8 Huge Stars Who Were In Skins

Which of this generation's biggest names got their start in the teen drama?

By Jacob Simmons /

Skins was bloody great, wasn't it?

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The E4 show was hugely popular between 2007 and 2013, airing 61 episodes over 7 seasons, and even scoring a BAFTA in 2009.

The show was unique for many reasons. It tackled taboo subjects from mental illness to eating disorders to drugs, alcohol, and everything in between. It was also impressive for its cast.

Because it replaced its key characters every two seasons, it managed to boast an impressively diverse cast for the time in terms of gender and race. It also produced so many stars.

Many of the teenage actors who portrayed Bristol's wildest kids went onto star in some of the biggest TV shows of the era, dominate Hollywood, and even knock at the door of the Academy.

It's perhaps not surprising that a show as acclaimed and influential as Skins had such a great cast, but when you read some of these names, you'll realise what a goldmine of future talent the writers were sitting on.

So, let's take a look back at some of the stars who made their in Skins and then talk about all the embarrassing things they did as part of the show.

8. Joe Dempsie

When you Google "best characters in Skins," the one name that comes up time and time again is Chris Miles.

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Chris, played by Liverpudlian actor Joe Dempsie, provided several memorable moments in the first two seasons of the show, including a forbidden relationship with one of his teachers, a period of homelessness, and of course his tragic death towards the end of Season 2.

After his time on the show, Dempsie found work in other British shows such as Doctor Who, Merlin, and This Is England '86. In 2011 though, Dempsie was cast in one of the biggest TV shows of all time.

Dempsie was chosen to portray Gendry in HBO's Game Of Thrones, a blacksmith who was later revealed to be the illegitimate son of King Robert Baratheon.

Gendry ventured beyond the wall with Jon Snow, fought against the Wight Walkers in the Battle of Winterfell, and was a love interest for Arya Stark in the show's final season.

Despite your opinions on Game Of Thrones, you can't deny the impact it had culturally and Dempsie was a huge part of that.

The role of Gendry Baratheon looks great on his CV and it'll be interesting to see where he goes in the next few years.

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