Tom Ellis, the charismatic Welsh actor, has captivated audiences worldwide with his magnetic charm and unparalleled talent. Known widely for his suave portrayal of Lucifer Morningstar in the hit Netflix series Lucifer. With his strong jaw and tongue and cheek wit, Ellis has become a household name particularly among middle-aged, discerning gentlemen who appreciate the finer things in life. In addition to having a physique many dream of, Ellis is an effortlessly relatable and intriguing character for those who have experienced the complexities of adulthood. His impeccable comedic timing and smoldering charisma make him the quintessential leading man, and his on-screen chemistry with co-stars adds depth to any show he is on.
Beyond his role, Ellis boasts an impressive body of work that showcases his versatility as an actor. From period dramas like “The Fades” to more contemporary roles in “Miranda,” he has consistently delivered outstanding performances that resonate with his audience. His dedication to his craft and his ability to seamlessly switch between genres with grace and panache has earned him a dedicated fan base. With Tom at the helm of any project, you can be sure of a captivating and engaging performance that transcends the screen and leaves a lasting impression on viewers, making him a true icon in the entertainment industry.
If that wasn’t enough, Tom Ellis, is also a deep well of wisdom and unafraid to be vulnerable. Ellis is as distinguished as they come and NOBLEMAN had the honor to sit down with the leading man. We talked about cars, charities, and his impressive career in Hollywood.
In your career you have gotten to drive some cool cars, do you have a favorite of the cars you got to experience?
The obvious one would be Lucifer’s Corvette, which was an absolute beast to drive. The car was very quick when driving in a straight line, but it didn’t have power steering and it had old drum brakes. So it was a bit of a workout to drive it. I think the weirdest one I probably drove was a car from 1912 for an adaptation of Pollyanna for ITV in the UK. Driving that was an experience all itself, having to pull levers and things. Very different, not something I’d take out daily.
What was the first car you ever owned?
It was technically owned by my parents. My mom had an old Toyota Starlet that only had four gears. We used to drive to and from school. I remember every time I took it to the mechanic, he would say, “this car should not still be working, but somehow it is.” So there’s a ringing endorsement for Toyota there.
What is your dream car?
My dream car would probably be like an Aston Martin or a Ferrari. But in the electrical age, I think my dream car these days is a Rivian R1 pickup truck, which I love.
Growing up, did you always want to be an actor?
I didn’t actually, I was more obsessed with sports. But I was never quite good enough at any to pursue them professionally. I still thought that I’d end up doing something in sport, like sports injuries or something like physiotherapy. Then when I was 17, I was at school doing my A Levels, which is the last two years of your schooling in the UK, and I was stuck for a subject to choose. My old English teacher came to me and said “I’m running the theater studies course.” And I’d never done any acting or anything at this point, and she said, “I think you’d enjoy it. I’ve got 12 girls and one boy. I need boys.” And I was like, “I’m gonna stop you right there. How many girls?” (LAUGHS) So, my motivation for getting into it was completely wrong, I must admit. But then I went to a few of the classes and started to fall in love with the process of acting and everything that comes with it.
I heard you follow soccer rather closely. Who is your favorite club?
I’m from Wales originally, but I moved around a lot when I was a kid because of my dad’s job. So I was never in one place enough to say, “This is where I’m from”. So I’ve been affiliated with several soccer teams over the years, but my main team is Arsenal. I love the Premier League so much, it’s the best league in the world. Because literally any team can beat any team!
What was it like for you growing up?
Growing up as the kid of a pastor, it’s a little bit like being a minor celebrity every Sunday.
My dad had this very important role in the church and people looked up to him. Subsequently, people would like to shake hands with the pastor’s kids as well. I spent a lot of time mixing with people that maybe I wouldn’t have done if I’d only just gone to school. It certainly helped me later in life with things like social skills and communication.
Outside of sports and theater, what other hobbies did you have growing up?
Really, sports were everything to me. I couldn’t wait for the school bell to ring at the end of the day to go and do a different sport. Also my mom was a music teacher, so we all got as they say “encouraged”, with instruments at an early age. So I played the trumpet from the age of like five. Then my parents made an executive decision on my behalf when I was nine that I should change to the French horn. So I played the French horn in several different orchestras growing up. But I haven’t touched a trumpet for years. But truthfully those skills last you all your life. We built it into one Lucifer scene randomly at some point.
I wish that I knew my way around the guitar better, but I’m very much self-taught these days. I probably improved throughout the show because that’s what I had in my trailer. So in between scenes, I would just go back and plug my guitar in, turn my microphone on. That space became my happy place.
Were you ever in a band?
Oh yeah. I played in several bands when I was growing up. There was a band in our church, which had electric guitars and stuff, so I played with them. There was a guy who had a band called “Red Alert”. So I played for them for a while. And I also had a band at school called “The Charlie’s”. I sang in a kind of dance orchestra, like a Glen Miller-type dance band. I’ve had quite an eclectic sort of band background.
What has been the biggest lesson learned through your acting career?
About maybe eight or nine months into my career I’d had a nice start. I left drama school and I went from job to job. Then I got the biggest job I’d ever got, which was a role for the BBC. And I was like one of the main characters in it. I went and shot this series up in Liverpool and it was amazing. And I thought “wow, this is it. I can’t believe it. I’ve done it, I’ve made it.” But then I didn’t work again for about eight months after that. The show came out, it came and went, and no one watched it.
You have sort of peaks and valleys along the way and hopefully a steady incline. But I learned not to take anything for granted. That moment made me work even harder actually on things like auditions and everything I set my hand to. – FULL ARTICLE IN PRINT ONLY
Photography by John Russo
Styling by Aaron & Asher Goldenberg
Words by Tom Burleson
Grooming by Tim Muir
Shot on location at the 1 Hotel West Hollywood
Featuring Watches by Bremont
