IN CONVERSATION WITH DYLAN LLEWELLYN

interview by JANA LETONJA

Dylan Llewellyn returns to his leading role in Channel 4’s hit show ‘Big Boys’, returning for its third season this February. In addition to ‘Big Boys’, Dylan will also be reprising his role as PC Kelby Hartford in the third season of BBC’s ‘Beyond Paradise’, which is set to air in March. Most recently, Dylan was seen in Danny Boyle’s ‘Pistol’ for FX/Disney+ about the creation of punk rock band Sex Pistols playing Wally Nightingale, the band member who founded the original group.

‘Big Boys’ has gained a lot of praise for its unique portrayal of male friendship. How has your character, Jack, evolved since the first season? What can viewers expect from Jack in the upcoming third season?

The male friendship in ‘Big Boys’ is extremely important to see on screen because these kinds of relationships do not get portrayed enough on TV. I think it’s really important that what we are seeing on screen is reflective of real-life scenarios and relationships. But I think my character Jack has grown tremendously since season one. At the start, we see him struggling with grief after losing his dad, while also trying to take care of his family. He was initially in his shell quite a bit, but in the first year of university, we see him slowly come out of his comfort zone, discover more about himself, make new friends, take on his university course and more. He really grows in confidence and comes out of his cocoon, becoming a bit of a social butterfly by the end of the second season, living his best life. He’s really grown into his character and the bonds with his friends are extremely important to him. 

The dynamic between Jack and Danny is central to ‘Big Boys’. How would you describe their friendship now compared to when they first met? What has changed in their relationship over the course of the show?

Their friendship and bond have just blossomed so much. They've definitely had their challenges, including Danny’s struggle with his mental health, but Jack’s always there for him. Danny does know that, but at the same time he wants to tackle it himself and not be looked after. He’s a proud guy and I think that’s what sometimes gets in the way of his relationships. He doesn’t want to share or open up. It’s something you see in real life, especially with young men, but Danny and Jack’s communication has come a long way and their bond is really strong now. They’ve got each other’s backs, that’s for sure. 

You’ve been praised for your effortlessly charming performance as Jack. How do you bring such authenticity to this character, especially considering the delicate subject matter of coming out and navigating university life?

It really helped having the real-life Jack Rooke there on this journey, especially on set, sharing exactly how he felt in these moments. And not only Jack, but our incredible director Jim Archer too, and we all worked together to bring out the best version of the character. It was definitely a collaboration and it really helps having that support there. We always strove to get the best take and the best performances from everyone. I don’t think I could have done it without all of the team. Jack is such a fun character to play, being fun, lovely, awkward, but extremely charming and loveable all at the same time. I feel very proud to be able to play him and be a part of this project.  

Both ‘Big Boys’ and ‘Beyond Paradise’ deal with themes of relationships, friendship, and personal growth. How do you approach the balance of comedy and heart in these roles?

I find it quite easy to approach these roles because the writing is so good for both characters. The scenes are also made so much easier because the actors that I work alongside are incredibly talented and it’s so effortless to get along with them. I’m very lucky to call all my co-stars friends, which helps to build that chemistry when we are working. The bonds between actors are so important and I think it definitely shows in these projects. 

Having worked on ‘Derry Girls’, ‘Big Boys’, and ‘Beyond Paradise’, you’ve tackled a wide range of characters. How do you approach preparing for each of these roles, especially when they are so different from one another?

I start by researching these characters and getting into their mindset, thinking about how they’d react to certain situations, what their goals might be, and what their relationships with other characters are like. For example, a character like James from ‘Derry Girls’ is a very patient, sweet and endearing person, but he is more of a fish out of water. On the other hand, you have Kelby from ‘Beyond Paradise’ who is more confident, popular and fun, but probably the most naïve character I’ve played. 

Jack Rooke feels like a mix of all of them. He’s got some of the awkwardness of James, but the warmth of Kelby. All my characters are unique, but I just try and get deep into their heads to figure out what their story is and what they’re about. 

You played Wally Nightingale in Danny Boyle’s ‘Pistol’ about the Sex Pistols. How did you approach playing a real-life figure in such an iconic series? What was the most challenging part of portraying someone like Wally?

The team on ‘Pistol’ was incredible. We had a movement coach and a voice coach on set, as well as the band Underworld helping us with our chemistry and comradery. They really wanted us to go into detail with everything. I got to learn the guitar too which was such a cool experience. 

With regards to playing Wally, he was harder to research compared to other roles like Sid Vicious or Johnny Rotten because there isn’t as much content out there about him. He was a bit more of a mystery. There are only about 10 pictures of him on Google and not very much written about him as a person, so I had to put my own spin on him. In a way, it kind of benefitted me because I was able to have that freedom to make the character my own and build his personality. I based a lot of it off the pictures and what I imagined he might have been like, as well as a few stories from other band members. It also helped that the team did an amazing job at creating the image, especially his hair. The glasses were a big help with getting into the character too. 

You’ve worked on some very high-profile series. What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? Has there been a moment or role that made you realize how much you’ve grown as an actor?

I think there are two answers for that, maybe even three. Projects wise, I think ‘Derry Girls’ was probably my biggest, and it was the one I learnt the most from. It really shaped me as an actor, learning from my co-stars and the director. ‘Derry Girls’ was a big part of my life. 

Then, working on ‘Pistol’, even though I was only in the first few episodes, was an amazing experience. Getting the chance to work with an Oscar-winning director like Danny Boyle was a career high. 

Finally, working on a project like ‘Big Boys’ is definitely one of my favourites. To work with such talented co-stars and be able to keep up with them has made me realise how much I’ve grown as an actor. So yeah, I’d say those three projects especially have really helped me develop my career. 

With your rising social media following, how do you balance your public and private life? Has being in the public eye changed the way you approach your career or your roles?

I like to post on social media when I can, mainly about work, keeping everyone up to date with my projects, as well as sharing some more fun content with co-stars and behind the scenes moments. But I do like to keep my private life private, as they say. It’s mostly for my friends and family, and I want to make sure they see me as just Dylan outside of the acting world. When I’m not working though, I love to switch off from that part of it and spending time with my friends and family is what I enjoy doing the most.

What are some of the things you enjoy most on your days off?

As I said, I generally just love seeing my family and hanging out with friends. I am a big gamer, so I love doing that with friends, but I also love watching anime and binging series with my brother. We recently watched ‘Traitors’, which was good fun. Other than that, I’ve been trying to get back into the gym, but I’d love to try yoga or learn a martial art. I love football too so it would be great to play a bit more, but I watch it a lot. I’m a big Crystal Palace fan.

What’s next for you after the new seasons of ‘Big Boys’ and ‘Beyond Paradise’? Are there any upcoming projects that you can talk about?

I’m just excited for everyone to get the see the new seasons of ‘Big Boys’ and ‘Beyond Paradise’. Sadly, this is the last season of ‘Big Boys’, but I’d love to do some more of ‘Beyond Paradise’ if I got the chance. 

I’ve also got a very exciting project that hasn’t been announcement yet and we’ll begin shooting very soon. Stay tuned for that. 

TEAM CREDITS:

photography JOSEPH SINCLAIR
hair CHARLIE CULLEN
styling SARAH-ROSE HARRISON