Inside Big Boys’ Dylan Llewellyn’s tough life from leaving Hollyoaks to finding fame in Derry Girls
Dylan Llewellyn, celebrated for his portrayal of James Maguire in Channel 4’s hit show Derry Girls, returns to our screens in the Channel 4 comedy series Big Boys. The 32 year old has quickly secured his place in the acting world, with a new role as Jack in Big Boys and as PC Kelby Hartford in the Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise, acting alongside Kris Marshall.
Starting his television career with a stint on E4’s Hollyoaks, where he played Martin ‘Jono’ Johnson for 94 episodes before his character’s demise, Llewellyn experienced lean times with roles in Holby City and movies like Frequencies and Down Dog. However, there was a time when acting jobs were scarce, leading him to work at a café.
On Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, Llewellyn revealed it wasn’t always easy: “I was struggling a bit and I was almost like going to give up on acting, you know? ”
He continued, “And I just wasn’t getting any auditions, and yeah, it was just a really quiet period and I was working in a coffee shop and just grafting because that’s like the realities of acting. You’ve got to graft, you know, it’s a really tough industry.”
On the verge of abandoning his pursuit of an acting career, the timing of his role in Derry Girls couldn’t have been better. Llewellyn shared with The Guardian, “It was emotional, really. I was about to give up. It really meant the world to me. It saved me.”
Dylan Llewellyn’s portrayal in Derry Girls, which spanned all three series, set the stage for him to land the lead in Channel 4’s hit comedy Big Boys, created by Jack Rooke. The writer has announced that this series will be the last for Big Boys, following its immense success and multiple BAFTA nominations.
Despite his on-screen achievements, Dylan didn’t always see acting as his calling, as reported by OK!. He initially had his sights set on photography until he stumbled upon his acting prowess.
The actor, who deals with dyslexia, shared his serendipitous path into acting: “I fell into it by accident. With GCSEs, I chose media, photography and drama. Honestly, it was meant to be a doss subject,” he admitted.
His participation in a National Theatre drama competition unveiled his hidden talent, as acting became a means for him to “put on a mask” and tackle his confidence issues.
Their group’s win took them to the National Theatre stage. “Acting let me put on this mask, just like that character. On stage I did things I never imagined possible,” he said, reflecting on the experience.
This pivotal moment garnered the attention of an agent, and although he enrolled in a photography course, he kept auditioning and, at 17, earned a spot at RADA on his first attempt.
