Limited series · Rai 1
Leonardo
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Aidan Turner
Leonardo da Vinci
8 eps
Freddie Highmore
Stefano Giraldi
8 eps
Antonio De Matteo
Sanseverino
6 eps
Matilda De Angelis
Caterina da Cremona
8 eps
Andrew Knott
Alfonso
2 eps
Giancarlo Giannini
Verrocchio
2 eps
Gabriel Lo Giudice
Marco
4 eps
Max Bennett
Cesare Borgia
2 eps
Robin Renucci
Piero da Vinci
4 eps
James D'Arcy
Ludovico Sforza
5 eps
Alessandro Sperduti
Tommaso Masini
6 eps
Sergio Albelli
Amerigo Benci
2 eps
Anton Alexander
Prior Vincenzo
2 eps
Lorenzo Adorni
Francesco Giocondo
2 eps
Andrea Garofalo
Sforza Servant
2 eps
Poppy Gilbert
Ginevra de' Benci
3 eps
Tommaso Basili
Duca di Urbino
2 eps
Corrado Invernizzi
Piero Soderini
3 eps
Kit Clarke
Jacopo Saltarelli
2 eps
Miriam Dalmazio
Beatrice d'Este
4 eps
Carlos Cuevas
Salai
7 eps
Luca Grispini
Guglielmo da Vinci
3 eps
Claudio Castrogiovanni
Ramiro
3 eps
Francesca Chillemi
Margherita
2 eps
Giovanni Scifoni
Luca Pacioli
4 eps
Daniele De Angelis
Metello
1 eps
Andrea Dugoni
Deo
1 eps
Luca Guastini
Tornabuoni
2 eps
Edan Hayhurst
Giangaleazzo Sforza
3 eps
Robert Madison
Filippo
2 eps
Brice Martinet
King of France
1 eps
Flavio Parenti
Bernardo Bembo
5 eps
William Michael Roberts
Luigi Niccolini
4 eps
Maria Vera Ratti
Lisa Del Giocondo
4 eps
Matthew Steer
Sforza Chamberlain
2 eps
Pierpaolo Spollon
Michelangelo
2 eps
Freddy Drabble
Alchemist
1 eps
Giacomo Mattia
Dye Factor Forman
1 eps
Clive Riche
Rector
1 eps
Andrea Vasone
Benci Servant
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Leonardo actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Leonardo reads strongest on Serialized, Character Depth and Bingeability.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
A fresh look at the life and legacy of the iconic artist Leonardo da Vinci, positing that he was a gay outsider who used his work as a way of hiding his true self. Each episode will examine one of da Vinci’s artworks for hidden clues about a tortured artist struggling for perfection.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E03
Episode 3
Leonardo moves to Milan, determined to obtain the patronage of the Regent Duke Ludovico Sforza. When reality proves to be less attractive than expected and Leonardo is asked to devote himself to a great theatrical performance instead of a painting, it is a new encounter that helps him to free his imagination, allowing him to see in the theatrical production a great opportunity.
- Directed by Daniel Percival
- Written by Gabbie Asher
S01E06
Episode 6
Returning to Florence, an uninspired Leonardo accepts to paint the portrait that will become the Mona Lisa; after failing to repair his relationship with Caterina, Leonardo goes to Imola, where he receives much praise from his employer.
- Directed by Alexis Cahill
- Written by Frank Spotnitz
S01E07
Episode 7
Having found Caterina, Leonardo continues his work, but is frustrated by the growing success of a younger artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti. Putting his feelings aside, Leonardo allows himself to be persuaded to accept a new commission.
- Directed by Daniel Percival
- Written by Steve Thompson
S01E05
Episode 5
Following the death of Ludovico's wife, Leonardo is assigned a new commission but struggles to deal with his inner turmoil; after taking on board some wise words from Fr. Luca Pacioli, Leonardo seeks assistance.
- Directed by Alexis Cahill
- Written by Frank Spotnitz
S01E02
Episode 2
As Leonardo's achievements are recognized and his reputation grows, one risky decision could destroy everything he has worked for. When an unforeseen situation further undermines his reputation as an artist, he sets his sights on the Duchy of Milan and leaves Florence.
- Directed by Daniel Percival
- Written by Frank Spotnitz
S01E08
Episode 8
With time running out, Stefano races to save Leonardo and finally discovers the truth behind his biggest kept secret; armed with the facts but lacking the evidence, an unexpected revelation leaves Stefano turning to an unlikely source for help.
- Directed by Daniel Percival
- Written by Steve Thompson, Frank Spotnitz
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S01E08
Episode 8
- Directed by Daniel Percival
- Written by Steve Thompson, Frank Spotnitz
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
Steve Thompson
Creator
Frank Spotnitz
Showrunner
Freddie Highmore
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Luisa Cotta Ramosino
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Brendan Fitzgerald
Executive producer
Daniele Passani
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Emily Feller
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Gabbie Asher
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Steve ThompsonExecutive Producer
- Freddie HighmoreExecutive Producer
- Frank SpotnitzExecutive Producer
- Luisa Cotta RamosinoExecutive Producer
- Brendan FitzgeraldExecutive Producer
- Daniele PassaniExecutive Producer
Writing
- Steve ThompsonWriter
- Frank SpotnitzWriter
- Gabbie AsherWriter
Direction
- Daniel PercivalDirector
- Alexis CahillDirector
Cinematography
- Steve LawesDirector of Photography
- Alessandro PesciDirector of Photography
Music
- John PaesanoOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
Checking regional listings…
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Where to go from here
Watch Next
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Never stop watching
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