Tom Francis first discovered his talents while listening to Oasis. The British actor, who is currently playing (alongside Nicole Scherzinger) in the Broadway race of Sunset Blvd.was seven years old. The album was Do not believe the truth. “I have become absolutely obsessed with the group, and there is a song that closes the album entitled” Let He Be Hove “, and I remember sitting with my guitar and finding how to play and singing it,” he explains to The Hollywood Reporter. Francis’ parents have passed. “I became so embarrassed and I shouted them like:” Never do it again, “he said. “I didn’t want to watch me sing, never. But that evening at the dinner, my father said to me: “I think you are really very good”. And I took that.
Eighteen years later, Francis, 25, is nominated for a Tony Award for his work in the adaptation led by Jamie Lloyd; Last year, he won an Olivier Award for West End production. He spoke with THR About his career and his time on stage two weeks before the announcement of the appointments, because he tried not to let the imminent milestone take over his nerves. (When he was contacted to comment on the head sign, he said THR“It’s absolutely wild. I am amazed and a little lost for words. Being recognized among this incredible group of artists is an incredible honor and beyond my wildest dreams. Massive congratulations to my nominated colleagues and all the nominated shows this season.”)
But Sunset boulevard Offers more than simple trophies for Francis. He appears in the last season of You As Clayton, an author by suckling selfish (with a wolf cup, no less) who is one of the many antagonists of Joe Goldberg; The co-creator Greg Berlanti came to see the actor Sunset And invited her to send a band. “I auditioned, then the visa passed, then I stole the next day,” said Francis about his role as a whirlwind on the screen, whom he filmed between the London and New York races of the musical.
Then he will be (briefly, he admits) featured by George Clooney from Noah Baumbach Jay KellyThen he will join Bill Skarsgård and Nicholas Galitzine in the film Netflix by Peter Berg The bowl of mosquitoes. Below, Francis reflects on his most memorable moments on stage and impatiently awaits his dream career.
Tell us about how you started as an actor-after discovering yourself, so to speak, playing Oasis, have you ever made a conscious decision to prosecute it professionally?
I started to make all kinds of choirs during childhood. I really didn’t like school. I am seriously dyslexic and my duration of attention in terms of university is quite terrible. I had piano and school lessons and my teacher was like, why don’t you go to the college next door, they have a theater program. I’m not even kidding, the college was literally next to it. And then I finished my official dramatic school program during the pandemic – as by doing tap lessons on Zoom. (Laughter) So, I have the impression that I have just understood what is really going on with my career.
Tom Francis as “Joe Gillis” and Nicole Scherzinger as “Norma Desmond” in Sunset Blvd on Broadway.
Marc Brenner
You have had all kinds of legendary actors Sunset Blvd.From Samuel L. Jackson to Jonathan Groff – Are you nervous about it?
In London, we called the nights when someone very important was in the “come for blood” crowd, which really means that you really go. It was always fun. Now I become more nervous when my girlfriend [Hadestown actress Maia Reficco] Come, to be honest. She has probably come seven times now, and it is never less trying for the nerves. I don’t even know why. I used to have a lot of dread of the stage and it would manifest itself physically, my ears get red and my body trembles. I improved to control it and the start of Sunset is ideal for nerves because my character has mental depression and you can let everything come out.
The show obtains really enthusiastic and vocal reactions of the crowd – ovations and cheers standing in mid -term. Are you able to describe what it is and what is your relationship with the public and this kind of comments?
The most difficult thing to be a stage artist is that when you don’t work, no one applauds you. The fact that you get these reactions becomes the most visible when you don’t get them. It bothers me to miss this dopamine stroke. But it is also a feeling of the nature of seeing 1,700 people screaming and screaming and applauding you every evening. But I try to consider him to celebrate the fact that we have successfully spent the show. It takes so many people so that everything happens every night, so when there are applause, it is a great moment of camaraderie.
Your look in this season of You is very different from what has become, by default, your signature look …
They razed part of my head, and I was wearing a thing touched. It started high, then there were clips that went down all along the back of my head. I cannot describe how good it was to remove everything at the end of the day. But it was cool to play someone like that, it was like flexing a different muscle.
(LR) Tom Francis in the role of Clayton, Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in the “You” season.
Was it your first time in a set?
I had already done a day or two on the new film Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly. It was amazing to watch to be made. But I loved the bustle of being on the You Together, it really looks like an ant farm. Act in front of Penn [Badgley] It was just a joy too. It is an incredible number one. He discovered that it was one of my first times on the set and gave me pointers. And after my last day of filming, which was a lot of me and he came together, he came to me after and said so many beautiful things. If I can be number one in a television series, I want to do it how much Penn Badgley.
Have you ever watched your death scene?
I didn’t really see it. I haven’t looked at the show yet, because you get a bit like, do I want to look at myself?
It’s a good death scene.
If you are happy, then I’m happy. Maybe I’m going to start watching him tonight.
Have you ever watched you play Sunset?
Jamie forbidden to see us playing. I never even listened to the album. He believes that if you are looking at this show, you ruin innocence. I really have no idea what’s going on in the show outside my own perspective during performance. I spend most of the time at the front of the scene watching and speaking to the public and there are all kinds of things that happens behind me. The other day, during the part where I hold Nicole’s hand and said one line on two financial men, I noticed that the two financial men walk behind me during this scene. I had no idea to date, and it has been happening for months and months. I really hope that after having finished, there is a good video somewhere.
Your dressing room is part of the whole show, but have you made personalities or decoration? I use Jake Gyllenhaal Othello Dressing room as a measurement bar.
The only thing I did is put a 70-inch TV in there with a PlayStation. I play a lot of FIFA with other people in the casting. And I have a small bar. It can be difficult to make the show every night, when everyone socializes, so things like that help.
Have you ever had trouble playing this often?
No, the most difficult thing about this is to eat literally. I ended up with hyper-fixing and now I only have three meals that I eat, and I eat them at the same time every day. The two days, I have to wake up early just so that I can install everything.
Once this race Sunset boulevard Is done, have you decided if you will return to the United Kingdom?
I need to go back to say hello to my family and friends, but I like New York and I really never want to leave. I would love to reserve a job and start working in cinema and television. I feel very new in this very area of being a possibility.
What career would you like to imitate the most?
I love Matt Damon. Having a career like him in the film would be the absolute dream. But it is really difficult to imitate this, a Good desire to hunt comes only once in a generation, do you know? But I feel excited to understand what is the next step, and I have a fantastic team [at CAA and Linden Entertainment] who help me do this. We are talking about everything, they give me so much advice and are wonderful human beings.
As Tony approaches, what is your approach to prices?
It’s like the biggest elephant of any room in which you enter. But I think that if I think about it too much, I will panic and not be very good in my work. I try to be like a police horse, with the blinders. The Olivier Awards have just occurred and the videos of last year’s show have resurfaced, and I thought when I realized that I had won and that no one could ever withdraw me. I watched the video back and all these wild emotions resurfaced. It’s always absolutely crazy.
