Daryl McCormack’s career trajectory reads like a masterclass in patience, persistence, and perfect timing.
From supporting roles in prestigious British dramas to leading alongside Emma Thompson, the Irish actor has steadily built a résumé that’s now landing him in rooms with Hollywood’s most respected filmmakers.
His latest venture? Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man, the third installment in the wildly successful Knives Out franchise, hitting Netflix December 12.
But McCormack isn’t stopping there—he’s also wrapping Netflix’s highly anticipated Pride and Prejudice adaptation, and he’s venturing into writing and producing his own limited series.
The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
When asked about his big break, McCormack doesn’t hesitate.
While he’d accumulated impressive credits—Peaky Blinders, Bad Sisters, A Very English Scandal—it was 2022’s Good Luck to You, Leo Grande that truly catalyzed his career.
Doing that film with Emma, being able to hold a film like that with someone like Emma, it’s the most scared I’ve ever felt as an actor, and yet it’s led to the breakthrough in my career thus far.
The intimate two-hander opposite Dame Emma Thompson required McCormack to carry substantial dramatic weight. That vulnerability—and the fear accompanying it—proved transformative.
Directors took notice. In subsequent meetings with filmmakers like Rian Johnson and Tom Ford, Leo Grande consistently came up as the performance that captured their attention.
Learning From Emma Thompson
Working closely with Thompson provided more than just career momentum—it offered invaluable lessons in professionalism and artistic integrity.
McCormack recalls being struck by Thompson’s leadership style, particularly her genuine respect for crew members.
The second day on set, she knew everyone’s name. And I was like, my mind was blown. How on earth? We’ve literally only been here two days!
Beyond memorizing names, Thompson imparted wisdom about choosing projects from the heart rather than working for work’s sake—advice that clearly influences McCormack’s selective approach today.
The Value of Early Rejection
McCormack’s path wasn’t always smooth. While still in drama school, he made it through multiple rounds of casting for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, reaching meetings with the casting team in London.
Ultimately, he wasn’t cast—but he views that rejection as essential to his development.
In hindsight, I just recognized I had so much learning to do, as a person, but also as an actor. And I think there is a lot of blessing when you struggle, actually, as an actor.
The years shuttling between acting gigs and waiting tables taught him lessons unavailable through early success alone. Those struggles shaped both his craft and character.
Landing Knives Out: An Unexpected Call
McCormack’s casting in Wake Up Dead Man exemplifies how Johnson assembles his ensemble casts—through genuine appreciation of actors’ work rather than just star power.
The opportunity arrived unexpectedly while McCormack was performing in Long Day’s Journey Into Night on London’s West End.
How It Happened
- Initial meeting: Johnson came to London and mentioned a role he’d been considering McCormack for
- The script: Johnson sent the screenplay with no guarantees attached
- The wait: Weeks passed with no communication
- The offer: Johnson attended McCormack’s play, met him backstage, and officially offered the role
Rian is probably one of the very few directors who can just easily gather these A-list actors. I was definitely unexpected, because I don’t think I’m there yet. I think it just shows that, for him, he really does scour who’s out there.
McCormack remembers calling his agent immediately, barely aware of his surroundings, shouting about landing a role in Johnson’s new film.
Meet Cy: Failed Politician Turned Rage-Baiting YouTuber
In Wake Up Dead Man, McCormack plays Cy, a character disturbingly relevant to our current digital landscape.
After failing as a politician, Cy pivots to video vlogging, weaponizing Christian faith to gain influence and power.
He does definitely represent, for me, someone who uses faith as a means to rage bait and appease their own greedy appetite, which, sadly, there are plenty of examples of out there.
Johnson describes this installment as his most personal, exploring murder mystery against the backdrop of faith—a major element of the director’s upbringing.
Finding Empathy for an Amoral Character
Despite Cy’s questionable ethics, McCormack sought understanding rather than judgment in his portrayal.
He focused on Cy’s father-figure issues and recognized him as a young man desperately trying to fill an internal void through external validation.
When asked if specific real-world figures inspired the character, McCormack diplomatically notes that plenty of examples exist—though many currently prominent weren’t as visible when they filmed over a year ago.
The timing makes the character’s relevance almost prophetic.
The Johnson-Craig Partnership
Joining an established franchise on its third iteration could feel intimidating, but McCormack found the opposite experience.
Johnson and Daniel Craig serve as anchors for each new cast, creating welcoming environments that encourage fresh interpretations.
They really hit reset every time they do a new one, because every new batch of actors, we’re like a factory. Every new cast, they’re bringing their own things.
Their leadership-by-example approach helps A-list ensembles gel quickly, demonstrating that being at the top of your game doesn’t preclude being generous collaborators.
Mr. Bingley Without Looking Back
McCormack’s next major project—Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice adaptation written by Dolly Alderton—required a bold creative choice.
He deliberately avoided watching both the iconic BBC series and Keira Knightley film version while preparing for Mr. Bingley.
If I had watched them, I would be afraid I’d be influenced by them too much. So I really wanted to just take a stab at it from the book and the script by Dolly.
His interpretation emphasizes that kindness is an active choice, not passive naivety.
Bingley’s Intelligence
McCormack wanted to portray Bingley as someone who consciously chooses to see good in others—a reflection of strength and intelligence rather than ignorance.
He worked opposite Scottish actor Freya Mavor (from Industry) as Jane Bennet, describing their on-set chemistry as perhaps too playful.
The production features stunning period costumes and sets, plus an ensemble including Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden, Olivia Colman, and breakthrough performances from the Bennet sisters.
Writing His Own Story
Beyond acting, McCormack is developing a limited series with writing partner James Hutchinson, planning to pitch networks in the new year.
The project examines people in their early thirties navigating expectations around marriage, family, and “happily ever after.”
It opens at a friend’s wedding and follows a young man who desires traditional milestones but questions whether he deserves them—using dysfunctional relationships as emotional protection.
I don’t think I ever saw myself co-writing or producing something and now, it’s so nice because the expectation is so low. I’m just taking life one step at a time.
What Excites Him Most
Despite recent high-profile projects, McCormack maintains he still feels like he’s just starting out—a perspective that keeps him grounded and hungry.
This year alone, he played a brutish, struggling Birmingham builder for director Clio Barnard, then immediately transformed into the wholesome, selfless Mr. Bingley.
That range thrills him.
Looking ahead, McCormack hopes to continue collaborating with great directors while potentially stepping more into leading roles. But his goals remain refreshingly simple and process-oriented.
He’s not chasing satisfaction through achievement alone—he’s cultivating creative outlets, selecting projects that genuinely excite him, and trusting that the path will reveal itself.
From nearly landing Star Wars while in drama school to sharing scenes with Glenn Close and Josh Brolin in Knives Out, McCormack’s journey validates what he learned from Emma Thompson: let your heart guide your choices, respect the craft, and the breakthroughs will follow.