Babygirl’s Harris Dickinson and the new generation of British and Irish heartthrobs

Hugh Grant and Colin Firth left big shoes to fill as the quintessential British heartthrob on the silver screen, but there are some actors who have endeavoured to pick up the torch.

There have been a few actors to sweep viewers off their feet just as much as actors like Grant did in his heyday, like Domhnall Gleeson or Matthew Macfadyen. But there is a whole new generation of stars that are starting to step into the romantic lead role and dazzle with their British and Irish charm.

Harris Dickinson

As the romantic lead of Babygirl, Harris Dickinson is going to have a lot of film fans hot under the collar. The actor plays a young intern who begins an affair with the CEO of the company (Nicole Kidman), the film has been described as being "unabashedly sexy" in its exploration of a dom/sub relationship.

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Dickinson has already been making a name for himself in recent years with films like The Iron Claw, The King's Man, and Triangle of Sadness. With a critically acclaimed movie like Babygirl under his belt, which features a shirtless dancing scene destined for TikTok thirst videos, the movie will certainly have more people tuned into his career.

Leo Woodall

An actor who has slotted himself nicely into Grant's old spot as charming British romantic lead is Leo Woodall, with The White Lotus catapulting him to fame but Netflix's One Day propelling him to heartthrob status. In the drama he stars as Dexter Mayhew whose romance with Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) develops over almost twenty years.

The actor's heartthrob status is only going to continue to grow when he appears in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy later this year — where he is literally taking Grant's place as a love interest in Jones' life.

Jonathan Bailey

Bridgerton launched the careers of many of its cast, but one actor who has risen above all others is Jonathan Bailey. Since he first played Anthony Bridgerton in the Netflix series viewers have been fawning over the actor, and he's gone from strength to strength with his stylish red carpet looks and stunning performances in projects like Fellow Travelers and Wicked.

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Ryan Reynolds put it best when he jokingly roasted Bailey for being "too perfect", and said: "You can't just go around indiscriminately spraying charisma all over an enraptured audience. It might feel nice in the moment but it could easily destabilise the entire industry."

Paul Mescal

Another actor to have become a beloved heartthrob in recent years is Paul Mescal, who shot to fame in BBC's romantic drama Normal People and has only continued to grow ever since.

2024 saw the Irish actor step into the arena in Gladiator II in a leather tunic skirt almost as revealing as the short shorts he wears on a regular basis in his everyday life (which always have fans talking). His work in films like Aftersun and All of Us Strangers have won him critical acclaim, but his first role opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones has cemented him as a heartthrob.

Barry Keoghan

Another actor to have charmed film fans around the globe is Barry Keoghan, who has been acting for some time but swept people off their feet with the racy 2023 thriller Saltburn. The actor lusted after Jacob Elordi's Felix Catton, drank bathwater, and danced naked amongst other things in the Emerald Fennell film, which made him an overnight sensation.

The actor's on-and-off-again romance with Sabrina Carpenter has certainly kept him in the public eye, and if he were to lend his acting talent to a rom-com it'd almost certainly be a hit.

Regé-Jean Page

Bridgerton's first heartthrob was, of course, Regé-Jean Page who played Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings, and dazzled the world with his charm. The actor has continued to be admired by film and TV fans ever since, though he chose not to return to Bridgerton in order to pursue other ventures like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

While he's been in and out of the spotlight, Page always knows how to dazzle on the red carpet and has even been tipped to play James Bond.

Josh O'Connor

Another actor to recently become a frontrunner to play 007 is Josh O'Connor, who has been growing in popularity for years but whose heartthrob status was launched spectacularly with Challenges in 2024. The actor's sizzling chemistry with co-stars Zendaya and Mike Faist made the film one of the biggest hits of the year.

O'Connor has appeared in romantic films like Emma and God's Own Country, and with Knives Out 3 on the horizon and 007 possibly on the cards he's bound to become even more of a British heartthrob. He certainly is the embodiment of British charm in real life.

Will Sharpe

Will Sharpe rose to prominence in The White Lotus season 2 as the tech billionaire husband of Aubrey Plaza's Harper who enjoy romantic liaisons over the course of the series. The actor is sure to continue to strengthen his heartthrob status with future projects like Netflix rom-com TV series Too Much.

Nicholas Galitzine

After his appearance in Red, White and Royal Blue as a British prince who falls in love with the son of the US president audiences have been enamoured with Nicholas Galitzine. The actor has earned his heartthrob status with shows like the racy drama Mary & George, and rom-com The Idea of You in which he falls in love with an older woman played by Anne Hathaway.

Jack Lowden

Since appearing in Slow Horses, Jack Lowden has established himself both as a rising star in Hollywood and as a charming leading man through his suave spy character River Cartwright. The Scottish actor is certain to keep growing his status in the industry, and so too will his heartthrob status.