Corey Mylchreest Embraces Vulnerability in 'My Oxford Year'
When you see Corey Mylchreest on screen, there's something raw and relatable about his performances. The young actor, who first made his mark as King George in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, takes on a new challenge in Netflix’s My Oxford Year. In this film, he swaps out royal brocade for the gentle wisdom of an Oxford professor—one who’s secretly carrying the heavy burden of a terminal illness. Opposite him is Sofia Carson as an ambitious American student, and together, they wade into emotionally complicated waters at one of the world’s most iconic universities.
Mylchreest says stepping into the mind of Jamie Davenport wasn’t a matter of complex transformation. “Sometimes a character just fits,” he explains, echoing a point made by filmmaker Benny Safdie about actors recognizing familiar pieces of themselves in their roles. For Corey, Jamie was almost waiting for him. He connected rapidly to the character’s thoughtful outlook, and it shows in every layered scene.
The weight of Jamie’s diagnosis was not something Mylchreest took lightly. To ground the role in authenticity, he didn’t just read scripts or medical reports. He went straight to the source: people who’d experienced serious illness, either personally or through loved ones. Through heartfelt conversations, he pulled together a patchwork of real emotions and stories—ones that shaped how Jamie copes, connects, and, at times, crumbles. This approach helped him tap into the subtle grief and the small, fragile joys of someone who knows the clock is ticking.
Redefining Strong Male Leads in Modern Drama
It would be easy for a character like Jamie to edge into stereotype—a tragic figure, a professor with a secret. But Mylchreest is deliberate about avoiding clichés. He’s made it a point throughout his career (even back to his Queen Charlotte days) to show men who are more than just stoic or charming. To him, there’s value, even bravery, in vulnerability. On screen, his Jamie is open about fear, uncertainty, and love—the emotions many men are taught to hide.
This kind of character work is something you don’t see every day in romantic dramas. Jamie isn’t just a love interest—he’s a window into the fallout of difficult truths and the choices that shape our lives. As the film’s plot swings between Oxford’s dreamy quads, ambitious academic dreams, and messy human relationships, you see Mylchreest’s philosophy play out: layered, real, and never neat.
My Oxford Year dropped on Netflix on August 1, 2025, calling in a new wave of heart-wrenching storytelling. The film, adapted from Julia Whelan’s popular novel, hooks viewers with romance but keeps them with honest emotion. Mylchreest’s portrayal is earning buzz not just for the chemistry with Carson but for giving room to quiet heartbreak and unexpected joy. It’s proof that the strongest performances sometimes come from characters—and actors—willing to show their vulnerable side.