Photographer: David Reiss
Styling: Sarah-Rose Harrison
Grooming: Maria Comparetto
PR: Telescope Agency
Charlie Mann is having the kind of year that changes everything. Fresh from landing the co-lead role of Tommy in Power: Origins, the highly anticipated prequel to one of television’s most devoted franchises, he finds himself filming in New York while juggling a slate of projects that signal a serious arrival. From high-octane horror to a major BBC adaptation, Mann is quickly proving himself as one to watch.
For Mann, stepping into the world of Power: Origins felt surreal. “It felt like winning the lottery,” he says. “Seriously, this world is the best to be a part of. The fans are so invested, it really makes you care more about the story.” Reading scripts from showrunner Sascha Penn only deepened that excitement. “He has such a distinct way of writing that makes you not want to put the script down. It is an actor’s dream.”
While Power: Origins marks a major milestone, audiences will first see Mann in Paramount’s upcoming horror film Primate, set for release in early 2026. It is a project he describes with unmistakable enthusiasm. “It is what we need more of,” he says. “A fun film from start to finish with great practical effects and big screams. It does what it says on the tin. Hot people trapped in a house, killer chimp on the loose. It is absolutely bananas.”
The appeal was immediate. “The kills, the fact that it was unabashedly fun, and that I had a gnarly scene near the midway point,” he recalls. That scene, which he promises will leave audiences stunned, is one he is particularly proud of. “There is a jaw dropping moment I have with Ben the chimp. I cannot say too much, but when it comes out, you will see.”
Despite the film’s intensity, Mann describes the experience of shooting horror as surprisingly enjoyable. “I had been waiting for an opportunity to scream at the top of my lungs for a while, and here it came,” he says. “It is genuinely like any other set, just with gallons of blood and a crazy chimp trying to kill you.” He credits the creative team, including Johannes Roberts and Ernest Riera, for shaping a project that actors were eager to be part of. “Every day on set I loved. Opportunities like this are rare, so to do something that was this enjoyable meant a lot.”
Alongside Primate, Mann will appear in the BBC’s Crookhaven, based on J J Arcanjo’s bestselling books, where he plays Edgar opposite Dougray Scott. For Mann, bringing the character to life began with immersing himself in the source material. “I read the first book as soon as I got the audition, and then again when I booked the job,” he says.
The experience was made all the richer by his collaboration with co-star Rowan McIntosh. “Me and him were like two pigs in mud every day,” he says with a grin. “Goofing around and trying to bring that camaraderie into the work.” For Mann, building chemistry off screen is essential. “To have good chemistry on screen, you have to cultivate it off. Getting to know your castmates is just as important as the scene work.”
Working with Dougray Scott offered another valuable learning experience. “He is a charming and highly professional man,” Mann says. “I did not have loads of scenes with him, but in the ones I did, I learnt a lot.”
What makes Mann’s current run of projects particularly striking is the range. From horror to literary adaptation to a major American crime drama, he is navigating very different worlds in quick succession. It is something he is still figuring out in real time. “I cannot drive, so I am useless at shifting gears,” he jokes. “All of this is so new to me.”
Until recently, Mann was working in a pub, a chapter he left behind when Crookhaven came along. “It was an all or nothing moment,” he says. “I thought, you have got to get another acting job straight after, otherwise you are going back to the pub, and that chapter is closed.” That mindset has carried him forward. “Every script is different, so it is actually quite smooth to get into a new character and world.”
Now based in New Jersey while filming Power: Origins, Mann is embracing the experience, even if his downtime is more grounded than glamorous. “It is great when I have time off,” he says. “I try to get into the city when I can, but most weekends are learning lines, going to the gym, shopping for food, and cleaning my flat.”
When it comes to unwinding, his tastes are refreshingly simple. “Video games, beer, and sport,” he says. “And going to the gym so I can keep a decent physique while eating as much junk food as possible. Mountain Dew and Reese’s are two of my favourites.”
Looking ahead, Mann is eager to keep exploring. Another horror film is firmly on his list, as is comedy and more serious dramatic work. “I would love to do a bit of everything,” he says. “The more experience I can get under my belt over the next few years, the better.” For now, though, his focus is clear. “At the moment, I am fully locked in on Power: Origins.”
With a breakout role in a major franchise, a scene-stealing turn in Primate, and a key part in Crookhaven, Charlie Mann is stepping into a career-defining moment. If his energy, honesty, and willingness to throw himself into the work are anything to go by, this is only the beginning.
Crookhaven begins on BBC One and CBBC on Sunday, 22 March, and the full series will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from this date.
