Get to Know Jacob Fortune-Lloyd From The Queen’s Gambit

1 He Has Extensive Experience With Stage Acting

Jacob is a skilled theatre actor who has starred in a number of UK productions, including The Importance of Being Earnest, The Moderate Soprano, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, and Othello. However, his onscreen acting credits are beginning to stack up as he appeared in 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker and on the shows Wolf Hall and Strike Back. Aside from The Queen's Gambit, Jacob's most recognised screen role has been the cunning Archbishop Francesco Salviati — a character he brilliantly inhabited by studying snakes — on the drama series Medici.

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2 He Trained at Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Image Source: Getty / David M. Benett

The actor studied at the London school and was a graduate in the 2013-2014 class. During his time, he acted in stageings such as Guys & Dolls, Agamemnon, and Medieval Mystery Plays. According to Jacob's Guild Hall School bio, he also earned a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from Oxford University.

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3 His Talents Extend Beyond the Stage and Screen

Jacob's Guild Hall School bio also lists a plethora of skills outside of acting, including singing, horse-riding, and swimming. Additionally, it states that he can beatbox, as well as play the piano and the harmonica.

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4 Apparently, He’s Actually Good at Playing Chess

Image Source: Netflix

Jacob's costars Harry Melling and Thomas Brodie-Sangster – who play Harry Beltik and Benny Watts, respectively, on The Queen's Gambit — spoke about his chess skills in a joint interview with Uproxx. "Thomas, did you play Jacob? Because Jacob was good. Jacob was really good." Harry said, to which Thomas replied, "I didn't. He played properly."

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