Louis Partridge Takes on the Role of George Wickham:
Louis Partridge will play George Wickham in Netflix’s star-studded rendition of Pride and Prejudice. Wickham is regarded as a notorious and deceptive figure, but Louis has a few words in his defense.
The London-born actor says with a hint of optimism, “Yes, he’s a bit of a jerk… but I think that before he leaves these women, he genuinely believes the nice things he says to them.”
Preparing for Pride and Prejudice:
Louis Partridge not only wishes to humanize the seductive but dishonest flirt, but he also took his part preparation seriously. During a recent camping trip to Mexico, he made sure to use an unusually strong SPF 75 sunscreen.
Louis Partridge took a break from the limited series’ hectic production schedule to go on a trip with old college friends. Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden co-star in the series. However, there was one key requirement: “I had to keep my face protected from the sun.” Wickham’s tanned skin would have seemed out of place in Jane Austen’s elegant settings.
From Enola Holmes to Hollywood Recognition:
The 22-year-old actor had planned to cancel his vacation, but it offered him with a rare opportunity. Since his debut in the young-adult mystery franchise Enola Holmes, Louis Partridge has become one of the industry’s most sought-after young actors. However, his tight schedule kept him from attending the Venice Film Festival premiere of Noah Baumbach’s comedy-drama Jay Kelly, in which he co-stars with George Clooney and Adam Sandler.
A Role Alongside Hollywood Legends:
Louis Partridge plays the younger version of Billy Crudup’s unhappy and failing actor in the film, which centers on an elderly movie star. Crudup’s character turns off an early opportunity to make it big in Hollywood, which Clooney takes instead. Fortunately, Partridge has never experienced a similar setback, but he does recall having one major enemy during his early acting career.
Friendly Rivalry with Kit Connor:
Louis Partridge smiles and says, “For a long time, my acting rival was Kit Connor.” Both were aspiring young actors who would frequently apply for the same jobs, accompanied by their parents. “He was always present for the auditions. I was always with my mother, and he was with his mother. My mother would roll her eyes each time. Fortunately, both singers performed well, and Partridge stated that they are now “really good friends.”
The Disclaimer Premiere Experience:
Despite missing this year’s Venice Film Festival, Partridge will be back in 2024 for Alfonso Cuarón’s Apple TV+ series Disclaimer. In the mystery thriller, he plays a young backpacker who is crucial to the story.
When asked about the premiere, he confesses it was uncomfortable because he had to witness one of his own really sensual scenes with Apple CEO Tim Cook sitting directly behind him. He says his girlfriend was only a few rows away, which made things much more nerve-racking. “But she handled it very professionally,” he says quietly.
Relationship with Olivia Rodrigo:
Louis Partridge’s girlfriend is a music star named Olivia Rodrigo. Louis Partridge has returned to the United Kingdom, and his skin displays no evidence of sun exposure, owing to the ultra-strong sunscreen, which he claims he was unaware existed. Being back home allows him to continue filming Pride and Prejudice alongside his co-stars on the big country estates where much of the series takes place. He’s also getting ready for the release of Netflix’s family crime drama House of Guinness.
Starring in House of Guinness:
Steven Knight created the series, which has been described as a 19th-century hybrid of Peaky Blinders and Succession, with a concentration on brewing and commerce. Partridge plays Edward Guinness, the head of the renowned brewing company and one of the show’s main protagonists, in period attire.
A Different Kind of Character:
Unlike the free-spirited George Wickham and many of his earlier roles, Edward is a quite different character. Partridge describes Edward as “quite straightforward and serious, someone who tries to keep everything under control.” He adds, “The characters I usually play are a little more loose and wild.”” So this seemed novel to me.”
Life in the Spotlight:
Despite his rapidly growing celebrity and the increasing number of opportunities that have come his way—including a return as Tewkesbury, Millie Bobby Brown’s love interest, in Enola Holmes 3, which wrapped filming earlier this year—Partridge understands that many people remember him primarily for his Grammy-winning partner.
He smiles and says, “I can handle that.” When asked how he feels about being referred to as “Mr. Olivia Rodrigo,” he says he’s had the title “for quite a while now.” He continues, “I’m very happy, and I think she’s happy too, so everything is good in our world.”
The Inspiration Behind “So American”:
Of course, their reality is everything but typical. Their romance inspired Rodrigo’s song “So American,” and she even addressed her London-born beau during her big Glastonbury performance this summer. Louis Partridge says he inspired her references to British traditions like drinking “a pint in the afternoon” and eating “sticky toffee pudding”.
He described his Glastonbury experience as “absolutely incredible and surreal,” and says he had no idea he’d be addressed on stage. He describes it as “a very sweet and heartwarming experience.”
Could Louis Partridge Be the Next James Bond?
This may not be Partridge’s final spectacular performance. His name has recently appeared on bookmakers’ lists of probable future James Bond actors, following speculations that Amazon plans to cast a younger version of the famed spy in the upcoming film.
Unfortunately, Steven Knight spent little time on the House of Guinness set, so Partridge never got to practice his 007 impression with him. Nonetheless, he believes there is sufficient time.
I need to start getting ready for the debut, he quips. Perhaps I can just stand at the bar and drink my martini without saying anything.