If you’ve spent any time on Prime Video lately, you’ve probably seen that face—that intense, quiet, but somehow totally commanding presence. I'm talking about Xelia Mendes-Jones. Honestly, he’s one of those actors who just fits into high-budget genre worlds without breaking a sweat. Whether it’s the grimy, irradiated wasteland of a video game adaptation or the high-stakes fantasy of a sprawling book series, Mendes-Jones has this knack for making you look.
He isn't just another face in a crowded cast. He's a scene-stealer.
Most people probably recognize him as Dane from the massive hit Fallout, but his journey through Xelia Mendes-Jones movies and tv shows actually covers a lot of ground in a very short time. We’re talking about a British actor who went from being a competitive javelin thrower and football player to one of the most talked-about rising stars in Hollywood. It’s a wild trajectory.
The Fallout Phenomenon: Why Everyone Is Talking About Dane
When Fallout dropped in 2024, the internet basically exploded. But while everyone was busy gushing over the Ghouls and Vault Dwellers, a lot of us were laser-focused on the Brotherhood of Steel. Specifically, Dane.
Playing a member of the Brotherhood is a tall order. You’re wearing these massive, clunky suits of power armor, or you're stuck in the rigid, almost monastic life of a squire. Mendes-Jones plays Dane with this incredible vulnerability mixed with total loyalty.
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One of the coolest things about this role is how naturally it handles identity. Dane uses they/them pronouns in the show, and the writing just... lets that be. No long speeches. No forced "teachable moments." It just exists within the world. As a trans man himself, Mendes-Jones has spoken about how refreshing it was to step into a role that felt authentic without being a caricature.
And if you’re wondering what's next for the Brotherhood’s finest? He’s back for Fallout Season 2, which premiered late in 2025. Without spoiling too much, the stakes for Dane have shifted from just surviving the ranks to navigating the actual political rot inside the Brotherhood. It's gritty stuff.
From Fantasy to Hardcore Action: The Wheel of Time and Havoc
Before the wasteland, there was the Seanchan empire. If you missed him in The Wheel of Time, you need to go back and watch Season 2 right now. He played Renna.
Renna is, to put it lightly, a piece of work. She’s a sul'dam, which in that world means she basically enslaves women who can channel magic. It was a complete 180 from the more sympathetic Dane. In The Wheel of Time, Mendes-Jones was cold, calculated, and genuinely terrifying.
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"When you see how horrible Renna is... she can’t make it out. She doesn’t deserve to," Mendes-Jones told Collider.
He actually did his homework for that one, too. He read the first three books of the series to get the vibe right. That’s the kind of dedication that makes a performance feel lived-in rather than just "acted."
Then there's Havoc. This is the movie people were waiting years for. Directed by Gareth Evans (the genius behind The Raid), it stars Tom Hardy. Mendes-Jones plays Johnny in this high-octane Netflix thriller that finally hit screens in April 2025. If you like your movies with bone-crunching choreography and zero fluff, this is the standout in the Xelia Mendes-Jones movies and tv shows catalog. It was actually his first film debut, and he’s gone on record saying it was a massive highlight because it was his first time auditioning for a non-binary masculine role after coming out.
The Background You Probably Didn't Know
Xelia isn't just an "actor." He’s a former athlete. He was a javelin thrower with London Heathside and even played youth football for Tottenham Hotspur Ladies back in the day. You can see that athleticism in how he carries himself on screen. There’s a physical precision to his movement, whether he’s dodging a Deathclaw or commanding a magical slave.
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He also studied Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic at Cambridge. Yeah, he’s a literal scholar of the types of worlds he now acts in. It’s kinda poetic, right?
What to Watch Next: A Quick Checklist
If you're looking to binge the best of his work, here is the essential roadmap:
- Fallout (Series): Start here. It’s the definitive performance. Season 1 establishes the character, and Season 2 (the 2025/2026 run) really lets him flex his acting muscles.
- The Wheel of Time (Season 2): Watch this if you want to see him play a villain you’ll absolutely love to hate.
- Havoc (Netflix): This is for the action junkies. It’s fast, it’s mean, and it shows his range in a modern setting.
- Romy - "She's on My Mind" (Music Video): A fun, queer anthem featuring him alongside Maisie Williams. It’s a great glimpse of his personality outside of heavy genre drama.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following Xelia's career, keep an eye on indie projects. While he’s killing it in the big-budget streaming world, he’s frequently mentioned wanting to explore more intimate, character-driven stories that reflect the trans experience in a grounded way.
The best way to stay updated isn't just refreshing IMDb. Follow the production cycles of Amazon MGM Studios and Netflix, as he seems to have built a very strong relationship with both platforms. With Fallout continuing to dominate the cultural conversation into 2026, expect to see him topping "ones to watch" lists for a long time.
Go watch Havoc if you haven't yet—the fight choreography alone is worth the sub price.