Leo Woodall’s Near Miss with ‘One Day’ and The White Lotus Transformation
For many, the recent Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ beloved novel One Day was a deeply emotional viewing experience, with Leo Woodall’s portrayal of Dexter Mayhew leaving a significant impact. However, the journey to embodying Dexter was far from straightforward for the 29-year-old Londoner, who is also widely recognised for his role in HBO’s The White Lotus. Woodall has revealed that he almost missed out on the “gut-wrenching” series due to the demanding turnaround from his previous project.
Leo Woodall, star of ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy’
The actor, who also captivated audiences in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy in 2025, found himself in a precarious position when auditioning for One Day. His commitment to filming The White Lotus, created by Mike White, presented a significant hurdle.
Speaking on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, Woodall recounted the challenges he faced. “I nearly didn’t do it because I was filming White Lotus and was covered in fake tattoos when I auditioned for One Day,” he explained. The production team for One Day initially mistook one of the temporary tattoos on his neck, a “Cowabunga” design, as permanent.
The tight timeframe between completing The White Lotus and commencing work on One Day added another layer of difficulty. Woodall had just two weeks to undergo a significant physical and stylistic transformation. This involved shedding weight, transitioning from his natural Essex accent to Dexter’s more refined vocalisation, and, crucially, removing all the fake tattoos. He admitted that this process was “a lot harder than you’d think.”
Leo Woodall as Dexter Mayhew in Netflix’s ‘One Day’
Woodall starred opposite Ambika Mod, who played Emma Morley in the critically acclaimed Netflix series. The show, based on Nicholls’ 2009 novel, meticulously charts the evolving relationship between Dexter and Emma over a 20-year span, focusing on a single day, July 15th, each year. The series masterfully captured the characters’ heartbreaks, struggles, and the poignant moments that left viewers in tears.
The emotional resonance of One Day was widely felt. Upon its release, viewers took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share their reactions. @F_199x described the series as making them “feel sick,” but in the best possible way, adding that the adaptation was “every bit heartbreaking and beautiful as the book.” Brianna echoed this sentiment, writing, “Pressing play knowing it’s going to shred my heart into pieces all over again.”
Stephen Graham on ‘The Responder’s’ Success and New Projects
Also appearing on The Graham Norton Show, actor Stephen Graham, known for his role in the recent Netflix hit The Responder, shared his astonishment at the show’s success. Graham described the experience as “so surreal,” admitting, “We never expected it. We just caught something in the zeitgeist and its success has been unbelievable.”
Stephen Graham, star of ‘The Responder’
Inspired by the impact of The Responder, Graham has penned a new book, Letters to Our Sons. He discussed the expansive nature of the book, stating, “The scale of it is massive – it spans every walk of life, every subject matter, and every sort of father-son relationship. It is something I am very proud of.”
Looking ahead, the 52-year-old actor is also set to star in a new dark comedy thriller titled The Good Boy. Graham described the film as a “really strange little film,” elaborating, “It’s weird, but good weird. It has a wonderful script, and I play a great character. He is bizarre and very different to anyone I normally play.”
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
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