Page 501 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21

Much less recognizable, though no less crucial to Beth's story, is Jacob
Fortune-Lloyd, who plays D.L. Townes, another competitor, friend,
and maybe-love interest for Beth. Townes, a college-level chess player,
pops up multiple times throughout the series: He plays (and loses to)
Beth in her first chess meet, interviews and photographs her for a
newspaper story in a one-on-one hotel room hangout that quickly
turns awkward, and, ultimately, reunites with the prodigy to support
her as she battles multiple Soviet grandmasters in the series' climax.

Townes is one of Fortune-Lloyd's biggest onscreen roles to date, but
we'd be willing to bet that he'll soon be everywhere, thanks to his
charming star turn in The Queen's Gambit. In the meantime, here's
everything we already know about the actor.

Who is Jacob Fortune-Lloyd?

Fortune-Lloyd is a Brit who earned his bachelor's degree in English
literature from Oxford University before attending the prestigious
Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. According to his
Guildhall bio, he can speak Italian and French, boasts impressive
singing, dancing, and stage combat skills, plays multiple instruments,

and can beatbox. He's also an avid sportsman, dabbling in rugby,
tennis, horse riding, swimming, and soccer, the latter of which is
confirmed by one line of his Instagram bio: "Actor, still planning on
being a footballer."

The school bio also notes that Fortune-Lloyd has a "strong ear for
accents," which is clearly on display in The Queen's Gambit, in which
he replaced his Oxford English accent with a near-flawless American
one.

Phil BrayNetflix