A Lifetime Movie Paved the Way for Nicholas Galitzine's Heartthrob Status

It feels like Nicholas Galitzine is everywhere these days. He clearly has a knack for playing royals — he starred as Prince Henry in Prime Video’s Red, White & Royal Blue in 2023 and is now making waves with his portrayal of George Villiers in Starz’s steamy historical drama Mary & George. Coupled with high-profile projects like The Idea of You on the horizon, the 29-year-old actor is well on his way to becoming Hollywood’s next “it” boy. 

But before Galitzine was starring opposite Anne Hathaway, he got his start the way many rising actors do: on Lifetime. One of his earliest projects was Lifetime’s 2017 horror movie The Watcher in the Woods, where he played Marcus, a teenage boy who lives on a farm in a small Welsh village.

Directed by Melissa Joan Hart, Lifetime’s The Watcher in the Woods is based on the novel of the same name by Florence Engel Randall; it was previously adapted into a 1980 movie starring Bette Davis. The movie centers on Jan (Tallulah Evans), a teenage girl from Ohio who spends the summer in Wales with her parents (Rufus Wright and Melanie Gutteridge) and younger sister, Ellie (Dixie Egerickx). When the family rents a manor from a strange old woman, Mrs. Aylwood (Anjelica Huston), mysterious and frightening things begin to happen. The one bright spot of Jan’s horrifying summer is meeting Marcus, who immediately takes an interest in her.

Despite starring an Oscar winner like Huston, the flick itself isn’t particularly great (or even good, honestly). Jan seems to be the only one with any ounce of common sense in her family — her dad dismisses mirrors randomly shattering in the middle of the night as “just Jan trying to scare her sister” — but she’s also an annoying protagonist whose only defining characteristic seems to be constantly asking questions. Although it doesn’t have the same chops that made the 1980 version a cult classic, the remake is worth remembering for one reason: it set Galitzine up for playing heartthrobs down the road.

The actor brings his charm to the otherwise lackluster movie. He’s instantly likable as Marcus, coming across as sweet and genuine from the moment he and Jan cross paths at his father’s store. His character feels a bit like someone plucked him straight out of a Wattpad fanfic: a cute boy who lives down the street wants to go to the town carnival together? Sounds great! However, he’s also not just a walking cardboard cutout. When Jan accidentally insults farm life, he immediately defends his village roots, in which he takes great pride. 

Marcus and Jan’s scenes accurately capture the innocence and awkwardness of first loves, from her parents cluelessly ruining a cute moment between them to him leaning in to kiss her, only for her to shake his hand instead. Galitzine’s “boy-next-door” vibe is so natural and convincing that it makes it easy to momentarily forget this is a horror movie and not a Jenny Han YA series. While The Watcher in the Woods is certainly no rom-com, it captures how skilled he is at playing magnetic characters audiences can’t help but fall for.

There are actually a lot of similarities between Marcus and Galitzine’s Red, White & Royal Blue character Prince Henry. Obviously there are some stark differences: Henry is older, gay, and, well, a prince. But both characters are romantics at heart who must learn to be brave for their love interests. Marcus has to get past his initial skepticism and fears to help Jan uncover the scary truth of what really lies in the forest, and he ultimately helps save her from the Watcher’s wrath. Henry faces the daunting task of coming out to his royal family so he can be with his boyfriend, telling him, “I promise I will try and be brave for us.” 

As George Villiers, Galitzine occasionally shows a similarly softer side — his complicated, but still real feelings for the King — in between all the sex and quests for power. He’s a troubled guy playing into his mother’s twisted schemes, sure, but you also can’t help but be mesmerized by his persona and even sympathize with him at times. Although they’re different types of romantic leads, Galitzine plays his recent roles with the same charm and heart that can be traced back to this Lifetime role. 

In the end, The Watcher in the Woods is just a blip on Galitzine’s growing resumé. But every talented actor starts somewhere, and his role as charming small-town boy Marcus ultimately paved the way for him to take on captivating characters like Prince Henry, George, and, soon, a boy band singer who’s dreamy enough to pull Anne Hathaway. 

The Watcher in the Woods is available to purchase on Prime Video. 

Kelly Martinez is a TV Reporter based in Los Angeles. Her previous work can be found at BuzzFeed and People Magazine, among other outlets. She enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and explaining the plot of Riverdale to people.