JACOB DUDMAN
- 5' ELEVEN''
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Once upon a time, in a small Yorkshire town called Ripon, there was a boy who spent his days playing in the fields, fighting monsters, hunting beasts and living out all kinds of other extraordinary adventures only the mind of a child could muster. Fast-forward to October 2025, and this same little boy, a now talented young man, patiently awaits the release of his most significant acting role and most ambitious film to date. His name? Jacob Dudman.
Words by Tatiana Summers.
Photographed by Lee Malone. Styled by Alton Hetariki. Grooming by Toni Howard using Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré and American Crew Fiber. Jacob appears courtesy of Prosper PR.
The son of two hard-working teachers, Jacob recalls spending countless hours at school. While this might sound like most children’s worst nightmare, Jacob reflects upon this time with a great sense of fondness – seeing them as a unique chance to broaden his horizons through extra-curricular activities or, perhaps more mischievously, by raiding the school’s stock cupboard.
And when he wasn’t wandering the corridors, Jacob was out exploring the Yorkshire Dales and discovering the limitless power of the imagination. “I would just invent worlds for myself,” he reminisces. “I'd pick up a stick and it'd be a lightsaber, or I’d see a particular tree and its arms would be reaching out towards me.”
Unlike many others, Jacob’s acting journey began later than most. Despite having enjoyed making homemade movies or showcasing lively performances for delighted family members, Jacob was apprehensive about entering the drama world. “It [acting] became like a bit of a secret or a childish thing that I felt quite worried about. I wasn't very good at expressing myself, and I was bullied a bit in school. So, the idea of then being a guy in a small town and going to drama club was not the extra attention I really needed.” But life has its way of surprising us, and soon Jacob would be cast as the lead male role in the Sixth Form production of Evita. “It’s my Troy Bolton origin story,” he giggles. “I had a football injury, and they were putting on a school production. So, I auditioned and, much to the distaste of all of the kids who had done drama throughout school, I landed the main part!”
left. Silk jacket, wool crewneck and wool and trousers, all by DIOR Men; right. Cashmere and leather belted coat by Fendi
But despite the boundless reach of our imaginations, even Jacob could not have predicted he’d be where he is today. Now aged 28, he has just finished filming The Choral, directed by Nicholas Hytner and written by Alan Bennett, appearing alongside acclaimed actors such as Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, and Mark Addy. In this British historical drama, Jacob plays a young man named Clyde, who returns to his Yorkshire hometown after being injured on the Western Front during World War I. Here, he takes on a lead singing part in the local choral society, led by the demanding and yet inspiring German choral master Dr Guthrie (played by Fiennes), ahead of a town performance.
This powerful crossover between acting and singing, film and music, was a truly unique one for Jacob — one that reignited a long-lost appreciation for classical music. “I was this slightly weird 12-year-old boy who had Classic FM as my alarm clock,” he laughs. “I had always heard classical music and adored hearing it when it was on, but I’d never sought it out.” His time at the Royal College of Music, under the guidance of vocal coach Janice Kelly, taught Jacob the importance of correct posture and mindful breathwork in unlocking the full potential of one’s voice. It was a turning point that revealed a creative side of him he hadn’t yet explored, though credit must also go to his voice double, who assisted him during some of the scenes. “Music is so powerful — it lifts everything,” he reflects. “It’s one of my favourite parts of the film. All the music.”
The weight of portraying such a significant and sensitive role was something Jacob took seriously. Embracing the same determination and work ethic as his hard-working parents, he immersed himself in the metaphorical front lines of the First World War. With the support of the National Army Museum, Jacob recalls spending time watching frightening footage or listening to chilling soundscapes, becoming increasingly familiar with the cacophony of artillery, rattling of gas alarms and the piercing screams of terrified soldiers. “I was kind of shocked by how gruesome it was; I think it's some of the worst reading I've ever had to do. It gave me such an appreciation for this generation of people — and for any other generation enduring such atrocities.”
Aside from the serious subject matter, the film is a beautiful balance of humour, tenderness and resilience, capturing the essence of humanity at one of the most uncertain and tumultuous times in history. It’s an element Jacob is thoroughly proud to be a part of, admiring the creative talent behind Alan Bennett’s writing. “[In war] you have to find the lightness in the dark times, and it’s such a feature of Alan's writing: the fact that two contradictory emotions can be true at the same time. It's something so human, so profound, and something so difficult to write.”
Like a shared love of singing that brought the Ramsden community together, it also united everyone on set. Taking time to bond with his fellow castmates, a particularly special moment for Jacob was meeting Oliver Briscombe, who plays Lofty. “Yorkshire is a wide area with so many different specific accents and dialects, and when I met him, there was something so familiar about his voice,” he muses. Upon realising Briscombe was also from Ripon, he laughs: “I blurted out my whole address and postcode to him – it was just so exciting to be in London doing this film with Ralph Fiennes, Alan Bennett and Nicholas Hytner, and then having someone from the same tiny town as me and who had grown up a five, ten-minute walk away from my house — amazing!”
Off-screen, Jacob takes a more introverted approach to life. Whilst confessing his job is “the best job in the world”, he’s quick to acknowledge its own unique challenges. Whether it be inconvenient schedules or days spent living out of a suitcase, the demanding nature of this art not only requires exceptional skill, but also an unwavering passion and dedication that is neither easy nor without sacrifice. “I think we need more transparency from actors and artists,” he shares. “Just being honest with yourself: what your needs are and what your flaws are. We can stand in front of a camera or on a carpet or whatever, and sort of pretend to be Superman, but none of us are. We've all got our things to learn and places to grow and qualities we need to work on.”
With a self-proclaimed allergy to phones — reluctantly opting for a retro-style Caterpillar flip phone – Jacob ensures he spends the spare time he has in the company of his loved ones. “I try to go with the flow and not race ahead to achieve anything particularly magical other than to enjoy my life with the people that are close to me,” he says, thoughtfully. It’s a philosophy he hopes to maintain no matter where his career takes him.
Speaking to me from Vancouver, Canada, it’s non-stop for the actor, who is now working on the exciting reboot of the television series Scrubs. And yet, Jacob still carries a strong sense of home with him. “I've made sure I've packed my Yorkshire tea with me,” he chuckles. Though success may have taken him far from Ripon, Jacob remains tethered to the magic of his childhood — one fuelled by creativity, brimming with imagination and never without a comforting cup of Yorkshire tea.
You can find this interview inside The Cinema Issue 15. Purchase your copy here.
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