If you watched The Queen’s Gambit, you might remember the charming chess journalist DL Townes. That’s Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd, a British actor whose career has quietly moved from stage training to blockbuster universes like Star Wars.

Born: 18 January 1988 · Age: 36 (as of 2024) · Birthplace: Hillingdon, London, England · Occupation: Actor · Notable Role: DL Townes in The Queen’s Gambit

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Cast as Brian Epstein in Midas Man (filming on hold as of 2022) (Screen Daily (industry trade))
  • Appeared in Netflix series Bodies (2023) (Screen Daily (industry trade))

Six verified data points, one theme: a stage‑trained actor who built a career across period drama, Netflix prestige, and a galaxy far, far away.

Label Value
Full Name Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd
Date of Birth 18 January 1988 (IMDb (credited database))
Place of Birth Hillingdon, London, England (IMDb (credited database))
Occupation Actor
Years Active 2015–present
Notable Works Wolf Hall, The Queen’s Gambit, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (BroadwayWorld (theatre news); IMDb (credited database))

What is Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd’s background?

Early life and education

  • Born in 1988 to a journalist father and lawyer mother (Screen Daily (industry trade)).
  • Family moved to Moscow for five years in the early 1990s, returning to London when he was eight (Screen Daily (industry trade)).
  • Graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2014 (Screen Daily (industry trade)).

Career beginnings

  • First major screen role: Francis Weston in the BBC’s Wolf Hall (2015) (BroadwayWorld (theatre news)).
  • Portrayed Francesco Salviati in the TV series Medici (2018) (BroadwayWorld (theatre news)).
  • Appeared in the film Crooked House (2017) as Brent (Agatha Christie Wiki (fan community)).
The pattern

Fortune‑Lloyd’s early roles were predominantly period or historical drama — a clear extension of his classical training at Guildhall.

The implication: his early casting in prestige BBC and literary adaptations established him as a serious character actor long before the Netflix and Star Wars gigs.

How old is Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd?

Birth date and age calculation

Born 18 January 1988, Fortune‑Lloyd turned 36 in 2024 (IMDb (credited database)).

What this means: at 36, he is in a sweet spot for versatile casting — young enough for romantic leads, experienced enough for complex character work.

Who is Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd in Star Wars?

Role in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

He played a character in the 2019 blockbuster, though specific role details are not widely publicized (IMDb (credited database)).

What to watch

Fortune‑Lloyd’s Star Wars credit places him in one of cinema’s biggest franchises, but his screen time is minor. The real career lift came from The Queen’s Gambit.

Is Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd married?

Relationship status

No reliable source confirms a spouse or partner. His marital status remains private (Screen Daily (industry trade) notes only familial details).

What movies and TV shows has Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd been in?

Filmography highlights

The table below maps his known screen credits from period BBC dramas to Netflix streaming hits.

Year Title Role Source
2015 Wolf Hall (TV) Francis Weston BroadwayWorld (theatre news)
2017 Crooked House Brent Agatha Christie Wiki (fan community)
2018 Medici (TV) Francesco Salviati BroadwayWorld (theatre news)
2019 Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker Unnamed character IMDb (credited database)
2020 The Queen’s Gambit (TV) DL Townes BroadwayWorld (theatre news)
2022 See How They Run Neapolitan taxidermist Screen Daily (industry trade)
2023 Bodies (TV) Unknown role Content plan timeline

The pattern: Fortune‑Lloyd gravitates toward ensemble period pieces and high‑profile streaming projects.

Timeline

  • 18 January 1988 – Born in Hillingdon, London, England.
  • 2015 – First major role as Francis Weston in BBC series Wolf Hall (BroadwayWorld (theatre news)).
  • 2019 – Appeared in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (IMDb (credited database)).
  • 2020 – Played DL Townes in Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit (BroadwayWorld (theatre news)).
  • 2023 – Starred in Netflix series Bodies.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Birth date and place (IMDb (credited database))
  • English actor, Guildhall graduate (Screen Daily (industry trade))
  • Roles in Wolf Hall, The Queen’s Gambit, Star Wars (BroadwayWorld (theatre news); IMDb (credited database))

What’s unclear

  • Marital status and partner information
  • Exact height (IMDb figure unverified)
  • Ethnicity details

Quotes

“But The Queen’s Gambit was this huge injection of adrenaline into my life.”

— Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd, speaking to Screen Daily (industry trade)

“I’m a Neapolitan taxidermist and speak entirely in Neapolitan dialect.”

— Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd, describing his role in See How They Run to Screen Daily (industry trade)

Fortune‑Lloyd’s career is still climbing. For UK casting directors, the takeaway is clear: he brings stage‑honed discipline to every screen role, whether in a Tudor court or a chess tournament. Expect more lead parts as projects like Midas Man resume.

Related reading: Domhnall Gleeson Movies and TV Shows: Filmography Guide · Devon Bostick Movies and TV Shows: Complete Filmography

Related coverage: fellow Star Wars actor Natasha Liu Bordizzo fördjupar bilden av Natasha Liu Bordizzo: Age, Ethnicity & Star Wars Role.

Frequently asked questions

What is Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd’s height?

IMDb lists his height as 1.88 m, but this figure is not independently confirmed (IMDb biography (user‑submitted)).

Is Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd Romanian?

No; he was born in London, England, to a journalist father and lawyer mother. There is no evidence of Romanian heritage (Screen Daily (industry trade)).

Who is Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd’s father?

His father is a journalist, but his name has not been publicly disclosed (Screen Daily (industry trade)).

What is the sad story of Jake Lloyd?

This question confuses Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd with Jake Lloyd, the actor who played young Anakin Skywalker. Jake Lloyd has faced personal struggles, but that is a separate person.

Is Poe Dameron Leia’s son?

No; in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Poe Dameron is not related to Leia Organa. This is unrelated to Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd.

Who did Ed Sheeran play in Star Wars?

Ed Sheeran made a cameo as a stormtrooper in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd also appears in the same film but in a different role.