Leo Woodall Knows That Being 'Objectified' Is Part of Playing a Heartthrob — But Says It Makes Him Feel 'Vulnerable and Exposed'

Leo Woodall says playing the heartthrob isn't always glamorous.

When asked in a new interview if he ever feels "objectified" in his leading man roles, the 28-year-old actor acknowledged that "it's part of the gig" — but said it brings up feelings of insecurity and vulnerability.

"There are sides of it that can make you feel quite vulnerable and exposed. That side isn’t as fun," he told U.K. magazine RadioTimes. "When you’re playing a role described like that, you can’t help but look at yourself and go, 'Am I that guy?' There’s sometimes pressure in making people buy that."

Woodall's latest movie role finds him starring as the much younger love interest of Renée Zellweger's titular character in the Bridget Jones sequel Mad About the Boy.

Related: Meghann Fahy Gets Cozy with Boyfriend Leo Woodall Before Bridget Jones London Premiere Afterparty

Reacting to the trend of shows and films highlighting such relationships between an older woman and a younger man, Woodall told RadioTimes: "It’s a dynamic that has always existed in the real world. And for reasons I’m not sure of, it’s now being portrayed on screen. That’s important, because that’s what filmmaking is best at: portraying all walks of life."

"But this particular Bridget isn’t about that," he noted. "A lot of it is her grieving and her motherhood. And thankfully my character comes in and puts a smile on her face."

He said he didn't go into the project "thinking I wanted to explore" that type of "boy toy" role, explaining it was the compelling script that drew him in. "I thought the script was beautiful and wanted to be a part of it," he told the outlet.

Woodall is also a longtime fan of the beloved film franchise, which first launched in 2001 with Bridget Jones's Diary, an adaption of the Helen Fielding novel by the same name.

"I’ve always loved the films," he told RadioTimes. "There’s only so many chances you’ll get to be a part of something as special as Bridget Jones."

Related: Leo Woodall Felt 'Protective' Over Playboy Character Filming Netflix's One Day: 'Serious Responsibility' (Exclusive)

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Last year, Woodall opened up to PEOPLE about his romantic turn in the Netflix drama series One Day (based on the 2009 David Nicholls book) and how he felt "protective" over how he portrayed his wealthy playboy character Dex.

"There was a real vulnerability deep inside this character, where the face of him is [a] confident, privileged, golden boy, and I think digging deeper into him, there was a lot of fragility and vulnerability,” he said at the time.

“I felt a lot of empathy for him. I felt quite protective of him once I started to get closer to the role,” he continued. “And I also just think it was a beautiful story.”

In the time-spanning series, Oxford student Dex encounters Emma (Ambika Mod) on the final night of university in a chance meeting that ends up shaping the trajectory of both of their lives. As they go in and out of each others' lives over the next two decades, they alternate between giving in to their chemistry and denying it.

“I think there was definitely a serious responsibility that me and Ambika both felt to tell their stories," the White Lotus star told PEOPLE.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy premieres Feb. 13 on Peacock.

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