The role of a troubled heart-throb in hit Netflix drama One Day turned Leo Woodall into Britain’s hottest new actor. But as these photos prove, he is already one of the most versatile.
London-born Leo, 27, has moved seamlessly from heartbreaking to codebreaking for his latest TV series Prime Target, in which he stars as a maths postgraduate who finds himself at the centre of an espionage conspiracy.
Pictured on set at Cambridge University’s historic Bridge of Sighs, which links buildings at St John’s College over the River Cam, Leo plays lead character Edward Brook in the Apple TV thriller.
Leo on set at Cambridge University for his upcoming TV series Prime Target in which he stars as a maths postgraduate who finds himself at the centre of an espionage conspiracy
The 27-year-old heart-throb plays the lead character Edward Brook in the Apple TV thriller
Leo pictured on set at Cambridge University ’s historic Bridge of Sighs, which links buildings at St John’s College over the River Cam
Brook’s research at the university involves trying to find a pattern within prime numbers, which could grant him access to every computer in the world. But according to the drama’s synopsis: ‘He begins to realise an unseen enemy is trying to destroy his idea before it is even born.’
He co-stars with Daisy Waterstone, a British actress who played Margo Durrell in the ITV Sunday-night drama The Durrells.
The role is a step away from parts which made Leo’s name.
He appeared in the second series of critically acclaimed HBO drama The White Lotus as Essex wide boy Jack, who is initially introduced as the nephew of Tom Hollander’s character Quentin but is later revealed to be his lover.
Leo as his character Dexter in Netflix mini series One Day with co-star Ambika Mod who plays his love interest Emma
Leo as his Essex bad boy character Jack in White Lotus with Portia played by Hailey Lu Richardson
Leo met his girlfriend, 33-year-old US actress Meghann Fahy, on the set in 2022, with the couple confirming their relationship at the end of last year.
But it was playing the charming, privileged Dexter in this year’s Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 novel One Day that thrust Leo into the spotlight.
The plot revolves round Dexter meeting Emma (Ambika Mod) on the eve of their graduation. Next day they separate. They are then shown on the same date each year to see where they are in their lives, together or apart.
Dexter becomes a trashy TV presenter in 1990s London and spirals into drink and drug abuse. Describing Dexter, Leo said: ‘I know they say don’t judge a character, but in retrospect I can say he’s a twat.’
Like Dexter, Leo is enjoying his moment in the spotlight – but without the self-destructive streak.
Filming has begun on his first major movie, a Nuremberg trials drama directed by James Vanderbilt and also starring Russell Crowe, Rami Malek and Richard E Grant. Yet Leo’s impressive career nearly didn’t happen at all. He reportedly wanted to be a PE teacher or a stunt man, and only made a firm decision to go into acting after winning a place at drama school at 19.
