Fear, the three-part psychological thriller on Prime Video, has been captivating audiences since its release earlier this week. The series centres around Martyn Berwick (portrayed by Martin Compston) and his wife Rebecca (Anjli Mohindra), who are unjustly accused of child abuse.
In an attempt to start afresh, the family relocates from London to Glasgow, only to have their peace disrupted by the tenant residing in the basement flat of their new home. The role of the unsettling neighbour Jan Boyd is played by rising star Solly McLeod, sparking interest among viewers.
Born in Orkney, Scotland, 25 year old Solly moved to London with his family at the age of 10 after his parents split. He is the son of musicians Aimée Leonard and Rory McLeod.
His mother Aimée was a member of the modern Celtic folk band Anam, where she showcased her talents as a singer and bodhrán player. After touring globally and performing at festivals with Anam, Aimée returned to London and now works in music education.
Solly’s father Rory, a folk singer-songwriter, continues to create music and perform at festivals, with his latest album Tow Lines set to be released in 2024. Solly also has a brother who, like their parents, is a singer, reports the .
Solly McLeod plays the sinister Jan in Prime Video’s Fear (Image: GETTY)
[EXPLAINER]
Solly honed his acting skills at the Unseen drama school in London and began accumulating screen credits rapidly from 2021.
He’s taken on the title role in ITVX’s period drama Tom Jones, portrayed Ser Joffrey Lonmouth in HBO’s House of the Dragon and played Private Lambie in Starz’s grand fantasy series . Solly made his debut in the sixth season premiere of Outlander, portraying a soldier during Jamie Fraser’s (Sam Heughan) stint at Ardsmuir Prison.
Solly McLeod has appeared in Outlander and House of the Dragon (Image: GETTY)
His character had a minor yet pivotal part in the episode Echoes, which revisits Jamie’s life post the Battle of Culloden. As one of the Redcoat guards at the prison, he was involved in flogging Jamie after the Highlander was caught with a piece of now banned tartan.
In the scene, Jamie took the blame to protect other prisoners and was then escorted back to his cell by Private Lambie. This scene held particular significance considering Jamie’s past brutal whipping by Captain ‘Black Jack’ Randall (Tobias Menzies).
Besides these roles, Solly has also featured in films like Jericho Ridge, The Dead Don’t Hurt alongside ‘s Viggo Mortensen, and the historical epic William Tell. IMDb lists his forthcoming projects as Baby and Sierra Madre, with the latter currently in post-production.
Solly is also set to appear in Star City alongside Alice Englert and Agnes O’Casey, a spin-off of Apple TV+’s hit series For All Mankind.
Fear is streaming on Prime Video in the UK and Ireland now