Edvin Ryding is the Swedish actor who basically redefined the "teen heartthrob" for a generation that values authenticity over airbrushing. If your teen is obsessed, they’re likely deep in the world of Young Royals, a show that trades glossy CW tropes for real skin texture, actual awkwardness, and heavy-hitting emotional stakes.
TL;DR: Edvin Ryding is a Swedish powerhouse best known for playing Prince Wilhelm in Young Royals. His filmography—including the heavy-hitting drama A Part of You and the disaster movie The Abyss—is high-quality, emotionally intense, and generally aimed at the 14+ crowd. If they love his work, they're likely ready for stories that tackle grief, class, and identity with a refreshing lack of Hollywood polish.
If you haven't seen it, the premise of Young Royals sounds like standard fan-fiction: a troubled prince is sent to a prestigious boarding school and falls for a "commoner." But Edvin Ryding’s performance as Prince Wilhelm is what anchors the show in reality. He doesn't play the prince as a suave hero; he plays him as a kid with visible acne, crushing anxiety, and a genuine struggle to reconcile his duty with his identity.
For parents, the win here is that the show is actually about something. It explores the toxic nature of class structures and the weight of family expectations. It’s queer-positive without being a "lesson" show. It’s just a very well-acted, very Swedish drama. If your middle schooler is starting to ask about it, check out our digital guide for middle school to see how it fits into the broader landscape of teen dramas.
Ryding hasn't just stayed in the palace. He’s been making moves into more mature, darker territory that indicates he’s in this for the long haul.
- A Part of You (2024): This is a heavy one. It’s a coming-of-age story about a girl living in the shadow of her "perfect" older sister. Edvin plays Noel, the sister's boyfriend. It deals with massive grief, substance use, and the messy way teens try to reinvent themselves after tragedy. It’s excellent, but it’s a "watch together and talk afterward" kind of movie.
- The Abyss (2023): Think San Andreas but in a Swedish mining town. Edvin plays Simon, the son of the main character. It’s a high-octane disaster flick that’s less about emotional interiority and more about "will the ground swallow us whole?" It’s a fun, intense watch for families who like a good survival thriller.
As of today, August 14, 2026, Ryding is clearly moving away from "teen" roles and into leading-man status in European cinema. He is expected to continue his collaboration with Netflix, and rumors are swirling about a major English-language debut. Based on the trajectory of his career, we can expect his upcoming projects to lean into "prestige" territory—think gritty indies or high-concept series that prioritize acting over action.
If your teen is following his career, they’re likely developing a taste for European storytelling, which tends to be slower, more character-focused, and less afraid of unhappy endings than American blockbusters.
You can’t talk about Edvin without mentioning his Young Royals co-star, Omar Rudberg. Their off-screen friendship is a massive part of the appeal for fans. They represent a version of celebrity that feels accessible—they do interviews where they actually seem like friends, they post unfiltered content, and they don't feel managed to within an inch of their lives.
Seeing them in a "fish out of water" context like the video above helps explain why teens find them so likable. They aren't trying to be "alpha" influencers; they’re just two guys who are good at their jobs and happen to be friends.
If your kid is a fan, the move isn't to worry about the "mature" themes in his shows, but to lean into the quality of the work. Edvin Ryding is a great entry point into international cinema.
Ask them:
- "What do you think Wilhelm’s biggest mistake was in the first season?"
- "Why do you think Swedish shows like this feel more 'real' than shows like Gossip Girl or Elite?"
- "If you had to choose between duty to your family and being yourself, which would you pick?"
These are the conversations that turn a Netflix binge into a lesson in empathy and critical thinking.
Q: Is Young Royals appropriate for a 13-year-old?
It’s rated TV-MA, primarily for some sexual content and drug use. However, for a mature 13-year-old, it’s often a favorite because it handles these topics with a lot of weight and consequence rather than just for shock value. You’ll want to co-watch or at least be ready for some big conversations.
Q: Does Edvin Ryding speak English in his movies?
Most of his major work is in Swedish, but he is fluent in English (as you can see in his interviews). On Netflix, you can watch his projects with subtitles or dubbing—we always recommend subtitles to hear the actual performance.
Q: What should my teen watch if they've finished everything Edvin is in?
If they love the "gritty boarding school" vibe, check out our best shows for kids list for more character-driven dramas. If they like the Swedish vibe, look for other Nordic noir or coming-of-age series like Skam.
Edvin Ryding isn't a flash-in-the-pan TikTok star; he’s a serious actor with a knack for picking projects that resonate with the actual experience of being a teenager. If your kid is following him, they’re engaging with some of the best-written teen content of the last five years.
- Check out the full guide to Young Royals for a deep dive into the show's themes.
- Explore our best movies for kids list to find more high-quality international dramas.
- Get more recommendations for teen dramas
