Slow Horses (TV Show)

STAR of Slow Horses Olivia Cooke has revealed how a dibilitating health condition left her unable to work for half of 2026.

The 32-year-old was struck down with the shingles virus at the end of last year, forcing her to take an extended break from her acting jobs.

She contracted the infection while in New York, having to jet back to the UK for treatment.

Olivia subsequently spent weeks holed up in her London home in order to fully recover.

Speaking to GQ Hype, she detailed how much it exhausted her, saying: “I had a two-month period where I couldn’t do small talk.

“Someone was like: ‘How are you?’ And I was like: ‘Yeah, I’ve had shingles’.”

MOVING ON

Slow Horses fans convinced Jack Lowden has landed Bond role after series 6 ending

FAMILIAR FACES

Full list of new cast for Slow Horses season 7

The House Of The Dragon actress admitted that constantly working contributed considerably to the illness.

“I feel like the past two years, I’ve been, like, jobs, jobs, jobs, and I got really burnt out,” she said. “Your body has a way of flooring you to make sure that you do actually lie down.”

During her rest period, Olivia passed the time cooking and rearranging her house in East London, which she shares with partner Ralph Davis, describing herself as “a real housewife”.

“I was cooking different meals every day and sorting my cupboards out.

“I was like a real housewife, like, horribly, but I enjoyed it.”

It also gave her the opportunity to take time away from social media, deactivating Instagram.

“I was just like, I’m on this too much – it’s not nourishing,” she explained. “I think the celebri-fied nature of being an actor has now snowballed into this monster.

“And I just think we need to get off this train and realise that we make these TV shows and films, yes, for escapism, but also because it’s artful and it’s creative and it’s not for followers or for a brand deal.”

Despite being back on the social media platform, Olivia’s approach to it has changed.

“Even replying to a DM from someone that is semi-famous or wholly famous, that’s anxiety,” she added. “Why do I then now feel like I have to be smart and charming for this person that I don’t know?”

Olivia is currently filming A Talent For Murder, in which she’ll portray an American heiress on the run.

In Slow Horses, she stars opposite Bond contender Jack Lowden.

THE race to find Daniel Craig’s James Bond successor has been whittled down to four actors – with final screen tests set to to take place over the coming week.

The coveted role has been up for grabs following the release of 007 blockbuster No Time To Die in 2021, Craig’s fifth and final outing as the Martini-swilling secret agent.

Since then, an array of high-profile Hollywood stars have been linked with the franchise, notably Australian heartthrob Jacob Elordi and Brits Theo James, Idris Elba, and James Norton.

But Jeff Bezos and Amazon MGM Studios, who paid $20million for full creative control of the 64-year old franchise in 2025, are said to be keen on four alternative actors.

According to The Wrap, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor and Jack Lowden have made it to the final round of screen tests, alongside a fourth, currently unnamed actor – thought to be Heartthrob star Jack Barton.

Apart from a handful of other minor TV roles, little else is known about the young actor, but he has reportedly impressed producers enough to earn critical screen tests alongside his three Bond rivals.

READ MORE ABOUT BOND HERE

MOVING ON

Slow Horses fans convinced Jack Lowden has landed Bond role after series 6 ending

DOUBLE OH-NO

James Bond fans furious after woke ITV cuts famous 007 scene

Fans are already convinced that Lowden has landed the role after spotting a clue in the series finale of AppleTV show Slow Horses, in which he plays MI5 agent River Cartwright.

With Cartwright’s life seemingly hanging in the balance, viewers suggested the Scottish actor might be taking time off to film the next Bond movie. 

“Ok so we officially have our James Bond, right???” wrote one fan on Reddit. 

Posting on X, a second added: “Does the final scene mean Jack Lowden got the Bond gig?”

“The Slow Horses season 6 finale and season 7 trailer prove that Jack Lowden will be the new James Bond,” wrote another.

Elsewhere, a fourth commented: “We will know if there is a James Bond announcement in the next couple of weeks. That is the only reason I could think that they would kill him off.”

Sadly for fans, the timing doesn’t quite add up – the seventh series of Slow Horses has already wrapped and shooting for the eighth season is currently underway, with all of the cast spotted on location in London.

Jack’s Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman, 68, appeared to confirm he’d been cast as the next James Bond during an appearance on Canada’s The Morning Show.

“It’s been rumoured that [Jack Lowden is] on the shortlist,” he said.

“We’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we? Because they have picked him.

“They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack.”