Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan-Jarvis (born 1989 or 1990) is an English actor and former singer-songwriter. He has starred in the films Lady Macbeth (2016), Calm with Horses (2019), Persuasion (2022), and Warfare (2025). In 2024, he portrayed John Blackthorne in the historical drama series Shōgun.

Early life and education

Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan-Jarvis was born in 1989 or 1990 in New Jersey, U.S., to an Armenian-American mother and British father. His grandparents were Armenian immigrants. He moved to Britain with his parents at the age of three months, and moved to Totnes, Devon, as a child, with his mother and younger brother. About his nationality, Jarvis has said: "I came here [Britain] when I was a baby. I've never lived [in America] ... I don't feel a connection to anywhere."

Music career

Jarvis in 2013

Jarvis confirmed his second album's title as Is the World Strange or Am I Strange? on his official Facebook page. The first single released from the album was "Gay Pirates", which was released on 23 January 2011. The single's music video was directed by Jarvis. The song was featured as Record of the Day and AOL's Spinner video of the day.[failed verification] "Gay Pirates" was voted number 85 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2011, which aired on Australia Day in 2012. The album itself was given an 8.5/10 rating from Soundblab album reviews. He announced in an interview with TNC that he had begun work on his first feature film, called The Naughty Room.

The film premiered on BBC Four on 20 August 2012, shortly after the release of Jarvis' third studio album, titled Think Bigger, the film includes multiple songs/variations of songs from the album in the soundtrack. He toured the UK in late 2012 supporting Mad Dog Mcrea, for whom he penned the song "Waiting on the Hill". The comedy film Hawk(e): The Movie (2013) features several songs by Jarvis. In January 2013, "Love This" came in at number 59 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2012. On 20 November 2020, Jarvis re-released his 2012 album Think Bigger as Think Bigger - (2020 Deluxe Edition), as the 2012 album was never fully released globally. The Think Bigger reissue contains all of its 11 original recordings remastered for 2020, plus a further nine bonus tracks from that same writing period, including five never before heard songs and four acoustic live 'bedroom' versions of key Think Bigger tracks. Jarvis confirmed in 2025 that he is no longer active as a musician.

Acting career

In 2015, Jarvis auditioned and was cast to portray the character of Sebastian in William Oldroyd's debut feature film Lady Macbeth. Jarvis has starred in two stage plays directed by Richard Jones, the 2017 production of The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill at Park Avenue Armory in New York and The Twilight Zone at the Almeida Theatre in London.

In 2019, his portrayal of Arm in the independent film Calm with Horses earned him a nomination as Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards 2020 and London Film Critics' Circle. Adapted from the short story of the same name from the collection Young Skins by Colin Barrett, Calm with Horses was received positively, with critics praising both Nick Rowland's work as a debut director and Jarvis' performance as Douglas Armstrong. The film was released in the United States under the title The Shadow of Violence. In 2020, Jarvis was a guest star on the fifth season of Peaky Blinders, as the character Barney. Following Peaky Blinders, Jarvis appeared in Nocturnal, Funny Face, The Evening Hour and Raised by Wolves.

In 2021, Jarvis was announced to star opposite Dakota Johnson in Netflix's adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion. He was also cast as John Blackthorne, a leading role opposite Hiroyuki Sanada in FX's 2024 limited-series Shōgun, the second TV adaptation of James Clavell's best-selling novel of the same name. In 2022, Jarvis was nominated for Best Lead Performance in the British Independent Film Awards' new gender-neutral category for his performance in It Is In Us All. He was also nominated for Best International Actor at the Irish Film and Television Awards. FX's Shōgun premiered in February 2024, receiving critical acclaim worldwide. Jarvis' performance as John Blackthorne was described as a "force to be reckoned with" by IGN and The Washington Post wrote that he "brilliantly channels" his role as the marooned English pilot in the historical drama. Empire described Jarvis as "compelling" and "magnetic". In his review, Nick Clark wrote for the Evening Standard, "Jarvis is one of those actors who is not just chameleonic – anyone who has seen him in Calm with Horses and then Persuasion can attest to his powers of transformation – but always brings so much more to a role than just speaking the words in order. It's the eyes; there's a whole lot going on behind them, and it means he's never less than compelling."

In 2025, Jarvis starred in the Australian prison drama Inside, The Alto Knights, starring alongside Robert De Niro and directed by Barry Levinson, and Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland's Warfare. Jarvis' performance in Warfare as Navy SEAL veteran Elliot Miller was widely acclaimed by critics, with Aiden Kelly writing "Every actor does a fantastic job, particularly Cosmo Jarvis in a part that once again shows the rising newcomer’s incredible range." for Collider.

In January 2025, Jarvis joined the cast of Guy Ritchie's Wife & Dog. In March 2025, Jarvis joined the cast of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, although he would drop out shortly before filming commenced due to scheduling conflict . In April 2025, Jarvis was officially confirmed to return as John Blackthorne for the second season of Shōgun alongside Hiroyuki Sanada. In May 2025, Jarvis was announced to star as future Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in Young Stalin, a film based on the biography of the same name by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore. In October 2025, Jarvis joined Paul Greengrass' The Uprising (formerly titled The Rage) led by Andrew Garfield, an action period drama film set in during the Peasant's Revolt.

Personal life

Jarvis is married and has one child.

He has type 1 diabetes. He has been sober for 6 years as of 2025.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015Spooks: The Greater GoodDani Tasuev
2016Lady MacbethSebastian
2017The MarkerSteve
Hunter KillerFathometer Operator
2018AnnihilationSpecial Ops Soldier (uncredited)
FarmingJonesy
2019Calm With HorsesDouglas
NocturnalPete
2020The Evening HourTerry Rose
Funny FaceSaul
2022It Is In Us AllHamish Considine
PersuasionFrederick Wentworth
2024InsideMark Shepard
2025The Alto KnightsVincent Gigante
WarfareElliot Miller
2026Wife & DogPost-production
Young StalinJoseph StalinFilming
The UprisingPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016Moving OnVerno 14Episode "Taxi for Linda"
HumansMartinEpisode 3 (Series 2)
My Mother and Other StrangersLieutenant SteigerEpisodes "The Price" and "God Rest You Merry"
2017VeraWoodyEpisode "The Blanket Mire"
2019Peaky BlindersBarneySeries 5
2020Raised by WolvesCampion SturgesEpisodes "Infected Memory", "Lost Paradise" and "Mass"
2024–presentShōgunJohn BlackthorneMain role

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
The Astra Awards2024Best Actor in a Streaming Drama SeriesShōgunNominated
British Independent Film Awards2017Most Promising NewcomerLady MacbethNominated
2020Best ActorCalm with HorsesNominated
2022Best Lead PerformanceIt Is In Us AllNominated
2025Best Ensemble PerformanceWarfareWon
International Cinephile Society Awards2023Best ActorIt Is In Us AllNominated
Irish Film and Television Awards2023Best International ActorNominated
London Critics Circle Film Awards2021British/Irish Actor of the YearCalm with HorsesNominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards2025Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesShōgunWon

Discography

Albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UKIRL
200619 Songs By Cosmo Jarvis Release date: 2006 Label: None Format: CD, digital download--
2009Humasyouhitch/Sonofabitch Release date: 16 November 2009 Label: Wall of Sound Format: CD, digital download--
2011Is the World Strange or Am I Strange? Release date: 26 September 2011 Label: 25th Frame Format: CD, digital download
2012Think Bigger Release date: 17 July 2012 Label: 25th Frame Format: CD, digital download
2013They Don't Build Hearts Like They Used To - 4 Track E.P Release date: 29 September 2013 – Aus / NZ, 17 November 2013 Rest Of The World Label: Speed Vs Angle Format: Limited Edition CD, digital download

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
UKIRLEUUS
2009"She's Got You"Humasyouhitch/Sonofabitch
"Problems/You Got Your Head"
2010"Crazy Screwed Up Lady"
2011"Gay Pirates"Is the World Strange or Am I Strange?
"Sure as Hell Not Jesus"
"My Day"
"She Doesn't Mind"
2012"Love This"Think Bigger
2013"Collaborating With Rihanna"Single
2020"Tell Me Who To Be"Think Bigger - (2020 Deluxe Edition)

External links