Joseph Quinn: Rising Star from South London to Hollywood Fame | Early Life, Education & Acting Journey

From the stages of school plays to the global spotlight of Stranger Things, Joseph Quinn’s rise in the entertainment industry is nothing short of remarkable. Hailing from South London, his journey has been one of perseverance, talent, and dedication. While many recognize him as the charismatic Eddie Munson, his career was built on years of rigorous training, stage performances, and an unwavering commitment to his craft.

What set Quinn apart was his early immersion in acting, starting in school productions before earning a drama scholarship and later securing a place at LAMDA, one of the UK’s most prestigious drama schools. His education and hands-on experience laid the groundwork for a career that has now propelled him to international fame. This article delves into his formative years, tracing his path from school theater to the biggest stages in Hollywood.

Early Life and Family Background

Joseph Quinn was born on January 26, 1994, in Clapham, London, England. Raised in South London, he spent his childhood moving between two households. His mother worked in television production, his stepfather was a cinematographer, and his father was a director. Though his parents did not live together, Quinn grew up witnessing the hustle and creativity of the entertainment industry firsthand.

Growing up, Joseph Quinn was surrounded by film and storytelling, particularly through his stepfather’s extensive LaserDisc collection. This early exposure to cinema played a significant role in shaping his artistic sensibilities. Among the many films he watched, A Clockwork Orange, The Pianist, and The Fifth Element stood out to him. Speaking about The Fifth Element, he described it as a film that was “hilarious, transporting, and brave,” reflecting how deeply it resonated with him.

Although Quinn was surrounded by the entertainment industry from a young age, his initial aspirations lay elsewhere. As a child, he was fascinated by marine life and harbored dreams of becoming a marine biologist, expressing a desire to “save the animals.” However, as he grew older, his exposure to storytelling and performance gradually steered him toward acting. Reflecting on this shift, he once mused, “Maybe I’ll do that one day,” acknowledging how his childhood dreams eventually gave way to his passion for performance.

Growing Up in South London

South London played a crucial role in shaping Quinn’s early years. Splitting his time between his parents’ households, he was exposed to different lifestyles and perspectives. The vibrant cultural scene, combined with his stepfather’s passion for film, nurtured his love for cinema from a young age.

His connection to the area remained strong throughout his life, and he later chose to work on the indie film Hoard, which was filmed in South London, indicating his sentimental attachment to the place.

Beyond his love for movies, Quinn also had a deep connection to music. He learned to play the guitar early on and was even in a band called Black and White as a teenager. The first song he ever learned to play was Sunshine of Your Love by Cream, a track that remained close to his heart. Over the years, his admiration for bands like Arctic Monkeys and Metallica has remained strong. Though most fans associate him with Master of Puppets from Stranger Things, Quinn has clarified, “I do listen to them.”

Early Education and First Steps in Acting

Joseph Quinn was introduced to acting at a very young age, participating in a school play during nursery. While it was an early exposure to performance, it would take years before he considered acting as a serious pursuit.

He attended Emanuel School in Battersea, South London, Quinn. He was also awarded a partial drama scholarship during his school years. This scholarship not only provided financial support but also required him to actively participate in school plays and theater productions, ensuring his continued involvement in performance arts.

By the time he was 17, Quinn had already accumulated significant stage experience, but it was a school production that solidified his ambition to pursue acting professionally. “I was just dossing around before that,” he admitted in an interview, reflecting on how this moment reshaped his career outlook. In his final year of sixth form, he performed in a play that was taken to the prestigious Edinburgh Festival, offering him exposure to a broader audience and invaluable experience in professional-level acting.

Drama Training and LAMDA Journey

Determined to refine his craft, Quinn secured a place at LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art), one of the UK’s most prestigious drama schools. At 18, he began three years of rigorous training, focusing on performance techniques, voice work, and movement. He described his time at LAMDA as transformative, emphasizing the deep connections he formed with fellow actors who shared his passion for storytelling, saying, “I found my tribe there.”

During his time at LAMDA, Quinn experienced significant personal and professional growth. He engaged in an intensive curriculum that emphasized experimentation and collaboration, pushing students out of their comfort zones. The school placed a strong emphasis on ensemble work and strict discipline, discouraging students from taking external acting jobs to ensure full dedication to their training. “They don’t allow you to work. If you’re going to work, you’re going to leave,” he explained, reinforcing LAMDA’s focus on immersive education. Quinn graduated from LAMDA in 2015 at the age of 21.

Early Career

After graduating from LAMDA in 2015, Quinn quickly started working in British television and theater, but his early career was marked by uncertainty. Like many young actors, he took whatever work he could find. “I was just trying to pay my rent,” he once said, reflecting on his early years.

Quinn landed his first major role in BBC One’s Dickensian (2016). The 20-episode series brought together characters from Charles Dickens’ novels into a single interconnected world.

Looking back at this experience, Quinn described it as “a real education”, as he worked alongside seasoned actors like Stephen Rea and Pauline Collins. This six-month job gave him invaluable exposure to long-form storytelling on screen.

Following Dickensian, Quinn appeared in several notable British dramas, including:

• BBC’s Howards End (2017) – Playing Leonard Bast alongside Hayley Atwell and Matthew Macfadyen.
• BBC/FX’s Les Misérables (2019) – A role in the star-studded adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel.

As he gained more roles in historical dramas and period pieces, he acknowledged:

“They just keep casting me in waistcoats—I don’t know why! It wasn’t intentional, I was just trying to pay my rent.”

A Brief Role in Game of Thrones

In 2017, Quinn made a brief appearance in Game of Thrones Season 7 as Koner, a minor character stationed at Winterfell. Although his role was small, it marked his first experience working in a large-scale fantasy production, something that would prepare him for bigger projects down the line.

The Stranger Things Breakthrough

Despite building a solid resume in British television, Quinn’s career completely changed when he was cast as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things Season 4 (2022).

Surprisingly, the audition process was shockingly simple compared to the typical Hollywood casting process. As he said in a past interview, he had been sending tapes for years with no luck, but for this role, he sent a tape, was asked for another, and then got a call from the Duffer brothers telling him, “We want you to do it.”

Once he got the role, production became a long and intense process due to COVID-19, which extended the shooting schedule. While working on the show, Quinn formed a close bond with the cast, mentioning that during the pandemic, they were all in Atlanta for an extended period: “Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, myself, Maya, Sadie… we were all kind of knocking around, so we were able to keep each other company.”

The Iconic Master of Puppets Scene

One of the most memorable moments of Stranger Things Season 4 was Eddie’s performance of Metallica’s Master of Puppets in the Upside Down. Quinn, who had played guitar as a kid, had to relearn and perfect the song for the role. Reflecting on the challenge, he said that although he had played guitar when he was younger, there had been long breaks in his playing:

“I was very lucky to have that foundation there, so I kind of picked it up again. It took a few months to get it just about possible.”

Eddie’s character struck a chord with many fans, and Quinn acknowledged how deeply people related to him, explaining that it was likely because Eddie was “an outsider, a little bit on the fringes of society.”

Even Hollywood stars took notice. Jack Black, whom Quinn admired for years, publicly praised him, to which Quinn excitedly responded, “I love that dude… that was pretty crazy.”

As Stranger Things heads into its final season, rumors persist about Eddie’s possible return. While Quinn did not reveal spoilers, he hinted that he had heard “whispers” about what’s to come and that it sounded “very exciting.”

Stepping Into Hollywood: Gladiator 2 and Fantastic Four

Following Stranger Things, Quinn landed a major role in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, the sequel to the 2000 Academy Award-winning film. Initially, he was hesitant about the idea of a sequel, explaining that his first reaction was, “Don’t go near it. It’s perfect.”

However, once he learned that Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, and Pedro Pascal were involved, he reconsidered, saying, “I thought, okay, they might be going for it on this one.”

Quinn also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) in Fantastic Four. Like Stranger Things, his casting process was remarkably quick. He recalled that after a conversation with director Matt Shakman, things progressed rapidly, and soon he was offered the role: “It was pretty wild.”

With an A-list cast including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Quinn has acknowledged that team chemistry will be key, mentioning that they have started rehearsals and maintain communication through a group chat: “We have a group chat, so we’re kind of talking on there.”

References:

https://youtu.be/X9w_ZNd6E-g https://youtu.be/okGMjHusebg https://youtu.be/KLk_v_HgZ5k https://youtu.be/X9w_ZNd6E-g http://www.nuitmagazine.com/mag/joseph-quinn/