Leo Woodall explores a romance with a much older woman in his new film, Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy.

And the 28-year-old British actor, who shares an on screen love affair with co-star Renée Zellweger, 55, in the romantic comedy, says that he’s pleased to see age gap couples depicted on screen – especially where the woman is the elder of the pair. 

‘When two people find the connection, why shouldn’t they see where it goes without judgment?’ he tells Stellar Magazine. 

‘Both dynamics should be equally normalised. It’s a good thing that we’re getting the reverse’ Leo continued. 

‘Because it’s not uncommon – it’s just not portrayed much in movies.’

Elsewhere in the chat, Leo said that he was impressed by the Birtish accent American actress Renée adopted for the character of Bridget Jones – and says she kept it up even between takes.  

Leo Woodall (pictured) explores a romance with a much older woman in his new film, Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy

‘I’ve worked with people that have done that before, and you kind of know that they’re doing it,’ he explained. 

‘Whereas with Renée – partly because she’s so good, but also because this character has been a part of her for such a long time – nothing about it seemed unnatural in any way.’  

It comes after Leo admitted that being objectified in his movie roles has left him feeling ‘vulnerable and exposed’.

Speaking to Radio Times about his rise in fame since starring in Season Two of White Lotus and Netflix’s One Day, he said: ‘I don’t like using the word ‘catapulted’ but in terms of my career, it did have that effect.

‘It’s terrifying in a lot of ways. Because it was a relatively quick turnaround, suddenly I was on these big sets and then doing pH๏τoshoots and events and interviews.

‘The filming, I’m getting more comfortable with and it’s becoming my safe haven.’

Having played the roles of love interests in most of his projects, Woodall was asked if he ever feels objectified.

‘Yeah, it’s a mixed bag,’ he said.

The 28-year-old British actor, who shares an on screen love affair with co-star Renée Zellweger, 55, in the romantic comedy (pictured), says that he’s pleased to see age gap couples depicted on screen – especially where the woman is the elder of the pair

Read More Bridget Jones’ oh-so tangled love map: The real-life locations where the ditzy singleton navigates life in the new, 4th romcom

‘In some ways it’s part of the gig. But also, there are sides of it that can make you feel quite vulnerable and exposed. That side isn’t as fun. 

‘When you’re playing a role described like that, you can’t help but look at yourself and go, ‘Am I that guy?’ There’s sometimes pressure in making people buy that.’

The actor, who is one of the faces of this years Red Nose Day alongside Claudia Winkleman and Olivia Atwood, said he thinks it’s important to work on films involving a younger man and an older female lover.

‘It’s a dynamic that has always existed in the real world’ he said.

‘And for reasons I’m not sure of, it’s now being portrayed on screen. That’s important, because that’s what film-making is best at: portraying all walks of life.

‘I didn’t go into it thinking I wanted to explore that. I thought the script was beautiful and wanted to be a part of it. I’ve always loved the films.

‘There’s only so many chances you’ll get to be a part of something as special as Bridget Jones.’

Hollywood actress Renee has reprised her role as the unlucky-in-love singleton in the romantic comedy Mad About The Boy.

‘Both dynamics should be equally normalised. It’s a good thing that we’re getting the reverse’ Leo said. ‘Because it’s not uncommon – it’s just not portrayed much in movies’

The character first appeared in a column in The Independent and when author Helen Fielding released Bridget Jones’ Diary in 1996, it quickly became a bestseller.

It was adapted for the screen in 2001, and the sequel The Edge of Reason followed in 2004, and then Bridget Jones’s Baby hit cinemas in 2016.

In all iterations of the franchise, Bridget is known for her obsessive calorie counting, chain-smoking and love of wearing big knickers.

In the fourth installment, the character has found herself single again following the death of Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), and she has given up smoking.

The movie was officially confirmed last year, with the script being penned by author Helen, Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer, and Michael Morris as director.

With her signature blend of charm and relatable messiness, Bridget shows that finding ‘happily ever after’ might be less about perfection and more about finding joy in the journey.