Degrees, cults and Netflix series’: Here’s what our beloved cast of Skins is up to now

The early 2000s era of sneakily watching Skins on E4 after school brought us love, loss and plenty of chocolate gateau. We all idolised Effy, were desperate to visit Bristol for a weekend bender, and cried out hearts out when our beloved Chris died.

They aren’t so baby faced anymore, but the first generation cast are still hitting our screens every now and again. The first ever episode aired over 17 years ago now – which makes all of us feel ridiculously old, believe me. There’s no feeling quite like spotting Tony or Sid in the background of a new Netflix show, so here’s a look at the Skins cast now and everything they’ve been up to.

Nicholas Hoult – Tony

via YouTube

The Skins cast is now not only recognised for the series, but for the numerous other successful projects they’ve all worked on since. Our beloved Tony Stonem may have found his fame in Roundview College, but since getting awkwardly hit by a bus in season one, he’s gone on to feature in more films than you might realise.

Nicholas Hoult most recently played the part of Thomas Hutter in the screen adaptation of Nosferatu, and surprisingly starred in The Garfield Movie this year. Since 2011 he’s had a recurring role in the X-Men franchise – and was even spotted in a music video with The Rolling Stones. He’s married with kids now too, bless him.

Kaya Scodelario – Effy

via YouTube

Most Read

Adolescence director breaks down the ending’s secret meaning and it’s utterly heartbreaking

MAFS Australia 2025 bride Jacqui *finally* explains what her mysterious corporate job actually is

‘Not a nice human’: Teachers, students and parents share horrid experiences with MAFS’ Tim

Staying on the lines of the Stonem family, Kaya Scodelario is definitely responsible for every mid 2000s girl smudging their eyeliner everywhere and chopping up their long sleeve tops. Her fame skyrocketed after playing the role of Effy in Skins, and since then she’s featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and The Maze Runner.

If she didn’t shape our childhoods, then I really don’t know who did. She also most recently took on the role of Susie in The Gentlemen on Netflix, a true British icon.

Mike Bailey – Sid

via YouTube

Oh Sid, lovely Sid. Everyone had a soft spot for Mike Bailey during the first generation of Skins, and we can all see why. He’s Bristol born and bred, and the role of Sid Jenkins is still his most successful stint to this day. Since 2008 he’s starred in some niche web series television shows, but quit acting in 2017 to become a secondary school drama teacher. May his legacy and iconic black beanie live on forever.

Hannah Murray – Cassie

via YouTube

She was arguably the most iconic manic pixie dream girl of our era, and we all loved her for it. Hannah Murray kicked off the hipster Topshop revival with her boho sense of style, and since her appearances on Skins as Cassie and Game of Thrones as Gilly, she also starred in a handful of films too. H

owever in 2024, she released plans for a self written memoir about her deeply personal experiences with being lured into a wellness cult. Hannah took a break from acting to complete an English literature degree at Cambridge University – she really can do it all.

April Pearso – Michelle

via YouTube

Michelle really carried the first few episodes of Skins in 2007. Played by April Pearson, another Bristol based actress that truly knew the score when it came to depicting student life in the city. She made her acting debut when she was only nine years old, starring in the classic UK show Casualty before being nominated for a Golden Nymph award for Outstanding Actress for her role as Michelle.

The actress has made waves in television, film and even theatre in her career after Skins, including starring in films such as Tucked and The Kindred.

She’s now married, and the host of a celebrity interview podcast series. What a queen.

Dev Patel – Anwar

via YouTube

The cast of Skins are all icons now, Anwar was seriously slept on in the first generation of the show. He may have played an underrated role of Anwar, but Dev Patel has shot to fame as an actor since then. Featuring in huge films like Slumdog Millionaire and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and even the video game The Last Airbender, he didn’t shy away from the silver screen after starring in 18 episodes of Skins.

If you saw him play kid in the film Monkey Man last year, I bet you didn’t realise he actually wrote, produced and directed the entire thing. A man with multiple talents, I’d say. Dev was also included in Times’ list of the 100 most influential people in the world that year!

Joe Dempsie – Chris

via YouTube

There must be a connection between the Skins first generation and Game of Thrones, because Joe Dempsie also went on to star in the show as Gendry for four years, just like his co-star, Hannah Murray. His role as Chris broke every teenager’s heart back in 2008, but it kick started his career as an actor – Joe has featured in films like This is England and The Damned United since then, and even shows like Merlin and Doctor Who.

What’s he up to now, you ask? He just starred in the new Netflix drama Toxic Town, and he’s a huge Nottingham Forest fan off screen. Joe has also done voiceover work for video games like Final Fantasy XIV and was even in Nosferatu, alonside Lily-Rose Depp.

Larissa Wilson – Jal

via YouTube

Larissa Wilson played Jal in the first generation of Skins, and if that didn’t shape your childhood enough, she also starred in The Sparticle Mystery on CBBC. She was working at New Look at the time, and auditioned for the show on her lunch break, like a true teenage icon.

Since her appearance on Skins, she’s made her directorial debut with her own short film, and has completed her masters degree in neuroscience whilst advocating for mental health awareness online.

Mitchell Hewer – Maxxie

via YouTube

We couldn’t look at where the Skins cast is now without catching up on Maxxie. He was the OG champion of the striped long sleeve top and bleach blonde fringe, and everyone definitely had a crush on him at some point. Maxxie was played by Mitchell Hewer, who also starred in a TV show called Britannia High in 2008.

As a true icon of the early 2000s teen drama, he went on to star in music videos and a Take That themed musical – he’s got children now, and he even streams on Twitch sometimes. Last year he filmed a YouTube series reacting to each episode of Skins from back in the day, and it really pulls on the heartstrings as a noughties kid. Who would have thought back in 2007 that the Skins cast would now be known for so much more than their roles as edgy teenagers?

Featured image via YouTube