IN CONVERSATION WITH JACOB GREENWAY
interview by JANA LETONJA
Emerging with a quiet confidence and a growing body of compelling work, Jacob Greenway is quickly establishing himself as one to watch. From stepping into the role of Jude Bellingham in the BBC’s Dear England to leading the upcoming series The Dream Lands, his trajectory reflects a balance of instinct and range. With recent collaborations spanning Sally Wainwright’s Riot Women and his feature debut in The Watchers, his presence on screen is defined by nuance and adaptability, marking the early stages of a career that feels both considered and expansive.
full look FENDI
You’re stepping into several major roles. Does this feel like a turning point for you?
Both Dear England and The Dream Lands have felt like significant moments in my journey. They both challenged me creatively and gave me the opportunity to explore very different parts of myself as an actor.
What feels most exciting is that I’m starting to work on the kind of stories I feel genuinely connected to. I’m committed to the work, continuing to push myself, and approaching every opportunity with gratitude and intention.
How do you navigate this period of rapid growth in your career?
By staying connected to why I wanted to do this in the first place. Stories and performances have carried me through different moments in my life, and a huge part of why I’m drawn to acting is the hope that I might do that for someone else, too.
The idea that a piece of work can make someone feel seen, emotional, inspired, or expand their perspective is incredibly powerful to me. It keeps me focused as things around the work evolve.
full look FENDI
What was your initial reaction to being cast as Jude Bellingham in Dear England?
“Time to work.” These are the kinds of moments I’ve spent a long time preparing for, so when the opportunity came, I just wanted to give everything to it. I wasn’t going to take something like that for granted.
How did you approach portraying a real and widely recognised figure?
My focus centred around understanding his character and his contributions to the England team. When you’re playing a real person, someone people know and recognise, there's an added level of accountability involved, so I approached it with care, respect and plenty of research.
full look PAUL SMITH
What aspects of his personality or presence were most important for you to capture?
Different scenes brought out different sides of his character, but what interested me most was finding the balance within all of it. He’s incredibly confident, with an elite mentality and a ferocious desire to win and improve, but alongside that, there’s also composure and maturity. Those qualities don’t always exist together, especially in someone so young, and exploring that contrast was really exciting for me as an actor.
jacket and knit WOOYUNGMI
jeans 7FORALLMANKIND
loafers JIMMY CHOO
You’re also taking on a series regular role in The Dream Lands. What drew you to JD as a character?
JD is such a layered and complex character, but at his core, he has a generous heart that beats for the people around him. He has a compelling arc, and his vulnerability unfolds gradually in a way that feels very human.
Knowing his fate in the novel gave the role a real sense of weight. It was like he had a second chance at life, and I felt incredibly fortunate to be able to live with him through this beautiful adaptation.
You’ve worked with strong creative voices like Sally Wainwright. What have you taken from those experiences?
Being around creatives at that level naturally raises your standards. You start to realise how much care and precision go into truly great work, not just in the writing, but in every part of the process. it deepens your understanding of storytelling and has made me more thoughtful of the kind of work I want to pursue.
knit and jeans DIESEL
watch and belt MONTBLANC
Are you more instinctive in your acting, or do you rely on structured preparation?
I’m very instinctive, but that instinctiveness is accessed through my preparation. I like to do as much work as possible beforehand so that when I step into a scene, I can be present and just respond truthfully in the moment. Ultimately, all the preparation leads to creative freedom on set.
What kinds of characters or stories are you most drawn to right now?
I've always been most drawn to romance. Love and relationships reveal some of the most vulnerable and complicated parts of us, and some of the most emotionally challenging and rewarding work I’ve done has existed within that space.
Ultimately, i want to explore layered characters with complex inner worlds. I want to take risks and be bold in the work I do, to be part of courageous storytelling, because those are often the stories that evoke thought, start conversations, and stand the test of time.
full look SOLID HOMME
As your profile grows, how do you stay grounded?
Honestly, my life still feels quite normal. I’m still working, still training, still trying to improve every day. From the outside, there may be more attention now, but internally, not much has changed. I still feel very much in the process of building.
Where do you hope this next chapter of your career will take you?
To great writing and creatives. I’d like to keep working with directors who bring the best out of me, people who challenge me and expand what I think I’m capable of. I’m not interested in comfort; I’m in pursuit of discomfort and growth, and I don’t think that will ever change.
full look RALPH LAUREN
TEAM CREDITS:
talent JACOB GREENWAY
photography DAVID REISS
styling KAYLEIGH SWAN
hair and makeup MARY-JANE GOTIDOC using Armani Beauty
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
