GEORGE JAQUES IS ON A ROLL, THOUGH HE’D PROBABLY TELL YOU HE’S JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE THE DAYLIGHT. BETWEEN LAUNCHING HIS BREAKOUT FEATURE SUNNY DANCER, HOPPING FROM ITALIAN PREMIERES TO LONDON PARKS, AND CONFESSING A BORDERLINE OBSESSIVE LOVE FOR TRASHY REALITY TV, THE RISING DIRECTOR AND ACTOR IS NAVIGATING THE CHAOTIC, BEAUTIFUL MID-TWENTIES SHIFT WITH UNMATCHED CHARM.
WE CAUGHT UP WITH GEORGE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS WHIRLWIND SUMMER, A CONVERSATION THAT QUICKLY SPIRALLED FROM DISHWASHER LIFE HACKS AND THE ART OF "HOLDING IT IN" AT BATTERSEA PARK TO THE DELICATE MAGIC OF ASSEMBLING A DREAM FILM CREW BUILT ENTIRELY ON KINDNESS. FRESH OFF WORKING ALONGSIDE POWERHOUSE TALENT LIKE BELLA RAMSEY, JAMES NORTON, AND JESSICA GUNNING, JAQUES OPENS UP ABOUT FLIPPING CLASSIC COMING-OF-AGE TROPES ON THEIR HEAD, WHY HE’LL NEVER STAR IN HIS OWN REALITY SHOW, AND HOW OBSERVING AIRPORT TOENAIL-CLIPPERS MIGHT JUST INSPIRE HIS NEXT SCRIPT.
Left Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, ring Cartier
Right Full look IM Men
Tell me about your summer. How’s it going, and what plans do you have?
Summer has been crazy! It’s basically been the "Sunny Dancer summer". It feels like all my plans have revolved around the film. We were in Italy last week, launching it at the premiere, then I flew to Mallorca for two days to catch the end of a trip with my friends, came back, went up to Glasgow, this week I’m in London, and next week I’m splitting time between here and Manchester doing screenings. It feels like I’m everywhere at once, but honestly, I’d rather be busy than not.
What do you do when you actually get some free time?
In my free time, it’s mostly been hanging out with friends in the sunshine. We’re super lucky that a few of our friends have really nice gardens, so it’s been a lot of barbecues, drinks, and good music. We actually went to see Mumford & Sons the other day, which was awesome, and this weekend we’re heading to a music festival to see the Scissor Sisters. I haven't been to this many concerts and festivals in a long time, so I’m loving it.
Are you a big fan of garden parties then?
Yes, I love a good garden party!
In London, you have those private communal gardens inside gated parks, right?
I think so! I’ve never been inside one – they're so private they won't even let me in! [Laughs]. We just go to our friends' backyards or sit in public parks. I live right next to Battersea Park, which is beautiful, right by the water.
Left Full look Prada
Right Full look Fendi, brooches Cartier
But where do you go to the bathroom when you're in the park?
Ah! There’s actually a secret trick in Battersea Park: some of the public toilets are surprisingly nice! Otherwise, you head to a nearby café, or you just hold it. I’m a big holder! I’ve lived in Battersea for five or six years, and this is the first summer we’ve actually done the "park with drinks" thing. Usually, we’re stuck in pubs and bars, but sitting on the grass in this heat has been lovely. It’s nice to actually enjoy the UK weather for once.
True! Though nowadays in big cities, it feels impossible to do anything outdoors without having to pay for it.
Exactly. Everything has become so “exclusive” and commercialised. Whether you want a drink at a nice bar or a movie night at the cinema, everything is packaged as an "experience" you have to pay for.
Tell me about your group of friends. Everyone usually plays a specific role in a friend group – what’s yours?
I'm definitely not the singer or the dancer of the group, so I take on cooking and hosting responsibilities! Everyone always seems to end up at my house. Music on, cooking... My neighbours probably hate me! But yeah, I handle the food and the hosting. One of my best mates only handles drinks – he literally can't even put potato chips in a bowl without messing it up!
Do your friends help you clean up after these parties? Because in my group, nobody helps me – I have to do it all myself!
That is truly the most depressing part of hosting! Waking up the next morning, looking at the mess, and thinking, "Why did I invite people over? Why didn't I wash the dishes last night?" But I’ve become a master at packing the dishwasher – it's a real life hack. Did you know you can adjust the height of the top drawer on most dishwashers by pressing the side latches? Game changer!
Have your friends influenced your creative work?
It’s interesting because the friends I have now aren't necessarily the ones I grew up with. I’m still close with a few schoolmates, but most of my inner circle are people I met on jobs – acting gigs, theatre, or film sets. For example, Tristan from Sunny Dancer has become one of my best friends. I’m the type of person who collects people along the way, so my group is a wild mix: some in their 20s, some in their 40s. For my birthday in May, I brought all these different friend groups together in one room for the first time. I told them, "You all have to get along because you all love me!" Watching them hit it off and talk about things they’d heard about each other through me was pure joy.
Left Top Zadig&Voltaire, watch & bracelet Cartier
Right Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, ring Cartier
Since you travel so much, do you find it difficult to maintain friendships while working constantly?
You get really good at FaceTime! I’m terrible at text messages and long voice notes, but I love picking up the phone for a quick call while running to a meeting or catching a flight.
Really? Most people today hate impromptu phone calls!
I know, but I love it! When I was 21, I lived in Marseille for six months, then Tenerife, and then Glasgow for Sunny Dancer. When you live away from home that much, you have to learn to embrace remote connections. Zoom, phone calls – it's a skill we all developed during COVID, but I still use it every day to stay connected.
Do you ever feel lonely on the road?
I think we all feel lonely sometimes. When you start a new job as an actor, you definitely feel like the new kid. Acting can be lonely because you’re entering someone else's production, waiting in a hotel room, overthinking: "What if everyone thinks I'm weird?" Directing is different because you build the ecosystem yourself. I hire my cinematographer, costume designer, and runners, so walking onto set feels like family.
However, directing days are insanely intense. From 7 am to 7 pm, it's non-stop: "George! George! George!" – a thousand questions a second. Then you go home to an empty room and total silence. That contrast was crazy during Sunny Dancer. By the end of the day, I was too exhausted to speak. I’d grab a microwave meal from the corner shop in Glasgow – I think I tried every single one on the shelf – and crash in front of trash TV.
What kind of trash TV?
Reality TV! I watched that Netflix documentary series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. That show got me through Sunny Dancer!
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Right Full look Givenchy, watch & jewelry Cartier
Have you seen The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives?
Yes! I am not ashamed to admit I watched it—absolute top-tier television.
What did you think of it?
Brilliant! Have you seen that new show about the nannies? Or Below Deck? I love Below Deck. I actually know one of the cast members, which is my ultimate flex!
Do you watch The Traitors?
Yes, but The Traitors gets me too stressed out – it’s not a "brain off" show! Plus, Bella Ramsey and James Blunt are on the new celebrity version, so watching people I actually know is going to be surreal.
Would you ever consider doing reality TV yourself?
Never! I would be the absolute worst at it! When I act, I’m hiding behind a character; when I direct, I’m behind the camera. The idea of walking around as myself saying, "Hey guys, welcome to my vlog!" is my worst nightmare. Whenever we do promotional videos, I feel so awkward and unnatural. People would be bitterly disappointed to realise I'm not some cool, mysterious film director—I'm just a giant nerd! [Laughs]
You mentioned having the freedom to choose your team. What criteria do you use when casting and building a crew?
For the cast of Sunny Dancer, I wanted people who embraced being unique and unapologetically themselves. I don't care about hiring whoever is currently trending on Netflix. I love unexpected casting choices! For example, casting Jessica Gunning from Baby Reindeer alongside James Norton as parents to teenagers – neither had played parents to older kids before. That kind of mix excites me.
Behind the camera, my top priority is kindness. Film sets are stressful, and these people will see me at my highest and lowest moments. I need a crew that lifts each other. When you find people you click with, you want to work with them forever.
What kind of projects are you working on next?
I have about seven projects in development right now! A couple of thrillers, but mostly comedies. What I love about this new lineup is that each project takes a familiar trope—like a summer camp movie or a coming-of-age story – and completely flips it on its head. They’re cheeky, funny, and a little unhinged.
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Are these stories centred on teenagers or adults?
A mix! My ultimate dream is to become the modern-day John Hughes. I firmly believe you don't just "come of age" once at 15. You come of age at 18, again at 24 when you leave university, and again in your 30s when your friends start buying houses, and you're left thinking, "What on earth am I doing with my life?"
Isn't that just called a midlife crisis?
A quarter-life crisis! We need to stop calling them "crises" – let's call them "journeys." Otherwise, we’re constantly living in a crisis!
Where do you draw inspiration from lately? Any specific books, movies, or music?
I get most of my storytelling inspiration simply from people-watching in public – listening to weird conversations on the street, watching couples awkwardly try to hold hands, or observing people at airports. Airports are a goldmine for strange human behaviour. The other day, I saw someone clipping their toenails at a gate! I was so disgusted that I’m definitely writing it into my next script!
Music-wise, I’ve been listening to a lot of Robyn, Kesha, Beyoncé, and Britney Spears to get into the mindset of a chaotic female lead I'm currently writing. On the flip side, I’ve also been listening to Jamie xx, M83, and INXS.
Did you watch the Kylie Minogue documentary?
Yes! That documentary was so moving. Kylie has been a huge supporter of Sunny Dancer. Hearing her speak openly about her battle with breast cancer resonated deeply with me because my mum had breast cancer when I was growing up. Kylie is a creative powerhouse and a true inspiration.
If you could direct a documentary about anyone, who would it be?
Great question! I’d love to do a music documentary following the journey of an artist like Jamie xx, or look back at defining eras in British theatre – like when Another Country launched the careers of Rupert Everett and Colin Firth, or when The History Boys brought up talent like Russell Tovey. Group dynamics like the Brat Pack or The Goonies fascinate me. That’s what we tried to capture with Sunny Dancer.
Last question: who would play you in a movie about your life?
Ellen DeGeneres! [Laughs]
Perfect! Can you please cast Dakota Johnson in it too?
Yes, both of them together! Honestly, I’d probably hire an actor way too old for the role just to keep people guessing!
Discover the full story in our upcoming FW26 Issue. More Soon
Interview by Juan Martí
Photography by Will Aldersley
Fashion by Steven Huang
EIC Michael Marson
Casting by Imagemachine sc
Grooming by Bjorn Krischker using Maria Nila and IS Clinical
Stylist’s assistant Francesca Ward
