There aren’t many jobs that require standing beside a horde of naked zombies, waiting for the director to shout “Action!” But for 14-year-old Alfie Williams, this was just another day at work. The Newcastle-born actor is at the heart of 28 Years Later, the highly anticipated new installment of Danny Boyle’s iconic apocalypse saga, released more than two decades after 28 Days Later electrified the genre with its frenetic energy and brutal realism.
The Youngest Among Giants
Despite being the youngest on set by a significant margin, Williams found himself treated as a peer rather than a child. His co-stars, including heavyweights Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer, welcomed him as an equal, helping him navigate the high-stakes world of a major film production.
On a Zoom call earlier this month, Williams spoke with a blend of self-awareness and teenage excitement, reflecting on his surreal experiences among the living dead and his newfound fame.
“I just became desensitized to them,” he laughs, describing the grotesque, fully nude zombie extras that filled many of the film’s scenes. While that might traumatize most young actors, Williams handled it with a nonchalance that suggests a long career ahead.
Witnessing the Apocalypse — And Zombie Births
In 28 Years Later, the horror has evolved. While the original film focused on chaos and rapid infection, this sequel leans into grotesque new territory — including a sequence that involves zombies giving birth.
“It was really weird, but also fascinating,” Williams admits. “You don’t really think about zombies having babies, right? But somehow, on set, it felt almost normal after a while.”
This mixture of disgust and curiosity mirrors the film’s deeper themes — pushing the audience to consider the evolution of violence, life, and survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
Desensitized and Determined
At an age when most teenagers are navigating school exams and first crushes, Williams is dissecting the psychological toll of fictional epidemics and working with top-tier talent. His easygoing approach to what could have been traumatic or at least overwhelming is a testament to his adaptability and budding professionalism.
While some of this calm might come from his own nature, it’s also evidence of the supportive environment cultivated by Boyle and the crew. The director, known for his ability to push actors to raw, unforgettable performances, seemed to find in Williams an ideal vessel: young enough to embody innocence, yet mature enough to handle the film’s darkest corners.
Looking 28 Years Ahead
When asked where he sees himself 28 years from now — a clever nod to the film’s title — Williams doesn’t hesitate.
“I hope I’m still acting, maybe even directing,” he says, eyes lighting up at the thought. “And definitely still listening to Nirvana.”
His current musical obsession, In Utero by Nirvana, might surprise some, but it also illustrates his old-soul sensibility. “There’s just something about it,” he muses. “It’s raw and real. Like the film, in a way.”
A New Face of Apocalypse Cinema
Williams represents a new wave of young actors who are redefining what it means to grow up on screen. Far from typecast or overshadowed, he steps into a genre that has historically reserved its most harrowing roles for adults and makes it uniquely his own.
As 28 Years Later hits theaters, audiences will not only witness the next terrifying chapter of Boyle’s undead universe but also the emergence of a young actor whose talent promises to stretch far beyond infected streets and dark hallways.
While the future remains uncertain (both for Williams and the world he inhabits on screen), one thing is clear: Alfie Williams isn’t just surviving — he’s thriving.
