Loyle Carner’s Acting Debut: ‘Mint’ Role & New Beginnings as Ben Coyle-Larner

Ben Coyle-Larner, the musician known as Loyle Carner, is making his acting debut in the BBC drama Mint, a role he secured after a lengthy audition process and a desire to explore a long-held ambition. The eight-part series, which premiered at the Berlinale film festival, marks a shift for the Brit Award-nominated artist, who will now be credited as Ben Coyle-Larner for his on-screen work.

Mint centers on Shannon, a teenager navigating first love while her father controls a criminal enterprise in northern England. Coyle-Larner plays Arran, a potential suitor who captures Shannon’s attention, prompting a clash between the two families. The series is directed by Charlotte Regan, whose debut feature Scrapper impressed Coyle-Larner, leading to a chance encounter at Broadway Market in Hackney, east London, where she shared the script.

“I was talking about my frustration of being sent a lot of things that felt like they were a stereotype of people who appear like me, but didn’t have much emotional weight or vulnerability or the things that I know to be true of people who look like myself,” Coyle-Larner told The Hollywood Reporter. He found Regan’s script offered a different approach, and expressed his appreciation for its nuanced portrayal of characters.

The transition to acting wasn’t without its anxieties. Coyle-Larner confessed to being “fucking nervous” during filming, but Regan fostered a supportive environment, acknowledging his inexperience and allowing him to develop his process. He had previously observed television production firsthand on the set of Adolescence, with Philip Barantini and Stephen Graham, which proved helpful. Co-stars Emma Laird, Sam Riley, and Laura Fraser also contributed to a positive atmosphere, “reveling in [his] childlike enjoyment,” according to Coyle-Larner.

The production of Mint distinguishes itself through its stylistic choices, blending handheld camera work with surreal imagery and a soundtrack that includes 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love.” Coyle-Larner praised Regan’s creative vision and the BBC’s trust in her direction, describing the reveal as “unlike anything I’ve seen on TV. It’s magic.”

Coyle-Larner’s musical success includes over 1.4 billion Spotify streams and a recent album, hopefully!, which reached No. 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart. He previously headlined the Other Stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2025, a performance described as his biggest to date, according to Billboard. The BBC iPlayer currently lists the Glastonbury performance as unavailable.

Despite his established career in music, Coyle-Larner expressed a long-held desire to pursue acting, a dream he initially considered unattainable. He directed his own music videos as a way to explore his interest in film and television, and was encouraged by the success of friends working in the industry. He stated, “If they can do it, I felt like maybe I could be brave enough to offer it a move.”

At the Berlinale, Coyle-Larner expressed his enjoyment of Berlin, adding, “As long as I can get a good kebab, I’ll be fine.”