Jai Courtney on his new role in action thriller Jolt with Kate Beckinsale

He has worked in films all over the world with the best actors in the world. Now Aussie Jai Courtney adds more big names to his resumé in his new action thriller Jolt.

He’s the Cherrybrook kid who has starred alongside Hollywood heavyweights Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis and Jared Leto. His Aussie idols are now not only mentors, but colleagues – Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Joel Edgerton – not to mention fellow Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie.

Now Jai Courtney stands alongside English acting royalty Kate Beckinsale, turning heads in twisting new action thriller Jolt.

The star-studded cast also includes Susan Sarandon, Bobby Cannavale, Stanley Tucci, Laverne Cox and David Bradley.

“It was tons of fun … I read it, checked it out and saw this opportunity to do something with the character that was a little different, a little interesting,” he tells Insider from his Californian home.

Directed by Tanya Wexler, who Courtney worked with on Buffaloed, Jolt is the story of Lindy – Beckinsale – a sardonically-funny woman with a painful secret.

Jai Courtney stars with Kate Beckinsale in Jolt.

Due to a lifelong, rare neurological disorder, she experiences sporadic rage-filled, murderous impulses that can only be stopped when she shocks herself with a special electrode device.

Unable to find love and connection in a world that fears her bizarre condition, she finally trusts a man long enough to fall in love – Courtney – only to find him murdered the next day – and not who he says he was.

“There’s a duality there and you travel with him from one place to another … he’s not really who we think he is, and that’s something I thought would be a lot of fun to do,” Courtney says.

That’s the allure of what he does. Being someone else, doing the unexpected and causing a stir – as Jolt does so effortlessly.

“Kate is obviously a lot of fun and an amazing talent and we are all super familiar with her in the action space – she’s no stranger to that, but it was great to see her bring her sharp wit and sense of humour to the role as well and I think she made a perfect Lindy,” Courtney says.

“It’s all anchored in this kind of anxiety she’s grappling around – her inability to control her impulses and how that’s crippling her relationships in the past and how she sees herself.

“So it’s anchored by something that’s incredibly relatable, with this great, heavy-hitting action comedy on top.”

Jai Courtney with his long-term partner Mecki Dent. Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Shot in London and Bulgaria, Courtney went straight to work on Jolt after doing Stateless in Australia with Blanchett. His long-term partner, fellow Aussie Mecki Dent, didn’t join him on this one – she stayed home with their beloved dog.

But pandemic-pending, they try and get back as often as they can.

“I’m there all the time – I was just back there earlier in the year working on the Goldie (Gold Coast) shooting a film called Black Site and I’ve had the chance to come home most years since moving to the States to work on something,” he says.

“2020 was kind of the exception in recent times, but I’m always looking for Aussie projects to do and I love working back home.

“I’ve worked on large scale international productions as well as really small Aussie film and TV – and it’s always a blast.”

Even after living in the US for eight years, Australia will always be home, he assures Insider, longing for quality time with the friends and family that keep him grounded.

“Australia is absolutely still home and I love getting back whenever I can – the beer is definitely better back in Australia,” he laughs.

“My old crew, my mates, are all still around there pretty much and my folks are still in Sydney so there are plenty of reasons to come back, that’s for sure.

“I’ve always been pretty grounded by them, they are a great influence for that.”

The 35-year-old left Sydney to study acting in Perth’s WAAPA when he was 18 – so flying home for fleeting visits are his norm.

“Even before I was getting films in the US I was travelling back and forth all the time trying to get work, so I am no stranger to it,” he says.

“It never felt like a dramatic shift, moving over here.

“My career has gotten busier incrementally and I’m always striving for more in that department and I have great support from them … so it’s always felt strangely normal.”

Jai Courtney in The Suicide Squad. Picture: Roadshow Films/Warner Bros

And he’s become used to working with the world’s best, it’s those moments – those life-changing wins – that stay under his skin.

“It’s a funny thing – obviously the big jobs that land are moments you don’t forget,” he says.

“I remember my first big US feature film to come through was Jack Reacher – that felt like a hugely rewarding piece of validation – it had been years since I’d worked before that and I’d poured a lot of energy into getting that job and getting things moving along.

“So as far as landmarks that signify huge changes, that was a big one.”

A lot of inspiration and drive comes from his roots.

“I’ve always had enormous respect for our home grown talents – so getting the chance to work with some of my idols has been really great,” he explains.

“Russell Crowe is someone I’ve stayed close with – he directed the Water Diviner which we did together.

“I did a film (Felony, 2013) a few years ago that Joel Edgerton wrote which was still one of my favourite pieces of cinema I’ve worked on and I did Stateless back there in 2019, which was hugely successful worldwide of course working with some amazing talent and Cate Blanchett was the creator and producer – I’ve admired her for many years.

Jai Courtney played Cam Sandford in ABC drama series, Stateless. Picture: Ben King/ABC

“I feel like because we’re Aussies, sharing that has made it that much more special.

“I believe in Australian stories and it’s good to see our industry doing really well, certainly on the production side and the fact we are hosting so many international productions at the moment is a great thing for us.”

There’s no news on wedding bells any time soon, he laughs, and admits to letting down the Aussie stereotype in a big way.

“I don’t surf – I must be the only Aussie who doesn’t surf,” he jokes.

“I’m a pretty poor representation of what we’re about – I grew up in the suburbs.

“I pick it up about once a year and then I quit again so I’m certainly letting the stereotype down in that department.

“But I try and eat healthy, eat clean – the weather is pretty good in California so I try and get outdoors and stay healthy – healthy mind, healthy body – all that stuff.

“The joy of working and story telling and playing different people has always been the thrill for me, so I just hope to continue that.”

Jolt is now available on Amazon Prime Video