The Joseph Quinn Era

The star of Gladiator II and breakout sensation from Stranger Things talks to AND/OR about fame and fortune, shocks and quirky frustrations - such as watching a snail make its way to the end.

Among the fans, he has the lovable nickname of "Chocolate Button Eyes," mainly because of his deep brown eyes. When I asked him if his eyes are the most distinguishing feature about himself, he hesitated. "I wouldn't say so for any of my features," he says, winking. "But yeah, I guess it was pretty obvious from a young age that lying wouldn't be my strong suit. My eyes kinda give me away."

The 30-year-old actor talks to me from the back of a car via Zoom, the brightly lit band behind him shifting through colors like a mood ring. Just the day before, he had finished filming the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, in which he will play Johnny Storm, a.k.a. The Human Torch. Amidst his shoot dates and dubbing sessions, he seems recharged and articulate—even using words like "declamatory"—as he insists on not coming off as pretentious.

As he heads to London to catch Longlegs, featuring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe, I ask if he's noticed an increase in recognition since his own rise to fame. "It's so loathsome to fucking talk about," he admits, then softens. "But yeah, when a project you're involved in is out there, people are more aware of you. It goes up and down, I suppose."

For Quinn, it's going to be a banner year. He stars in several big projects after last year's modest indie. "Sorry," he laughs at his busy slate. In June, he joins Lupita Nyong'o in A Quiet Place: Day One, the prequel to that lauded franchise. Next, he's set to play a sadistic emperor in Gladiator II, hitting theatres in November. Then, he is set to appear in Fantastic Four (set for July 25, 2025) and in Warfare, to be directed by Alex Garland. By 2025, forget missing him.

Quinn wants to tread the paths of actors he likes, such as Cate Blanchett and Olivia Colman, but he is not actively pursuing stardom. "I'm so much more focused on opportunities that excite me," he says. "I am starting to realize that I have choices at this point; that is a privilege. And it is exciting that I can customize my opportunities a bit to my taste."

From his film choices, such as Hoard and A Quiet Place: Day One, distinctness is witnessed. He portrays Hoard as "really feral," as the main character Michael is shockingly in an unbalanced dynamic with a teenage foster child, whereas he is introduced as Eric, a British man who has to survive on a monster invasion in New York City, where he portrays horror and vulnerability in A Quiet Place: Day One.

With Gladiator II, Quinn is tight-lipped about his appearance as the blonde emperor Geta, who doesn't exactly struggle with his sadism and heavy eyeliner. "I joked that we used up all the eyeliner in Malta," he quips, tongue firmly in cheek. "It is a bit of a risk to get involved with something this legendary," he adds. "I saw the original when I was around 12 or 13, and it was, you know, spellbinding. That's just truly rare filmmaking." I knew that inching my way into that space again might create a fray, but I could not pass up the chance to work with Denzel Washington.

So Quinn bears no stress of the grueling schedule. "I know what it's like to not be busy," he says. "There's value in both states. We often romanticize the opposite of what we're experiencing. When we are busy, we crave rest; when we rest, we feel restless. It's certainly a test, but one I'm really enjoying."

As his career flourishes, however, Quinn feels offscreen attention less appealing. He feels recognition in the U.K. is less invasive than in other foreign lands. "It would be naive to pretend that this isn't part of it," he reflects. Starring in two major studio films means that his personal life becomes fodder for public interest. "I'm just grateful to keep on doing my job and working with people who inspire me. Everything else feels like distraction and glitter."

Still, Quinn manages to keep his feet on the ground despite his rising celebrity status. He defines his private life as "remarkably boring," engaging himself in mundane chores like laundry, cooking, and working out; plunging into icy coldness is also a common thing. "I'm at that really annoying stage where I know just enough to be slightly evangelical about it," he claims. He's excited by the way it lowers his cortisol and promotes more serotonin and generally spends eight minutes in his tank, revealing some kind of personal accomplishment.

Quinn also attempts his hand at gardening, but snails have invaded his outdoor space. "I've got a hoya plant that's being ravaged by snails," he complains. "They're trying to disturb my peace of mind, but I will prevail. Over snail." While he may describe his life as boring, it's clear that it is anything but dull.