Ever since gaining recognition for his role in the second season of The White Lotus in 2022, Leo Woodall has quickly become a familiar face.
This actor is well-known for his television work in shows like One Day, Prime Target, and Vladimir. He recently appeared as Bridget Jones’s new boyfriend in the latest Bridget Jones movie, and he’s now joining the cast of the upcoming Lord of the Rings film, The Hunt For Gollum.
I’m really excited to see Leo Woodall back on screen this week! It’s his first time as the main character, and the premise sounds fantastic. He plays a piano tuner named Niki White who discovers he’s surprisingly good at cracking safes, and that talent gets him mixed up with some shady characters and a new, risky business venture.
Woodall appears with Dustin Hoffman in the new film. He told TopMob that working with Hoffman – a legendary actor known for films like The Graduate, All the President’s Men, and Midnight Cowboy – was a long-held dream come true.
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He said he was still amazed he had the chance to work with that actor. He described improvising and collaborating with him as a genuinely happy experience, explaining that the actor elevates everyone’s performance and is simply a pleasure to be around – really, what more could you want in a colleague?
A central aspect of Tuner’s character is Niki’s hyperacusis – a condition that causes extreme sensitivity to sound. The film reveals he was once a talented pianist, but had to abandon his dreams of a professional music career because of it.
As a movie lover, what really grabbed me about this character was the thought of having to give up your passion. The actor, Woodall, immediately connected with Niki because of it. He started wondering what he would do with his life if he couldn’t act anymore. He said it was his first real insight into understanding the character, and honestly, he still doesn’t have an answer to that question – but just asking it was what allowed him to truly connect with Niki.
Some people immediately know what they’d do as a backup plan, but I haven’t really thought about what mine would be!
To get ready for the part, Woodall collaborated with Alex Ruger, a man who experiences hyperacusis. This firsthand experience helped Woodall understand what it’s like to live with the condition.
He shared his personal story with me, being very open and honest about his experiences. Afterward, I became much more aware of the sounds around me, appreciating them in a way I hadn’t before.
I started by imagining what would really bother Niki – what sounds or sensations would be upsetting, even to the point of causing a seizure. That was my initial starting point.
Woodall also had one more essential task: learning to play the piano. This proved to be the actor’s biggest challenge.
“It’s been much harder than I expected,” he said with a smile. “I knew it would be challenging, but the piano is such a complex instrument. It really takes incredible dedication and countless hours of practice to even become reasonably proficient. I have a huge amount of respect for anyone who can play!”
I’m really excited about “Tuner” – it’s the first narrative film from Daniel Roher, who I loved in his documentary “Navalny.” The movie stars Nicholas Woodall and Dustin Hoffman, and also features Havana Rose Liu, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, and even Jean Reno! It’s quite a cast!
A gifted piano tuner with a knack for precision unexpectedly finds he’s also skilled at cracking safes, completely changing his life.
Tuner is released in UK cinemas on Friday 29 May.
Authors
Patrick Cremona writes about movies for TopMob, covering both theatrical releases and streaming titles. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed films of all kinds.
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2026-05-28 14:37