Actor Dylan Llewellyn, best known for his roles in Derry Girls and Big Boys, has opened up about his close relationship with his mother Jackie, his early struggles with dyslexia, and his journey to acting success. The pair are set to appear together in the new series of Celebrity Race Across the World on BBC One and iPlayer.
From Childhood Shyness to Channel 4 Stardom
Born in Reigate in 1992, Llewellyn describes himself as a 'mummy's boy' from the start. His earliest memory involves an unfortunate vomiting incident on a family holiday in Sardinia. 'I turned around and puked. Not sure why I aimed it at her,' he recalls, acknowledging his mother's patience despite the mess.
As a child, Llewellyn was exceptionally shy, often hiding behind his mother's legs when guests visited. His school years were marked by frustration as he constantly felt he wasn't smart enough, struggling to complete homework despite his best efforts. Everything changed when he moved to More House school at age nine, a institution specialising in supporting students with autism and dyslexia.
'That place saved me completely,' Llewellyn reveals. 'When I realised I wasn't dumb, I was dyslexic, I could finally be a bit kinder to myself.'
The Path to Acting and Raw Scenes
After graduating from Rada in 2011, Llewellyn's career began with a KitKat commercial before landing his breakthrough role as James Maguire in Derry Girls. 'The audition arrived just at the right time,' he remembers, having been working in a coffee shop and struggling to secure roles beforehand.
His subsequent role in Channel 4's sitcom Big Boys presented a new challenge - preparing his mother for its adult content. 'I semi-warned Mum before she saw it,' he admits, 'saying she might need to brace herself as it was going to be "a bit raw".' He adds with relief that she's never commented on the show's infamous glory hole scene.
A Mother's Perspective: Pride and Worry
Jackie Llewellyn shares her son's journey from a different angle, recalling a young Dylan who liked to 'catch people entering the house with his bow and arrows or water guns.' She describes homework sessions as particularly stressful, often ending in tears for both of them.
She confirms that mainstream education had failed him, with teachers leaving him 'in a corner, forgotten about.' The transition to More House required nearly an hour's drive each way, but proved transformative when a drama teacher recognised his acting potential.
Despite her pride in his achievements, Jackie admits to maternal anxiety during his theatre performances and 'had to cover my eyes when his bare bottom turned up on Big Boys.'
Their recent experience filming Celebrity Race Across the World revealed how their relationship has evolved. 'At the start I was mothering him,' Jackie explains, 'but by the end, he was being a mum to me. I wanted to give up, and he made me keep going.'
Reflecting on her son's journey, Jackie expresses a heartfelt wish: 'I just wish I could tell that little boy not to lose heart if school doesn't come easily; one day he's going to find his own path.'
