It’s not hard to see why someone could become obsessed with Leo Woodall, the British actor whose charm and instant likability in The White Lotus and One Day cemented his status as a household TV name. Just ask Rachel Weisz’s character in Vladimir, the addictive new series about a writer-professor (Weisz) who becomes fixated on her younger colleague (Woodall). What begins as a benign crush blossoms into a full-blown unraveling with a shocking, fiery twist. Why Vladimir? “He asks her questions that other people don’t ask her,” says Weisz. “Of course, it’s helpful that he is staggeringly handsome. But it’s really his personality — his kindness and the fact that he notices her.”

Through it all, Woodall brings a pitch-perfect range to the titular character in his dealings with the protagonist; his wife, Cynthia (Jessica Henwick); and the protagonist’s husband, John (John Slattery). He’s both seemingly unaware and suspicious, sweet and strategic, adding to the series’ seductive ambiguity.

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Creator and executive producer Julia May Jonas adapted Vladimir from her 2022 novel and immediately knew Woodall was perfect to play the hotshot young writer and object of the unnamed protagonist’s crush. “Leo is incredible at being alluring while being very human at the same time,” says Jonas. “I feel so lucky that he chose this because it’s [like threading] a needle. He has to manage to be both this intelligent guy with a lot of ego while also being really sweet and almost puppy doggish in not knowing what he’s doing when he’s flirting. He really understands this character … someone who is both really celebrated but also very insecure. He is perfect for it.”

For Tudum, Woodall dives deep into his character and how they brought some of the more unhinged scenes to life.

An edited version of the conversation follows.

What excited you about Vladimir?

Leo Woodall: Everything about it was alluring. It’s one of those shows where you really want to know what’s going to happen next — you know the next page is going to satisfy. It’s so clever. Working with Rachel just seemed like a gift, which it absolutely has proven to be. My good friend John Slattery … was attached, and I thought that would be fun.

Who is Vladimir at the beginning of the series when we meet him? 

Woodall: He’s a minor celebrity, which, in the world of novelists, is pretty hard to come by. He’s confident, fun, charming. He’s got a warmth about him. Rachel’s character instantly develops a bit of an infatuation with him.

How does the protagonist and Vladimir’s rapport start? And how does it evolve throughout the series?

Woodall: They both have a quick sense of humor. There’s an instant understanding between them. As the show goes on, they get to know each other more, and they have similar tastes in writers and [their] approach to writing. He toes the line with how close they get. He’s a little bit of a yo-yo. She finds that difficult.

A lot of what you see of Vlad is up to interpretation. There are moments where you are supposed to wonder what the intention was [with] a hand touch or a lingering look. Was it flirting? Was it friendliness? Am I making this up? Am I crazy? It’s for every audience member to interpret.

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What does Rachel Weisz bring to the role of the protagonist?

Woodall: Rachel is just heaven. She is a very clever actor. She is organic. She’s very generous. You want the leader of the show to be a really good person and have really good energy, and that’s what she brings. There’s a very natural, charming kookiness about Rachel that I think is perfect for the role. You need the protagonist to be charming to be on her side. I have so much admiration for her.

Most of Vladimir is told from the protagonist’s perspective and her direct-to-camera addresses. What was that like to play against?

Woodall: The show is trying to mirror that very human thing of interpreting someone’s words or actions and allowing that to feed a narrative that you want to tell yourself, or exploring the human psyche in that way. I thought it’d be interesting to play a character and then eventually see that back from a very singular perspective.

When Rachel’s character breaks the fourth wall, we are very in on the joke, which makes it immersive and fun. There’s a world in which she’s talking to her own conscience and is justifying some of the actions that she takes. That makes her very relatable.

Shane Mahood/Netflix

Despite all the crazy events that lead to Vladimir being chained in a chair in the protagonist’s cabin, why do you think he ultimately decides to stay?

Woodall: He is convinced that she didn’t just drug him, tie him up, chain him up — that she’s not a psychopath. He also thinks incorrectly that his wife is having an affair, and so he’s like, “Fuck it. Why wouldn’t I stay here?” She still brings him some comfort, and he doesn’t want to be alone. He has been running away from his responsibilities as a husband and a little bit as a father, too. 

What do you think this series illustrates about fantasies and desire? 

Woodall: Over time, the more desire and longing the protagonist has, the more extreme the fantasies get. Then they start to become reality, and the very charged, romantic, erotic image that she had of him — it just doesn’t pan out that way. So it’s maybe a lesson that fantasies should stay fantasies, because you can’t really beat the fantasy.

Shane Mahood/Netflix

What was it like collaborating with Julia May Jonas on the series?

Woodall: It was the first time a novel of hers has been made into a TV show. She had so much on her plate, but she dealt with it wonderfully. She’s picked up the tricks of filmmaking very quickly. She knows exactly what to take and what to leave out. She’s completely nailed it. As the creator of these characters, she would have insight that was invaluable. Having her on set to turn to at any moment is just a gift. 

What was it like on set? Were there any memorable scenes to shoot?

Woodall: There was a scene where Slattery and I just had to bicker, and that was just fun, because it’s what we do anyway. One of my first days on set was me chained to a chair, passed out while Rachel delivers a monologue to the camera, and I just remember thinking, “My dad’s not going to believe this.” I also needed to sneeze [during] that whole scene; I had really bad hay fever. It was too early on in the shoot to not be terrified of fucking up one of Rachel’s takes, but now I know it wouldn’t have mattered.

What will fans of the book like about the series adaptation?

Woodall: The series has been very faithful to the book. It’s kept a lot of the juicy key moments. It’s funny, sexy, dramatic, and it explores the human psyche and the politics of relationships. It will be very palatable for a lot of people, not just fans of the book.

Vladimir is now streaming on Netflix.