In this article, we will look at how Skins was created. Firstly, though, let’s look at some of the household names the series helped launch.
Nicholas Hoult
Hoult was a child star, performing in About A Boy, but Tony Stonem introduced him to a whole new audience. He demonstrated great range and showed he could shine in both an ensemble cast and in the spotlight. He was nominated for a Golden Nymph award for his role. After Skins, he worked on many acclaimed projects. Including TV series The Great, Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men: First Class, Nosferatu (2024) and Superman (2025).
Dev Patel
Like many of his castmates, Dev Patel had little industry experience when he started working on Skins. However, his funny and relatable performance as Anwar Kharral resulted in his eventual casting in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire. Since then, despite admitted rough periods, he has appeared in critically acclaimed films like Lion (which earned him an Oscar nomination), The Personal History of David Copperfield, The Green Knight and he produced, wrote, directed and starred in the incredible Monkey Man.
Kaya Scodelario
Effy, Tony’s sister and centre of Skins’ second generation. Scodelario’s talent earned her a Golden Nymph nomination and film work. From 2009-2011, she performed in Moon, Clash of the Titans (2011) and Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights. Later, she starred in tentpole releases like the Maze Runner series and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and led the minor hit Crawl. While not garnering as much recognition as her former costars, she has still succeeded with audiences thanks to the likes of Netflix’s The Gentlemen.
Daniel Kaluuya
Arguably, Skins’ best actor. Daniel Kaluuya’s Posh Kenneth marked the start of his pre-stardom work. This period saw work in projects like Doctor Who, Kick Ass 2 and crucially Black Mirror: Fifteen Million Merits. This standout performance caught Jordan Peele’s attention. He was then cast in Get Out (earning him an Oscar nomination), and his career shot into the stratosphere. He was later part of acclaimed casts for Black Panther, Widows and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Additionally, he received awards attention for his performances in Nope, Queen and Slim and Judas and The Black Messiah (winning him an Oscar).
Jack O’Connell
This is England, Eden Lake and his revelatory turn as James Cook established Jack O’Connell’s talent for playing troubled people in harsh circumstances. See his Starred Up, ‘71 and Unbroken roles. In 2015, he won BAFTA’s Rising Star award; however, 2025 saw O’Connell’s star truly ascend. He returned with the second season of the acclaimed SAS: Rogue Heroes. He had an eye-catching part in 28 Years Later, and he wowed as Remmick in smash hit Sinners.
Building Skins
According to co-creator Bryan Elsley, the show’s inspiration came mainly from his son Jamie Brittain. Wanting to see a more realistic teen drama than the popular American imports, Brittain called Elsley’s current show pitches “boring, middle-class, middle-aged rubbish” and told him to make a meaningful show focused on teenagers. Working together, they created the idea for Skins, which E4 then commissioned.
For casting, the creators went to young drama groups as well as holding open auditions to get actual teens involved. They also enlisted Brittain’s flatmates and other teens (Daniel Kaluuya later among them) to write and advise on scripts to ensure the characters acted like real teenagers. This, along with a lack of pressure from above, allowed the show to create a more authentic depiction of teenage life, with little moralising on topics like sex, drinking and drugs.
That said, the production did have problems. Actors April Pearson and Laya Lewis said they weren’t given enough safeguarding or coaching when filming intimate scenes. They also said several women stars were reportedly subject to controlling behaviour regarding their bodies by the show staff. Something Channel 4 and Elsley’s representatives were forced to address.
Conclusion
Skins was a generational touchstone and catapulted many talented actors into the A-list. It showcased young people’s creative capabilities, but also the dangers of a lax attitude towards the duty of care. Skins shows us that teenagers deserve platforms that foster their creativity in a way that foregrounds their voices and safety.
