He is the star of Netflix’s latest heartbreaking drama series, One Day, which has seen viewers around the world crying their eyes out.
And Leo Woodall looks set to become a household name after his starring role as Dexter Mayhew in the TV adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 novel.
He initially wanted to pursue a career as a physical education teacher or specialist, but it was not until his late teens that he decided to pursue acting.
Inspired by his performances in gritty British dramas Skins and Peaky Blinders, he enrolled in drama school at age 19 before landing his first acting job in the short film, Man Down.
However, although he was not initially drawn to acting, it is no surprise that Leo pursued a career in the arts as he comes from a family of actors.
Leo Woodall looks set to become a household name after his starring role as Dexter Mayhew in the Netflix adaptation of One Day (pictured with co-star Ambika Mod).
While he may not have initially been drawn to acting, it’s no surprise that Leo pursued a career in the arts, as he comes from a family of actors (pictured at the 2023 SAG Awards).
Leo’s parents met at drama school and his stepfather is also an actor.
Her father, Andrew Woodall, 60, has appeared in films such as The Count of Monte Cristo, Belle and, most recently, Solo: A Star Wars Story.
He has also worked on several television series, including Grantchester, Endeavour, the Reckoning and Des.
Leo’s mother, Jane Morton, did not pursue a career in acting after graduating from drama school, but after her relationship with Andrew came to an end, she married another actor.
Leo’s stepfather Alexander Morton, 78, is best known for playing ghillie Golly Mackenzie in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen.
He also appeared in the gangster film Get Carter and has appeared on shows such as Luther and Casualty.
Leo is also a descendant on his mother’s side of the late silent film actress Maxine Elliott, who was a star in the 1910s.
Leo attended the Arts Educational School (ArtsEd) in London and graduated with a BA in Acting in 2019.
With a title under his belt, the roles came quickly to Leo.
The first was in an episode of the hospital drama Holby City, and soon after he was cast in the upcoming sci-fi film Nomad, chosen from 28,000 nominations for the role.
Leo filmed the film in 20 countries over a three-year period.
Meanwhile, he made his film debut in Cherry, directed by the Russo brothers, and appeared in the Peacock series Vampire Academy.
Leo’s father, Andrew Woodall, 60, has appeared in films including The Count of Monte Cristo and Belle and several television series including Grantchester, Endeavor, the Reckoning and Des
Andrew recently starred in Solo: A Star Wars Story (pictured left, in the 2018 film)
Leo’s mother, Jane Morton, did not pursue a career in acting after graduating from drama school, but after her relationship with Andrew came to an end, she married another actor (Leo pictured with his brother Gabriel, on the right, and his mother Jane).
Leo’s stepfather Alexander Morton, 78, is best known for playing ghillie Golly Mackenzie in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen.
Leo is also a descendant on his mother’s side of the late silent film actor Maxine Elliott, who was a star in the 1910s.
Leo is dating an actress and has struck up a romance with his The White Lotus co-star Meghann Fahy (pictured at the Emmys after-party in January).
It was in 2022 that he had his first major role as Jack in the anthology series The White Lotus, the troubled ‘nephew’ of Tom Hollander’s character.
Speaking about his introduction to the role, Leo told GQ: “Do you remember that episode of Friends when Joey wrote a script for Chandler and Ross to read, and he writes ‘handsome man enters’?
“It went something like this, it was like ‘Handsome Jack walks to the pool.’ Portia looks at Handsome Jack.”
“There was a tagline in the character breakdown that said, ‘A guy from Essex is a magnetic person who causes some trouble at the hotel.’ I wish I could paraphrase it better than that.
He walked away from the show with around twenty fans and a girlfriend, striking up a romance with co-star Meghann Fahy.
But his experience on the set of White Lotus didn’t make One Day any less daunting for Leo, who said it felt like a “mountain to climb.”
He told The Hollywood Reporter: “I was surprised by the pressure I felt being a leading man.
‘I didn’t know if I should behave like the captain of a sports team. And I struggled with not having any kind of “me” moment, like you couldn’t tie your shoelaces or spit out your own gum.
“There was one day when I noticed a paparazzi photographer was following me and I thought, ‘I don’t know how people deal with this on a daily basis.’
“I want to be as successful as I can be as an actor, but I don’t think it’s that fun to be categorically famous.”
Leo attended the Arts Educational School (ArtsEd) in London and graduated with a BA in Acting in 2019. With a degree under his belt, roles came to Leo quickly (pictured in Peacock’s Vampire Academy series with his co-star Daniela Nieves).
In 2022, Leo had his breakthrough role as Jack in the anthology series The White Lotus, the troubled ‘nephew’ of Tom Hollander’s character (pictured with Haley Lu Richardson).
Leo stars alongside Ambika Mod, 27, as Emma Morley in the 20-year-old love story, One Day.
The series follows Emma and Dexter, who meet on July 15, 1988, the night of their graduation from the University of Edinburgh.
The next morning, they go their separate ways, but the novel and the television series catch up with them on the same day every year.
Each episode finds Dex and Em, a year older, on this particular date, as they grow and change, come together and part, experience joy and heartbreak.
The cast of One Day is rounded out by some big names, including Eleanor Tomlinson and Joely Richardson.
The decades-spanning love story is based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls, which has sold more than five million copies worldwide.
It is not the first time that the story of Emma and Dexter reaches the screen. A film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess was released in 2011, but received mixed reviews.
Leo stars alongside Ambika Mod, 27, as Emma Morley in the 20-year-old love story, One Day.