From left: Leo Woodall, Theo James and Meghann Fahy at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in L.A. on Feb. 26, 2023.Photo:Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
The London-born actor, 27, had a career-launching turn in season 2 ofThe White Lotus,and tells PEOPLE, “It felt very much like a stars-aligned moment when I got that.”
As cheeky Essex boy Jack, he flirted with floundering assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson), helped his “uncle” Quentin (Tom Hollander) execute a well-thought-out plan to take out Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) and found time to shock audiences — Tanya included! — with his less-than-appropriate conduct with said uncle, who, thankfully, he was not related to biologically.
“It does feel like a world away now,” he says of the cast’s weeks in Sicily filming the show in 2022. Their days were spent “all hanging out as a group,” with the likes of Coolidge, Hollander, Richardson and others, likeTheo JamesandAubrey Plaza.
“It was one of those shows where, because there were so many characters and so many storylines, there were so many days off. A lot of it was kinda just one big holiday.”
Leo Woodall in season 2 of HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’.HBO
He recalls one such day off spent at a bar near the cast’s hotel withMeghann Fahy— hisnow-girlfriend, though the twokeep tight-lipped about their off-screen relationship— andF. Murray Abraham.
“We were watching what we call — it’s called the Grand National, and it’s a horse race. It’s a tradition that you place a bet on a horse. And my horse won, and I was so excited, and Murray thought that I just won a million pounds,” he shares, calling it a “really funny moment.”
“And when I told him that I hadn’t put that much money on it, and it was just the glory I like, he was like, ‘What the f—?’ He couldn’t believe I was so happy just to win 10 quid,” Woodall says, using the British slang term for pounds.
He adds, “I think most people would agree it was one of the best times ever. It was amazing.”
Leo Woodall and Meghann Fahy attend The South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2023 at The Savoy Hotel on July 2, 2023 in London, England.Dave Benett/Getty
Dave Benett/Getty
Woodall, who stars as yet another cheeky Brit inOne Day, Netflix’s new adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 novel, comes from a family of thespians, and studied acting at a drama school in London.
“When I decided that it was what I wanted to do, I was all in,” he says of his early days as an actor.
“Hollywood was never really in the conversation. That was just a freak accident. But when I told my family that I wanted to be an actor, a lot of them weren’t that surprised,” he admits, describing his childhood self as “very theatrical” and “one of those annoying ones that was just constantly wanting to perform for people.”
The White Lotus Cast pose in the press room during the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Frazer Harrison/Getty
After graduating from ArtsEd in London, Woodall had “three or so years out in the big bad world” beforeWhite Lotuscame along.
“I’ve done some really cool jobs,” he says, including brief stints onVampire AcademyandCitadel. “And I’ve done some stuff that no one saw.”
He feels “quite lucky” for his time spent on the Mike White hit.
“I had a really fun role in the show. And the show — it was so lovely that so many people were watching it and loving it. And I was very proud to be a part of that,” he says, adding, “But I also maintained a level of anonymity, which I was really holding onto.”
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Seasons 1 and 2 ofThe White Lotuscan be streamed in full on Max.
source: people.com
