the fine balance between technique and vulnerability.

In conversation with Schön!, Finn Cole reflects on filming ‘Last Breath,’ the physical demands of underwater filmmaking, the emotional toll of portraying real-life trauma, and the quiet resilience that carries both character and actor through the darkest depths.

jacket, shirt + vest. The Frankie Shop
trousers. DANIEL SIMMONS
shoes. GRENSON
necklace + ring. RUDDOCK
socks. FALKE
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blazer + vest. Dior
ring. Tilly Sveaas

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Hi Finn! Thank you for chatting with Schön!. To start, how has your approach to acting evolved since your early days on ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘Animal Kingdom’?

I’d say I’ve learnt a lot of things since the early days: tools to make the job easier and more enjoyable. Mostly discipline with rest periods and routine in my down time to help me focus when working. The approach is different depending on what the part asks of me, I suppose. Figuring that out is the fun bit.

Are there particular techniques, rituals or methods you rely on to immerse yourself in a role, especially for intense performances like ‘Last Breath’?

With ‘Last Breath’, I had to focus on the diving training before I could even think about the character. Once I got comfortable with the technical side of the underwater stuff, I found lots of stretching and meditation helped me focus when I had the helmet on. That actually aligned quite nicely with what we were taught early on in training, so that was a change to my normal approach.

What makes a script stand out to you when you’re deciding whether to take on a role?

Pacing, character, and interesting dilemmas. This script offered all of those things and also allowed me to learn a new skill. That, to me, is a nice bonus!

shirt + trousers. Lanvin
shoes. GRENSON
belt. ANDERSON’S
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polo shirt. GEORDIE CAMPBELL
jeans. TDR @ GARBSTORE
loafers. GRENSON

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Are there any actors or filmmakers who have significantly influenced your career or approach to storytelling?

Cillian and Helen were great role models in the early days of my career. John Wells imparted invaluable wisdom in the 6 seasons we worked together on. The list is endless! I love actors who use the ‘less is more’ approach and, alternatively, I’m a huge fan of those who push the boundaries. I just love film and learning from all who make it! Woody and Simu also deserve a special mention for the amount of fun they injected into the shoot day.

Do you see acting as more of a technical skill, an emotional experience, or a combination of both? How do you balance those elements?

Definitely a combination of both, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. You have to draw upon both of those skills very regularly. Emotional sensitivity and intelligence allows you to find interesting answers to questions posed by writers, but you also have to hit your mark and work with the camera efficiently. Best not to overthink it though…

How do you handle emotionally demanding scenes? Is there a process you use to step in and out of a character’s headspace?

Keeping distractions to a minimum is quite important. Without stating the obvious I also push myself to think deeply about the character’s headspace and try to sit with it for as long as possible. It can take a lot of energy though, so it’s sometimes hard to switch off after the more emotional scenes.

‘Last Breath’ is based on true events. How did knowing the real-life outcome impact your approach to the character and the story?

I think it’s important not to tell the end of the story before it’s time. You have to earn an ending like that. The movie, for the most part, plays in real time, making it crucial to stay fully present in each scene to avoid revealing any plot points.

polo shirt. Geordie Campbell
jeans. TDR @ GARBSTORE
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full look. Geordie Campbell
shoes. Lanvin

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How did you prepare to portray a real-life figure like Chris Lemons, especially considering the harrowing circumstances he endured?

Yes, Chris was very helpful and gave me his phone number right away in case any extra correspondence was needed. There are aspects of the story that the movie could explore further than the documentary could, so it meant I had lots of deep and quite emotional questions for Chris. He was very generous throughout.

It was very helpful to have Chris to talk to, as well as other men who do this job. I wanted to capture the essence of Chris’ personality and I got to ask him some pretty difficult questions. It’s important to be respectful, though. Chris was an absolute gent while I was preparing for the role and extremely supportive throughout!

Has playing Chris Lemons in ‘Last Breath’ changed the way you think about fear, survival, or resilience?

Yes, I suppose it has made me a little more optimistic. It’s also a reminder of how fragile life is.

The film involves intense underwater scenes. What kind of training or challenges did you face while filming those sequences?

There were lots of challenges I’d never come across before on a film set. One of which was having to practically light myself with a flare during the pitch black underwater scenes. Another was having to angle the helmet in such a way that you catch my face, but not so you see the camera reflection in the visor. It made so many takes of backbreaking work unusable. That can be quite demoralising when you’re tired, but we had a fantastic communicative crew who helped us through it.

What was it like working alongside co-stars Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu in such a tense and confined setting?

It was a dream! I’ve been lucky enough to work with lots of fantastic co-stars in my career and these two fit nicely on that list. It’s a pleasure and a luxury to be able to rely on such great scene partners and also have a really good laugh while doing it. So much so we hung out a lot off-set too!

jacket. SANDRO
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suit. The Frankie Shop
shirt. Our Legacy @ MR PORTER
loafers. MALONE SOULIERS

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Director Alex Parkinson previously co-directed a documentary on the same subject. How did his experience with the real event shape his direction in this narrative film?

Alex is an expert on this story. I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew more about what happened than the people involved in the accident! His attention to detail and his patience was something that gave us great confidence and for this reason I can’t wait to see the next thing he makes!

The film delves deep into themes of survival and human resilience. How did you emotionally navigate these themes during filming?

I relied hugely on the creative people around me throughout shooting. I was also able to ask Chris some pretty intense questions which he answered frankly and with great emotional detail. It was then my job to do all of that justice on the day. It also helped massively to do all the diving for real. It allowed me to dive much deeper into Chris’ emotional state (if you’ll pardon the pun).

Considering the film’s setting in the North Sea, how did the filming locations and conditions contribute to the authenticity of the story?

We filmed at night in a big tank in Malta. A little warmer than the North Sea, but still pitch black and deep down. It played a huge role in ensuring the film felt claustrophobic and intense. You can’t fake the way the body moves in the water, so although it complicated certain aspects of the filming process, it really helped us achieve authenticity.

Is there a particular scene in ‘Last Breath’ that challenged you the most, either physically or emotionally?

Definitely the scene where Chris is coming to terms with and accepting his fate. It’s a strange headspace to sit in for so long. There were also technical lighting and framing challenges to contend with due to the location and plot. It’s hard to be told after a long take of giving it your all that the camera didn’t capture your performance because you haven’t lifted a light close enough to your face! Luckily the team were extremely communicative and articulate when directing me so we got there in the end. All in all it was a great challenge and one I won’t forget in a hurry.

full look. Valentino
opposite
shirt. Saint Laurent

Credits

‘Last Breath’ is out now.

photography. Alex Rorison
fashion. Annabel Lucey
talent. Finn Cole
hair + grooming. Jody Taylor @ Leftside Creative using Babyliss Pro
set design. George Lewin Studio
set production management. Hermione Fenton
creative production. Clara La Rosa
set assistant. Brandon Lau
interview. Kelsey Barnes