Leo Woodall
In the bustling world of acting, some stars rise steadily, while others burst onto the scene with undeniable charisma and talent. Leo Woodall is one such talent, quickly becoming a familiar face on screens big and small through his captivating performances. From a family steeped in the dramatic arts, his journey from sports enthusiast to critically acclaimed actor is a fascinating story of discovering one's true calling. Woodall hails from a family with a deep theatrical legacy, influencing his eventual pivot to acting from a different passion. His roles in acclaimed series like The White Lotus and One Day cemented his status as a captivating and critically praised performer. He's quickly expanding his repertoire, taking on diverse lead roles in upcoming major productions across various genres.
AI Summary
In the bustling world of acting, some stars rise steadily, while others burst onto the scene with undeniable charisma and talent. Leo Woodall is one such talent, quickly becoming a familiar face on screens big and small through his captivating performances. From a family steeped in the dramatic arts, his journey from sports enthusiast to critically acclaimed actor is a fascinating story of discovering one's true calling.
- Woodall hails from a family with a deep theatrical legacy, influencing his eventual pivot to acting from a different passion.
- His roles in acclaimed series like The White Lotus and One Day cemented his status as a captivating and critically praised performer.
- He's quickly expanding his repertoire, taking on diverse lead roles in upcoming major productions across various genres.
The Legacy Begins
Born into a family of performers in West London, acting was practically in Leo Woodall's DNA. His father, stepfather, and even his grandmother were all actors—his parents even met at drama school! This rich lineage certainly set a unique stage for his future, though his path wasn't immediately clear.
A Different Path
Despite his family's theatrical roots, young Leo initially dreamed of a career in sports. It wasn't until age 19, after watching the gritty drama Peaky Blinders, that the acting bug truly bit him. This unexpected inspiration led him to pursue formal training at the prestigious Arts Educational School, from which he graduated in 2019.
Stepping Onto Screen
After graduating, Woodall wasted no time, making his television debut with a guest appearance in the 2019 BBC One medical drama Holby City. He also appeared in the short film Man Down, quickly gaining experience. An especially exciting early project was the feature film Nomad, for which he was cast from an astonishing 28,000 submissions, leading to filming in over 20 countries.
Early Feature & Fantasy
His big-screen debut came in the Russo brothers' 2021 film Cherry, showcasing his versatility early on. He also ventured into the supernatural, taking on the role of Adrian Ivashkov in the Peacock series Vampire Academy, adding a touch of fantasy to his burgeoning resume.
The White Lotus Phenomenon
It was his role as the charmingly rogue Jack in the second season of HBO's critically acclaimed anthology series The White Lotus that truly propelled Woodall into the global spotlight. Set against the stunning backdrop of Sicily, his performance—complete with a meticulously crafted Essex accent—captured audiences worldwide.
Critical Acclaim & Recognition
To perfect his character's distinctive accent, Woodall immersed himself in videos of TV personality Joey Essex, showing dedication to his craft. His compelling portrayal earned him a spot as a 2023 Screen International Star of Tomorrow, signaling his rapid ascent in the industry, which also included a recurring role in Amazon Prime's Citadel.
A Leading Man Emerges
Woodall secured his first true lead role as the charismatic Dexter Mayhew in the 2024 Netflix series One Day. Opposite Ambika Mod, he brought to life David Nicholls' beloved novel, chronicling a decades-long friendship born from a single unforgettable night. The series was a global sensation.
A Smoldering Breakthrough
Critics universally lauded his performance in One Day, calling him "especially devastating" and a "tornado of charisma." Proma Khosla of IndieWire praised his "romcom smolder" and undeniable screen presence, solidifying the role as a major breakthrough in his burgeoning career.
Future Horizons
Looking ahead, Woodall's schedule remains packed with high-profile projects that continue to showcase his range. In 2025, he'll star as a mathematician in the Apple TV+ thriller series Prime Target, demonstrating his ability to tackle complex, dramatic roles beyond romantic leads.
Stepping into a Rom-Com Icon's World
He's also set to charm audiences as Roxster, a younger, brazen love interest for Bridget Jones herself, in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Starring alongside the iconic Renée Zellweger, this role firmly positions him as a rising star in the romantic comedy landscape, cementing his versatile appeal.
Off-Screen Life
Away from the cameras, Woodall's personal life has also garnered attention. After months of speculation, he publicly confirmed in November 2023 that he is in a relationship with his The White Lotus costar, Meghann Fahy, bringing their on-screen chemistry into real life.
Article
Leo Woodall
Leo Vincent Woodall (born 14 September 1996) is an English actor. He gained recognition with his roles in the second season of the HBO black comedy drama anthology television series The White Lotus and in the Netflix romantic drama miniseries One Day. Woodall has since starred in the Apple TV+ thriller series Prime Target, and in films including the romantic comedy Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and the crime thriller Tuner.
Early life and education
Leo Woodall
Leo Vincent Woodall was born in Hammersmith, London, and grew up in Shepherd's Bush, London. He comes from a family of actors, including his father Andrew, stepfather, and grandmother; his parents met at drama school. His mother, Jane, was married to actor Alexander Morton until his death in 2026.
He has said he is a descendant of Maxine Elliott.
Woodall attended Richmond Park Academy (previously named Shene School). He wanted to go into sports, but decided to pursue acting after seeing the series Peaky Blinders when he was 19. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in acting from Arts Educational School (ArtsEd) in 2019.
Career
Leo Woodall
Woodall made his television debut with a guest appearance in a 2019 episode of the BBC One medical soap opera Holby City. He also appeared in the short film Man Down. That summer he was cast in the upcoming feature film Nomad out of 28,000 submissions. Filming took place in more than 20 countries.
In the meantime Woodall made his feature film debut in Cherry, directed by the Russo brothers. He played Adrian Ivashkov in the Peacock series Vampire Academy. He joined the main cast of the HBO anthology series The White Lotus for its second season in Sicily as Jack, a young man from Essex. To prepare for the role and adopt the character's accent, he watched videos of television personality Joey Essex. He was named a 2023 Screen International Star of Tomorrow. He had a recurring role in the Amazon Prime series Citadel in 2023.
Woodall starred in his first lead role as Dexter Mayhew, opposite Ambika Mod, in One Day, the 2024 Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls's novel of the same name. The series tells the story of two young people who become best friends after a platonic one-night stand. Woodall received critical acclaim for his performance. Writing for IndieWire, Proma Khosla called him "especially devastating" and "a tornado of charisma with a permanent yet never smug smirk and a romcom smolder that should send his forbears cowering at the notion". The role was a breakthrough in Woodall’s career.
In 2025, Woodall played the lead role of a mathematician in the Apple TV+ thriller series Prime Target and starred in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy with Renée Zellweger, playing Roxster, Jones's younger and brazen new love interest. Also in 2025, Woodall portrayed American army Sgt. Howie Triest, a German-English interpreter, in the movie Nuremberg.
Personal life
Leo Woodall
In November 2023, Woodall confirmed being in a relationship with his The White Lotus costar Meghann Fahy.
Filmography
Film
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2021</td><td>Cherry</td><td>Rodgers</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">2025</td><td>Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy</td><td>Roxster McDuff</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tuner</td><td>Niki White</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nuremberg</td><td>Sgt. Howie Triest</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Tony</td><td>Sal</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2027</td><td>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum †</td><td>Halvard</td><td>Filming</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">TBA</td><td>Nomad †</td><td>Ben</td><td>Post-production</td></tr><tr><td>The Custom of the Country †</td><td></td><td>Filming</td></tr></tbody></table>
Television
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2019</td><td>Holby City</td><td>Jake Reader</td><td>Episode: "Things My Mother Told Me"</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2022</td><td>Vampire Academy</td><td>Adrian Ivashkov</td><td>2 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>The White Lotus</td><td>Jack</td><td>Recurring role (Season 2)</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Citadel</td><td>Duke</td><td>2 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>One Day</td><td>Dexter Mayhew</td><td>Nominated—National Film Award UK for Best Actor in a TV Series</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Prime Target</td><td>Edward Brooks</td><td>Main cast</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Vladimir</td><td>Vladimir Vladinski</td><td>Main cast</td></tr></tbody></table>
Audio
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2025</td><td>Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions</td><td>Bill Weasley</td><td>Audible</td></tr></tbody></table>