When Leo Suter took his parents to see Maleficent in 2014, he was bracing for a proud Hollywood moment—his big-screen debut alongside Angelina Jolie. But as the credits rolled, Suter’s family realized his scene as a prince had been cut, leaving him with nothing but a funny story and a firsthand lesson in the unpredictability of filmmaking. Years later, that fleeting brush with stardom seems almost quaint compared to the trajectory Suter’s career has taken, culminating in his latest role as Detective Inspector Tommy Lynley in the BBC’s high-profile reboot of Elizabeth George’s beloved detective series.
The new series, simply titled Lynley, premiered on BBC One and iPlayer on January 5, 2026, at 8:30 PM, more than two decades after the original Inspector Lynley series (which starred Nathaniel Parker) first hit screens. According to the BBC, Suter, now 32, steps into the shoes of the aristocratic detective, partnering with Sofia Barclay’s DS Barbara Havers—a dynamic that’s set to shake up the classic formula with a modern twist. The reboot is helmed by writer Steve Thompson and director Ed Bazalgette, both determined to bring contemporary issues of class and race to the forefront, making the series feel as relevant as ever.
For Suter, the journey to this coveted role has been anything but conventional. Raised in London, he’s the son of Tim Suter, a former managing editor of current affairs at the BBC, and Dame Helen Alexander, a trailblazing businesswoman who was the first female president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and a former chief executive of The Economist. Suter’s upbringing was steeped in accomplishment—"I knew she was an amazing woman — she got a damehood and a CBE, we'd gone to the Palace. But [at her memorial service] the scale and weight of what she had done, how many people came up to us from her world of work, was really amazing to witness," Suter told The Times (as reported by HELLO!). His mother’s death from cancer in 2017, when Suter was just beginning to make his mark in acting, left a profound impact.
Academically, Suter followed a path less traveled by most aspiring actors. He studied Human Sciences at New College, Oxford University, a decision that set him apart from peers who gravitated toward law or finance. Yet, his heart was always in performance. Early roles included a challenging part as a Polish singer in love with a Jewish violinist in the wartime film I’ll Find You, shot over three months in Poland and co-starring Connie Nielsen and Stellan Skarsgård. It was a solitary experience, but one that proved formative for his craft.
Television audiences may recognize Suter from his breakout role as Harald Hardrada in Netflix’s historical drama Vikings: Valhalla, a series that found a loyal following during the pandemic. He also appeared in supporting roles in shows like Clique and Victoria, and played Young Stringer in the period drama Sanditon. More recently, he took on the role of Bob Cratchit in Gurinder Chadha’s star-studded musical Christmas Karma, a reimagining of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol that saw him sharing the screen with Hugh Bonneville, Kunal Nayyar, and Danny Dyer. His on-screen wife, Pixie Lott, praised Suter as a "really fab actor and a really nice guy" (HELLO!).
Suter’s stage work has also drawn acclaim, particularly his performance as Toby Fedden in the Almeida Theatre’s adaptation of The Line of Beauty. But it’s his new role as DI Lynley that marks a true turning point. The reboot’s creative team has set out to modernize the character, moving away from the overtly privileged, "posh" detective of the early 2000s. Suter himself acknowledges the change: "Wearing your poshness on your sleeve is no longer acceptable," he observed, reflecting on how societal attitudes toward aristocracy and privilege have evolved. In the hands of Steve Thompson and Ed Bazalgette, Lynley is now a more grounded, relatable figure, navigating his status as the 8th Earl of Asherton with a dose of humility—especially in contrast to his working-class partner, Havers.
The casting of Sofia Barclay as DS Barbara Havers is another deliberate step toward updating the series. Her portrayal brings new depth to the character, and her ethnicity allows the show to tackle contemporary issues of class and race head-on. According to coverage by the BBC, the dynamic between Suter’s Lynley and Barclay’s Havers is central to the reboot’s appeal, promising viewers a compelling "chalk-and-cheese" detective duo who challenge each other as much as the cases they solve.
Off-screen, Suter’s life has been equally eventful. In 2023, he married American dancer Haylee Roderick, whose own résumé includes performances in Glee, Grease: Live, High School Musical 3, and Camp Rock 2. Roderick also performed at the 82nd Academy Awards and worked as an assistant choreographer on the 2022 film Disenchanted starring Amy Adams. The couple recently welcomed a baby girl, and Suter—now a father to a three-week-old daughter—finds himself reflecting on legacy and family more than ever. He’s spoken about the bittersweet timing of his mother’s illness and passing just as his acting career was taking off, and how parenthood has prompted him to cherish those emotional connections even more deeply.
Despite his pedigree, Suter describes his childhood as a balance of cultural enrichment and normalcy. He’s quick to downplay any notion of inherited privilege, noting that today’s audiences expect more authenticity and self-awareness from their screen heroes. As he prepares for a charity reading at a carol concert for Cancer Research UK, Suter admits to feeling both excited and nervous—emotions that echo the profound changes in his life, both personal and professional.
With the premiere of Lynley, Suter steps confidently into the limelight, ready to embrace the challenges of a role that demands both gravitas and vulnerability. The series, with its updated take on the classic detective duo and a commitment to exploring modern social issues, is poised to capture the imagination of a new generation of viewers. For Suter, it’s the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and a willingness to grow—on stage, on screen, and at home as a new father.
As the credits roll on his latest chapter, Leo Suter stands at the intersection of tradition and transformation, embodying both the legacy of his family and the promise of a new era in British drama.
