Louis Partridge leads Netflix’s House Of Guinness in a landmark role as the brewing dynasty comes to life

Louis Partridge has his biggest screen role yet as Edward Guinness in Netflix’s House Of Guinness, a period drama about the brewing dynasty that premieres this week. The 22-year-old London-born actor, who commands millions of followers on social media, has spent the past five years building a reputation as one of Britain’s most in-demand young leads, after breaking out in 2020 with Enola Holmes. His ascent has been marked by high-profile projects and a growing list of collaborators, including two Academy Award-winning directors, and a profile that many see as positioning him as the answer to Britain’s next long-term period drama hero.

Partridge first stepped into the global spotlight at 17 when he played Lord Viscount Tewkesbury opposite Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes, a breakout that set him on a path toward broader leading roles. Since then, he has starred in Disney+’s Pistol and Apple TV+’s Disclaimer, and he is widely discussed as a potential successor to the long-running tradition of British period drama stars. In interviews in 2023 and 2024, he signaled a desire to prove himself beyond a love-interest image and to take on more varied, substantial leading parts. Now, with House Of Guinness, he moves into what he has called a “real, sober” central role, taking on the youngest Guinness son amid a sprawling, multi-generational story.

The eight-part miniseries, created by Steven Knight of Peaky Blinders fame, centers on the Guinness brewing dynasty and unfolds against the backdrop of 19th-century Dublin and New York. Partridge portrays Edward Guinness, the straight-laced, duty-bound scion whose leadership responsibilities within the family business pull him into turmoil as the family’s fortunes—and the pressures of expanding an empire—grow more complex. In publicity materials and in interviews with Variety, Partridge described his character as a sober, restrained figure who frequently finds himself navigating real turmoil as he tries to keep his family and business on track. He noted that the role demands a different rhythm from his past work, which has often leaned into more unruly or roguish energies.

The series has a premiere in London, where Partridge attended the event alongside James Norton and members of the Guinness family, signaling Netflix’s push to place the show at the center of this year’s prestige-drama conversation. Partridge spoke about the role as a new kind of challenge for him, emphasizing that the character’s trials force him to balance personal restraint with the family’s larger ambitions. In a promotional video, he even joked that Guinness became his drink of choice during the process—a light moment that underscored the show’s celebration of a family with a long, textured history.

Beyond House Of Guinness, Partridge’s calendar remains crowded with high-profile projects. He is lined up to play Mr. Wickham in Netflix’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, reuniting him with audiences who first saw him as a courtly, principled noble in Enola Holmes. He is also expected to return to the Enola Holmes universe in Enola Holmes 3 and to reprise his role in Apple TV+’s Disclaimer. His career trajectory reflects a deliberate choice to diversify within the period-drama sphere while remaining visible in contemporary franchises that broaden his appeal to younger audiences and international viewers.

Yet Partridge has repeatedly stressed that fame has not overshadowed his grounded, family-centered life. Before rising to fame, he attended Dulwich Preparatory School and then Alleyn’s School in Dulwich, where tuition was among the highest in the country. He studied English, Film Studies, and French at A-levels, and he has spoken about the importance of returning to normal routines when possible. He has described a fondness for simple pleasures—driving a dusty VW Golf, listening to podcasts, and playing frisbee with friends—as a balance to the intense spotlight that accompanies success. He has also emphasized that his family helps keep him grounded, noting that their “p***-taking” banter provides essential humor and perspective amid rapid fame.

Partridge’s personal life has drawn significant interest as his relationship with American pop star Olivia Rodrigo has become one of the most talked-about stories in entertainment. The couple began dating in October 2023, and their public appearances—ranging from Wimbledon to Glastonbury—have cemented their status as a high-profile pair who navigate fame with relative privacy. Partridge has acknowledged the public interest in their relationship but has also said they strive to keep their private life personal, while Rodrigo’s own global profile continues to rise. He has even embraced the nickname “Mr Olivia Rodrigo,” a moniker he accepts with good humor, noting that the nickname exists largely because of Rodrigo’s enormous fan presence and visibility.

With House Of Guinness poised to bring him to a broader audience and a slate of projects that include a high-profile Pride and Prejudice adaptation and future installments of Enola Holmes and Disclaimer, Partridge’s team and fans alike see this moment as a potential inflection point. The production, the performance, and the very public way in which his life intersects with Rodrigo’s have created a rare blend of traditional period-drama gravitas and contemporary celebrity culture—a combination that could define the next phase of his career.

Netflix’s House Of Guinness is available to stream starting Thursday, September 25.