# Jack Donnelly
**Jack Donnelly** (born 1985) is a British actor, writer, and director trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, best known for playing the lead role of Jason in the BBC fantasy series *[Atlantis](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlantis-tv-series)* (2013–2015) and for film roles in *Friendsgiving*, *United We Fall*, and *Slayers*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) A native of Bournemouth, England, he is married to the Swedish actress [Malin Akerman](https://www.edgepedia.org/malin-akerman) and lives in Los Angeles.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985, Bournemouth, England, UK[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/) |
| Training | Central School of Speech and Drama, London[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) |
| Breakthrough role | Jason, lead of BBC's *Atlantis*, 2013–2015, 26 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) |
| First screen role | Jason Winkler in *House of Anubis* (Nickelodeon, 2011), 31 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) |
| Writing and directing | Wrote, directed, and starred in the short comedy series *The Players* (2021); screenwriter of *Pretty Thing* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_donnelly) |
| Spouse | Malin Akerman, married December 1, 2018[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) |
## Training and early television
Donnelly studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) His screen career began with a supporting role in the teen serial *House of Anubis* ([Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon), 2011–2013), in which he played Jason Winkler across 31 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/) He followed this with guest appearances on British television: as [White Rabbit](https://www.edgepedia.org/white-rabbit) in an episode of *Misfits* (E4, 2012), as Paul in an episode of *Threesome* ([Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central), 2012), as Harry Kilber-Bennett in an episode of *Doctors* (2012), and as Leopold in an episode of the BBC miniseries *Dancing on the Edge* (2013).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/)
## Atlantis
**Atlantis and the role of Jason.** Donnelly's profile rose when he was cast as Jason, the hero of the BBC fantasy adventure series *Atlantis* (2013–2015), a character drawn from the Greek legend of the [Golden Fleece](https://www.edgepedia.org/golden-fleece).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/) He starred opposite [Mark Addy](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-addy)'s Hercules and [Robert Emms](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-emms)'s Pythagoras across 26 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) In a later interview, Donnelly said the series had been ended without wrapping up its stories, and that the production had been about to embark on a Jason and the Argonauts storyline that he believed would have made good television.[4](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/jack-donnelly-exclusive-interview-death-in-paradise-atlantis-future-projects-921745.html) He described *Atlantis* as one of the best jobs he ever did and said he remained in touch with friends made on it.[4](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/jack-donnelly-exclusive-interview-death-in-paradise-atlantis-future-projects-921745.html)
## Later television and film
After *Atlantis* ended, Donnelly guest-starred as Sam Walker in an episode of the crime drama *Death in Paradise* ([BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one), 2016), an experience he called a dream job, filmed on location in [Guadeloupe](https://www.edgepedia.org/guadeloupe).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/) • [4](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/jack-donnelly-exclusive-interview-death-in-paradise-atlantis-future-projects-921745.html) He then starred as Adrian in the [Hallmark Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/hallmark-channel) television romance *A Royal Winter* (2017).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/)
His film work includes the improvised spoof documentary *United We Fall* (2014), in which he played a cocky footballer named Olly Hunter; *Friendsgiving* (2020), Nicol Paone's Thanksgiving-themed comedy, in which he played Jeff alongside his wife Malin Akerman; *Slayers* (2022), playing Jack Chambers; *A Week in Paradise* (2022), playing [Christopher](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher); and *Us or Them* (2023), playing Jude.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_donnelly) On Rotten Tomatoes, *Friendsgiving* drew a 19 percent critics score and 23 percent audience score, *Slayers* 22 percent and 12 percent, and *United We Fall* 11 percent and 45 percent.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_donnelly) One source dates *Friendsgiving* to 2019,[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/) while IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and AlloCiné list it as 2020.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_donnelly) • [5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-168326/filmographie/)
## Writing and directing
In 2021 Donnelly wrote, directed, and starred in *The Players*, a short comedy series described as award-winning, in which he played Dario; IMDb dates the series to 2023.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) He is credited as screenwriter of *Pretty Thing* (2025), a film starring [Alicia Silverstone](https://www.edgepedia.org/alicia-silverstone) and Karl Glusman, which is his highest-rated title on Rotten Tomatoes at 47 percent from critics.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_donnelly) The French database AlloCiné additionally credits him as screenwriter and producer of a project titled *Chariot* (2026).[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-168326/filmographie/)
## Personal life
Donnelly married the Swedish actress Malin Akerman on December 1, 2018, and lives in Los Angeles.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) He is 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and has used the nickname Jakamo; IMDb lists Chrissy Wickham as his parent and Jennifer Akerman as a half sibling.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/) In interviews he has said that before acting became his living he spent years working as a waiter, a bartender, and in promotional work, and that his career goal since has been simply to keep working in theater, television, and film.[4](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/jack-donnelly-exclusive-interview-death-in-paradise-atlantis-future-projects-921745.html)
## References
1. [Jack Donnelly (II), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3214649/)
2. [Jack Donnelly – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jack-donnelly/)
3. [Jack Donnelly Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_donnelly)
4. [Jack Donnelly exclusive interview – Death In Paradise, Atlantis & future projects, FemaleFirst (18 February 2016)](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/jack-donnelly-exclusive-interview-death-in-paradise-atlantis-future-projects-921745.html)
5. [Jack Donnelly (II) : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-168326/filmographie/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames D to E*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license