Trending 27th February 2025 by Stellar Magazine

Could Leo Woodall Be This Generation’s Hugh Grant?

He's a big fan, tbf

via Netflix

Hugh Grant’s impact in film from the mid 90s to the late 2000s can’t be denied.

Grant began rising to stardom after starring in Richard Curtis’s romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). After this big break, he became a household name and went on to star in several major films such as Bridget Jones’s Diary, Notting Hill, Love Actually and many more.   

As we left the 2000s, Grant entered a new age of movies, opting to retire his lead role in romantic comedies. He continued his acting career in the likes of Paddington 2 (2017), Wonka (2024) and Unfrosted (2024). He most recently appears in the newest of the Bridget Jones series, Mad About the Boy (2025), alongside up-and-coming actor Leo Woodall. 

But who is Woodall, and could he actually be as big a deal as Grant himself? 

The 28-year-old British actor received his big break in the Netflix original series One Day (2024). This series starred him as Dexter Mayhew alongside Ambika Mod as Emma Morley. Based on the book by David Nicholls, One Day follows the tragic love story of Dexter and Emma, who meet at a graduation ball and begin a 14 year long on-again off-again relationship.   

Prior to One Day, Woodall had his major television debut after being cast in HBO’s second season of The White Lotus. Following the lives of staff and guests at a luxury hotel chain, the series divulges into the darker side of luxury tourism and the super rich.  

Leo most recently featured alongside Grant in Mad About the Boy. His character, Roxster, is a member of Jones’s newest love triangle, a role that mimics Grant’s original role of Daniel Cleaver in the Jones universe.

Daniel, described as a “charming, yet devious womaniser” with a “desperate, romantic agenda” is directly comparable to Roxster. Roxster is controversially over 20 years younger than 51-year-old Bridget, but the pair still begin a relationship… one that even allows him to recreate some iconic Daniel Cleaver moments. 

One of the most memorable moments in the Bridget Jones franchise is the scene where Grant’s character finds himself thrown into the river after bumping boats with Bridget Jones.

In the recent film, Roxster rescues an innocent chihuahua from a pool. Both characters can be seen sporting a pair of blue jeans paired with a loose, summer button up shirt. Although the circumstances are completely different, the reference to the first film of the series is clear and undeniable.  

Following in his characters footsteps, Woodall stated in a recent interview that his favourite film is Notting Hill, but less specifically, he enjoys anything featuring Hugh Grant. Although previously disappointed by the lack of shared moments during the filming process, Woodall said that after meeting Grant on the press tour he “fulfilled all my hopes and expectations. He was very, very nice and charming and funny.” 

 

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Woodall’s back catalogue now features a plethora of charming and flirty characters such as Dexter (One Day), Roxster (Mad About the Boy), Jack (The White Lotus) and many more to come. Making a return to our screens soon, he will add Prime Target’s Edward Brooks to his ever-growing list.

The Apple TV+ series follows a bright, math graduate studying at Cambridge University. Alongside National Security Agent Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindel), the pair will uncover the “troubling conspiracy” that surrounds Edward. Will this character will be reminiscent of previous love interests Woodall has featured as? Here’s hoping!  

The future looks promising for the young actor, whether he follows in his role model Hugh Grant’s footsteps, or decides to forge his own path. Only time will tell what Woodall has in store for us, but if it’s anything like his past work, it’s sure to be brilliant. 

Words by Emma Nolan