Photographer Cecilie Harris
Fashion Abena Ofei at Wizzo & Co
Groomer Richard Wynne-Ellis at Joe Mills Agency using Kevin Murphy, Lab Series, and Woolf Kings X
Writer Maddie Lainchbury
Photographer Assistant Johnny McCaragher
Location Special Thanks The Zetter Clerkenwell
“Even on the difficult days, if I was exhausted or waking up at five in the morning, I’d just remind myself, ‘I’m doing a film right now. This is the dream.’ That would immediately bring me back into focus.”
There’s something strangely intimate about revisiting a face the world feels it has watched grow up. When William Franklyn-Miller first appeared in Boys by Girls back in 2018, he existed in that elusive space between boyhood and projection: widely seen, endlessly perceived, yet still largely unknown. Years later, returning for this cover story, there’s a noticeable shift in the way he presents himself. Not necessarily more certain, but more settled within the uncertainty.
With Young Washington set for release later this year, the timing feels unexpectedly aligned. The series explores a figure on the edge of becoming—before legacy, before certainty, before fully understanding who they are meant to be. In conversation, William reflects on similar themes with a striking honesty, moving between identity, masculinity, visibility, and the complicated experience of growing into yourself whilst the world watches in real time. What unfolds is a quiet reflection on transition, perception, and the ongoing process of becoming.
Young Washington releases in theatres on the 3rd of July, 2026.
Take in the full 22-page cover story beyond this teaser. Our brand new Spring Summer 2026 issue, "ROOTS" is available to buy online.
