That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Tom Ellis

Episode Date: September 26, 2021

In this episode Gaby chats with actor Tom Ellis. He talks all about the phenomenal success of the series ‘Lucifer’ and his recent ‘Pop Culture Icon’ award from the Hollywood Critics Association. Plus, filming the upcoming ‘Players’ with 'Jane the Virgin' star Gina Rodriguez and of course playing Gary in 'Miranda'. He also talks about karaoke, his love of golf and his friendship with James Corden, and Luke Evans.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to that Gabby Roslyn podcast. What a treat it was to chat to Lucifer himself, Tom Ellis. We, of course, talk all about the phenomenal success of the series Lucifer and his recent pop culture icon award from the Hollywood Critics Association. Plus, filming the upcoming players with Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez. And, of course, playing Gary in Miranda. He also talks about karaoke, his life. love of golf and his friendship with James Corden and Luke Evans. Enjoy. Please can I ask you a

favour? Would you mind, please, following and subscribing, please by pressing the follow or subscribe buttons, please. This is completely and utterly free, by the way. And then you can also rate and review on Apple Podcasts, which is the purple app on your iPhone or iPad. Simply scroll down to the bottom of all of the episodes and you'll see the stars where you can tap and rate. And also, please, write a review. Thank you so much. How many places was that? Probably too many. But please, thank you. Tom, I'll tell you my favourite thing was you started almost singing. Oh my God. What? Did I? Oh, no. No, you just know, you did the, but we didn't get a real song. The awkward, can anyone hear me? Ditty, that I like to sing.

How are you? How are you? I'm very well, thanks. It's nice to hear your voice. Well, it's good to speak to you again. You know what was so funny is that the reason I was hoping you were going to sing is because my kids who, we all watch Lucifer, but my kids who are obsessed, they wanted to watch the musical version again. So I came back, I'm doing breakfast radio at the moment, and I came back in, and they said, you've got to watch it again. So I watched you once again, the musical version,

which gives us all such pleasure of Lucifer. You have got to have enjoyed, please tell me, you enjoyed the music, Lucifer the musical version. Oh my gosh. Like that for me was like, that was like I'd won a competition every day

and went into work. I was like, what's this brilliant thing that's happening today? The whole dance routine, like 100 dancers. No, I loved it. It was so much fun. So much fun.

Well, the whole thing, we have to look. Let's just start with Lucifer. It'd be crazy if we don't. Obviously, we're going to have to go to Gary because you know how much I love. Love, love, love, Miranda. But, oh, and also, you've just won the Pop Culture Icon Award, excuse me. I know.

From the Hollywood Critics Association. I know I'm absolutely delighted. I've never won anything before in my life, Gabby, but from my 50 metre breaststroke at school. Was that it? Is that the only medal you've got? I think that's pretty much it, yeah. Did you ever win a Tombollah?

No, I don't think so. I've won a couple of scratch cards in the past. Oh. But not for huge amounts of money. No, I just, it's that weird one where, I mean, I was delighted mainly because, you know, being in the show for like six years, I, sometimes when you're in something, you kind of feel like this is the sort of thing that probably wouldn't get recognised at that sort of level. And so for it, you know, for them to give me that award after six years, I was absolutely delighted because it's like, oh, the critics like it as well, that's nice. Yeah, you know, if you're going to get an award, I know you're up for an Emmy, so good luck for that as well. but it's quite something to have a pop culture icon.

I don't, there's something, that's very rock and roll. I know, I was, I know, I was, I honestly gave it. I was really, really chuffed. And I kind of felt like it was, the one, they phrased it to me is that, that you brought a character that not a lot of people knew about into the modern sort of popular culture, basically. Lucifer is something that a lot of people know about these days, the show Lucifer. Sorry, I know.

Stop, stop, stop, stop. Do you know, I don't know, maybe you do know, that you've had 19 billion views of Lucifer. 19 billion? That's quite crazy. That's quite crazy. I know, it's been quite a ride, certainly, and especially since, you know,

we went through a whole thing like halfway through the show after season three, we were cancelled. And so to go from that point to where, we are now to the popularity of the, you know, the show and how it's just become this, this kind of juggernaut, really, for Netflix. It's been, it's been quite the right. So, but, okay, actually, I remember seeing on social media and you were, you were very outspoken. I think they even had you on Newsnight, if I'm right, in the thinking. I know.

Because, because when Fox cancelled it, and then it, and you fought, I mean, you really just said, no, let's, let's not kill off Lucifer. Well, I kind of, I was led by the fans, to be perfectly honest with you. I mean, I found out about the show being cancelled about 24 hours before it was announced to the world. No, you're kidding me. No, and I was in Gabby, I was in Rome, I was having a brilliant time, I was with my mates, and we were at this fan convention. You know, there was a lot of high jinks happening, and all of a sudden I got this phone call, and it was like the air had been just sucked out of the room. And I was like, oh, and so I had to travel back to a lot of.

London and in this sort of 24-hour period I was really kind of, I was really gutted about the whole thing to be honest because I really felt one I just love making the show but also I felt like it had really started to gain popularity and people were really enjoying it. And then I had this kind of

funny feeling that people weren't going to be happy when the news broke but when it did break that's when everything kind of turned around for me mentally as well because the response on social media was just so overwhelming and it went from making me feel good about oh people really like the show to oh my God they still, they want to try and get it continued and we'll try and bring it back. And it was,

it just kind of grew and grew and grew. And I, you know, it's maybe like a couple of days after it was announced. I got a call from Warner Brothers saying, look, they're going to try and find a new home for it because, because they'd sort of taken note of the fan response. And that's when I got myself out to L.A. again to help with that process. And I was at literally at Heathrow airport, leaving for L.A., and Newsnight contacted me saying they wanted me to go on the show to talk about it. And I was like, this is bonkers. This is grown up news now. So it was just, it was one of those unique things. You know, it just doesn't happen a lot. And I, I'm so appreciative to our fans for that moment. And ever since then, it's, it's strange.

It's like they've become sort of shareholders in the show. And it's, you know, it's been a very sort of two-way, two-way relationship. What's so amazing is it, you know, it wasn't really a gamble for Netflix, because they knew that it had been a success. But then it ended up being its biggest acquisition and as I'm going to keep saying it, 19 billion views, which is extraordinary. It really is an extraordinary amount. You're now executive producer. I mean, and you beat all the other shows and the shows that, you know, become part of everybody, you know, stranger things and all the shows that everybody talks about. And that your show that there you were on News Night on the BBC, you were traveling out to LA to save a TV show.

Just, it sort of feels like you should be making a TV show about the redoing of this. It sort of sounds unbelievable. I know it's the truth because I've read it and you've talked about it very openly. But it sort of sounds like, are you sure? Do you see what I mean? It sounds unbelievable. I do, I mean, I would say that like the behind the scenes drama of Lucifer is, you know, has been this kind of like up and down as on the screen.

it's been a show that weirdly, you know, the people at the very sort of creative core of it, we always really loved it and cared about it. And I think there's always that feeling when you're making something that you just want people to feel the same way you do about something. And we find ourselves in

that place now, but it's not been, it wasn't like an instantaneous hit in that, in that regard. It felt like we really had to kind of continue to believe in ourselves when, you know, when the first few seasons came out. But it is I mean, it's so incredibly vindicating, I suppose, as a feeling to have that feeling of like, I really care about this thing. And I think that we're trying to make the best version of this show

that we're doing. And we put so much kind of like passion and heart into it that you do hope that that's reciprocated by an audience. And when it is, it's such a kind of like, it's such a nice feeling. I mean, it's the reason we do it in the first place. It is incredible that now also you're God. God probably has about 9 billion views daily, let's say. Yes. But you're God and you're walking into the final season of this extraordinary mammoth show. Okay.

Actually, I don't want spoilers. Okay. But how does it feel that it's all now over? Oh, my gosh. I do want a little spoiler. Give us a little spoiler. What do I mean? I don't want to say, a little one, a little one.

All I would tease you with it is that we left it at the end that Lucifer has gotten the God job. And then what we find out at the beginning of season six is, you know, he's waiting to start the job. And basically everyone's waiting for him, and it can't start until he goes to his coronation. And Lucifer and, you know, true Lucifer style has been procrastinating about this new role that he has. Because actually deep down, he realizes that maybe he's not the right person for the job. So there's that at play And then we introduce a new character in the final season Who adds a dynamic to Lucifer's life

That we've never explored in the first six seasons And I'll just leave it at that But basically, yeah, it's a really I'd like to think it's a really fitting end Because I felt like our character had gone full circle But in this season he's gone full circle And then there's just a little bit more a story Like I didn't even think about that

So I... Yeah, no, I really like season six And I really like the way we're finished I think, you know, going back to your point about How do I feel? I feel satisfied. That's the difference between... Oh, that's good.

That's the difference between now and three years ago Because three years ago when the show got cancelled I felt gutted because I felt like, it was almost like we were doing the play And the interval had happened And then we came back in and they stopped They'd close the play down. And it was like, oh, but we've got all this story to tell

And now I feel like we've had that opportunity and it's so satisfying, especially in the modern day, you never know if your show is going to carry on or not. And there's this whole kind of cancellation cloud that's, that, you know, sort of looms over TV all the time. To know that you're going to have the end of your story and be able to tell it is really quite satisfying. So that's how I feel. I feel happy and satisfied. That's a lovely way to feel. You don't often hear people saying that. So that's really good to hear. But you've gone straight on to do another show, haven't you, for Netflix players with again my kids so excited because you're working with Jane the Virgin

with Gina Rodriguez um are you taping that at the moment yes we are so I'm I'm literally in New York City at the moment I'm looking over the rooftops of Brooklyn whilst I'm talking to you I know and um yeah we're here it's actually a romantic comedy movie for Netflix so um yeah I've got a few more weeks here and we've had a lot of fun making it and Gina's awesome um and yeah that comes out next year at some point on Netflix. So yeah, I know it's strange kind of like moving into a new job, because it feels like I haven't really done that for six years. And starting the process again of building a character and all that. It's like, oh, I've forgotten me how to do this. No, you haven't.

It's like riding a bike. Yeah, but you've been, you've been, I'm not going to say lucky because that's, you know, you really worked hard to make sure the Lucifer Morningstar carried on. But, But, you know, working with Gina and then Rebel Wilson, we are going to come around to Miranda, of course. Oh, I can hear an aeroplane out there. Rebel Wilson, isn't it romantic? Please tell me that she, even if she wasn't, can you just tell me that she is the most joy to spend time with? Oh, Rebel's hilarious. I only spent a day with her on that job and we sat in, like in between shots, we sat in this little room and this disused hospital together and she just made me laugh.

She is a very funny person. And I was delighted to do that little part in that film. I thought it was great. I wanted to know about that. Let's go. There's so much that I want to talk about. But let's go. We keep talking about Gary.

And as a huge fan of Miranda's and Sarah Hadland, who I've worked with on Talking Pictures, what a joy of a person, Sarah is. And what a show. And it's still. stands up. I don't know if you watch it again. I do. I hope you do. Good. Gabby, I'm just going to tell you right now, why you're talking about this? I've got the hairs on my arm stand up because it is a special, it's such a special point in my life that the whole

Miranda experience. And those people are, you know, they're like family. And they always will be. When we all see each other, it's like we did the reunion show, but in November. And it was, gosh, it was before lockdown now. It's just crazy to think about. But yeah, we did that. And it was like we hadn't, we hadn't all seen each other for years. I hadn't seen a lot of them for a long, long time. And it was, we picked up exactly where we left off. I mean, it's just a really wonderful group of people.

Miranda's just, she's just a very special person. And the show was very special and is very special. And it is one of the extraordinary things that, and I hope you take this as a compliment, because I mean it as a compliment, that you will forever be Gary. I know you're an actor and you are Lucifer and in, you know, I'm not going to say the amount again, in a lot of people's eyes. But you will always as well be Gary. And I hope you take that as a compliment.

Oh, of course I do. I mean, it's, I mean, I feel very lucky that the last sort of two big jobs that I've done really, that people remember me in the character, which is, I guess, again, like part of the job. That's what you want your lasting impression to be. I love that. I mean, Lucy, sorry,

Miranda is, my family love Miranda. Like my kids watch it. It's the only show that my kids will go back and revisit that I'm in, and if watch at all,

to be honest. And my parents love it, my sisters love it. It's just one of those things that it's become sort of a cultural classic in the UK. And I completely get why

with the sensibilities and everything surrounding it. So, you know, being a, a character that people remember from that is very special. Oh, how lovely.

It's interesting you say that your family will like it because all the interviews, when I was doing all my research on you, all the interviews talk about is you playing Lucifer and the fact that your dad, your uncle and your sister are all of the church who are all pastors. And it's quite incredible.

It seems to be the first thing anybody says that you can't, as an actor, you're playing the devil, and yet your family. it's the first thing they all ask you. I know. Well, also, yeah, but you know, a lot of those people are over here in the States. And the States in the UK are very different in how religion is at the forefront of people's consciousness, I would suggest, especially Christianity. So, like, I, it's very, I knew that when I was doing a job called Lucifer in the States that even before the show went out, there would be some people who thought that was a ridiculous, horrible idea, and we should all go to hell. basically for making it.

And what I loved was I knew the show wasn't about that. I knew the show was a great story about redemption. But I also knew that in my back pocket, I had this trump card of like, well, look, I'm from this family of people who really believe the things that you're saying you believe, and they're all cool with it. So, you know, I don't know.

So I sort of used it to my advantage in that sense to kind of calm the sort of the people that really wanted to have a go at this show. It was really interesting that the people that really didn't want the show to happen haven't seen it and when someone sort of tries to ban something that they know nothing about and haven't seen I think that suggests a lot more about those people

than it does about the thing they're trying to ban. That's very interesting. And so it was a whole kind of like sociological experiment in my life of playing this character and being able to kind of defend it with the church. And I have to say like six years later The most satisfying responses I get about the show are from people of faith, who still are people of faith, and watch the show and get a huge amount from it.

Yeah, absolutely. I get notes from ministers and people that have done sermons about it, that use it in their youth groups and, yeah, all sorts of stuff. Because that's the thing. It's like people want to sort of judge a book by its cover before actually looking inside. And this particular show, weirdly, a show about the devil, has promoted a lot of kindness amongst the people that watch it. Kindness is the key.

And actually, that's going back to Miranda. There was Miranda, the show itself and obviously the person, but Miranda the show and Gary, it was all kind. It was kind. There's an innocence about it. And again, I mean that as a compliment because I think there is nothing that we all need more than slight innocence around things.

Well, I think, and it was fun. Like Miranda is just someone who wants to be embraced. the sense of fun, unashamedly, unabashedly, embrace fun and silliness. And how liberating... Exactly. My favourite thing. And not caring about what people think about you and all those things. And, you know, in a sort of, in a very sort of cynical world that's getting hotter and hotter, literally, we're looking more and more for escapism and things that can just kind of like relieve that tension instantaneously.

And something like Miranda and weirdly, Lucifer, you know, has a kind of like big, high. heart at the centre of it and it has sort of unashamedly fun in silly moments. It's like people are looking for that and people, you know, find comfort in that. Exactly. The interesting that everybody always talks about your dad and your uncle and your sister. I know you've got two sisters there. But your mum was a, I might be wrong. Was she a music teacher?

My mum was a music teacher, yeah. Is that where you learnt the French horn? Yeah, I mean, basically my mum, um, We thought it was very important that all of us actually had, you know, tried to learn instruments when we were kids. So I started playing the cornet, weirdly, when I was about four or five years old, moved up to the trumpet. And I think when I was about eight or nine, my mom and dad made an executive decision on my behalf that I should move from the trumpet to the French horn because it would give me more, quote, it would give me, quote, more opportunities. I don't get older. Which always makes me love.

I'm like, where are these opportunities, mum and there? But, yeah, so I grew up playing in like orchestras and all of that sort of stuff. My sister, my elder sister played cell and my twin sister played violin. You know, it was very much part of our background. Music was much more my background than drama. I didn't really stumble across drama until I was late in doing my A-levels. I know, was it a teacher? Was it a particular teacher that said,

It was, yeah. Well, there was two things. My old English teacher from my GCSEs, Claire Pender, who I adore and still is a friend of mine these days, she came to me knowing that I was stuck for a third A-level subject. And she was like, look, I'm running the theatre studies course. I know you've never done it before, Tom. I know you enjoyed English in your GCSEs. But basically, I've got 12 girls and I've got one boy, and I need some boys in the group. And I was like, how many girls is that again? I had really the wrong motives for joining the Piate Studies Group. But basically, I did a couple of lessons of that, and I was like, I really enjoy this. And then she cast me in the school play that year, and a friend of mine's mum who used to be an actress, she came to see it, and she called me up the next day after watching. And she said, I saw you in the play last night.

I really think you should think about going to drama school. And until that moment, I'd never really sort of thought about it or valued myself in that department. And the more of that idea sort of live with me and grew with me over that next year, I decided that's what I wanted to do. And I find myself here today talking to you. It's weird, isn't it? But isn't it wonderful, though?

I mean, it's very interesting the amount of people who talk about how a teacher changed their life and made them suddenly. Those teachers are so, they're so vital, so important. I had the same thing with a teacher at school. and I will never forget her because she helped me she suddenly understood what I wanted to do and you had that as well and even though you didn't see it for yourself

how fantastic and what did your parents say though when you said you're going to do that were they up for that were they were up for that? So my mum and dad went to a parent's evening at my school and it was that teacher Claire that said look I've been with Tom for a while now

and I really think you should let him think about doing this like I think he's got what it takes So they were sort of quietly My parents always are They were quietly supportive They paid for my train fare To get to my auditions But they didn't come with me

If you see what I'm saying Yeah It was really funny Because I always This always reminds me of you Gabby weirdly I remember auditioning for drama schools And getting all the kind of like prospectuses for different drama schools

And they've always got like black and white photos Of the Illuminae of each drama school And you went Did you go to Guilford GSI? Yeah I did Yeah I did Yeah, for some reason, always stuck with me

because your photo was in the back of that perspective as I called the previous students. Well, I didn't know that. Gabby Rosley went to Guilford. I'd like to go there. I like Gabby. Did you know what? Drama's got, there is, it was the most wonderful time.

But I was the sort of the freak there because everybody said they wanted to be at the RSU and the National in movies. But yeah, I'd like to do live Saturday morning telly. And they go, what? Did you know that then? Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I hear it from very young age. But so your, so the instruments, though, has stayed with you, though, of course, because if you go on YouTube, there are many, many videos of you singing with your guitar. Yeah, Rag and Bowman, I was watching you being human. Yeah, it's lovely. It's weird. I mean, again, that's a sort of, that's a skill that I've kind of worked on whilst doing Lucifer because I was downtime in my trailer and stuff.

That's how I amused myself. And the show, it's, it's so, and again, you'll appreciate this, Gabby. Like, when you train in the UK to be an actor, you either trained to be a serious, you know, straight, dramatic actor, or you train to the musical theatre. Yes, yeah. And there's no kind of like middle, there doesn't seem to be any middle ground there. And you either go on one path or the other path. And I obviously went down the, you know, straight, serious, dramatic acting route,

left music behind. And didn't think I'd ever was a singer. I mean, I used to sing in church and growing up, and I love singing, but it was never something that I thought was my main skill. And then weirdly, you know, years later, this show, Lutuioa comes along. And we went out for like a social in our first season of cheating, and we went to a karaoke bar. And the showrunners heard me singing,

and they decided that they wanted to put it in the show. So that's how that came about. And then it's kind of made me fall back in love with singing. And I now feel like a musical, is something I'd love to do as opposed to something I couldn't do. But if they do the commitments again, you could join in with that

because if the rumours are true that your karaoke song of choice is Mustang Sally. This is indeed true. And could be verified by several people and lots of people have been to various weddings over the years. You do it at weddings as well? Oh my God, there's always a point. If there's a live band and there's booze,

there's always a point at which I think it's a good idea or someone else thinks it's a good idea that I can see it. I will get you to sing on this because Michael Ball has sung on this and Luke Evans has sung on this. Oh, lovely Luke. Yeah, no pressure. Talking of lovely people, you were also, you trained with James McAvoy, didn't you? Lovely James McAvoy. Yeah, we'd be mates for years. We started when we were 18 together at drama school and then lived together for years. He's still a really close friend of mine.

He's a lovely guy. Isn't it? Did you two sing together? I think we must have sung together in drama school a little bit. James has got a good voice. James has got a not, he hasn't utilised it much, but he's got a very good singing voice as old Jamesie. Do you know, I've worked out what you two can do together.

What? Musical. When they do the greatest showman, the musical. You'd be good in that, and so would James. Oh, my kids would love that. There we go Right, I've just cast it That's you, yes

Yeah No, I did I quite enjoyed watching the greatest showman Yeah, no, that would be a lot of fun But sharing the stage with James again Would be an absolute joy Because he is phenomenal as an actor But especially on stage

He is fantastic Do you want to go back and do stage work as well then? I mean, you're in New York at the moment So, you know, Broadway, West End, that's what everybody aspires to. But would you go back and do theatre? I mean, aren't you too busy with movies and TV? Well, I mean, I am thankfully busy,

but at the same time, the reason I fell in love with acting in the first place was through the theatre. And that experience of being in theatre is something you don't, it's not replicated on a movie or TV set. The live feeling of theatre is just unique. And for me, you know, I feel like it's rehab for acting. Because if you spend a lot of time on TV sets and movie sets,

you can get into habits and things. And I just think like the rehearsal room and just then the experience of like the thing being alive and growing every night and changing and adapting. I just think it's just the most wonderful experience. So, you know, for sure, I definitely want to go back to the theatre. So how long are you, so are you just in New York while you're taping players? Is that? Yes.

And then do you go back to L.A.? Go back to L.A. Yeah, and then I don't know, what's next after that at the moment? I'm going to take a bit of time to sort of have a little thing and see what's out. Oh, no, I wasn't asking that. Sorry, no, I wasn't asking that.

I didn't mean what, what's you doing next? I'd never ask that. But what I meant was about being on Broadway because you're there in New York. And it's, is, our theatre's open again on Broadway? They're just about to start opening again, yeah. So I think lots of productions are in rehearsals at the moment to open, like, I think next week, actually.

if not already. So it's a strange one because everything feels like it's geared to be up and running and there's still that kind of like what's happening in the world because of the Delta variant. Everyone's like just got that whole not sureness going on

which seems to be existing everywhere right now. I know. But it was, I mean it was a very weird old 18 months. Of course your kids are over here in the UK so that must be very difficult as well not being able to fly in and out. It was horrible. I mean I, my,

I, you know, I spend a lot of time on aeroplanes back and forth, try to see my family and keep it all going. And when COVID hit, it made it an already sort of tricky situation much more difficult. So, yeah, that side of it personally was horrible. But I've been able to thankfully spend lots of time with them recently. And they've just been out in New York with me, which was lovely. Oh, how nice. Yeah.

So, yes, they got to experience the lovely hot, humid New York summer. Oh, no, but listen, we've had one. winter throughout. I'm no summer here, but also New York, I find New York one of the most exciting places. California, yes, for the weather, New York, for the whole, the feeling on the streets of New York. It's sort of inexplainable, inexplicable, that's word. Yeah, no, it is. It's got, it's just an energy here that exists that is certainly unique in America. You know, from everywhere I've been in the States, this is, I would say, the most like London. in terms of an energy.

But it's just, it is unique New York. Do you remember that tongue-twister? Yes. Unique New York. So what is life like living in L.A.? Is it everything that we all imagine it to be, all the people who haven't done it? Because I think we, it is.

Is it so busy? Is it sunny all the time? It's sunny all the time. There's definitely that. I mean, I think climate is a huge reason where people love being there. It is the epicentre of the entertainment industry, which is both good and bad, I would say,

because unlike a city like New York or London where there's lots and lots of people here and they've all got dreams and aspirations, and it feels like in LA there's lots and lots of people there with one dream and one aspiration, and it's all the same one. And so there's this kind of innate competitiveness that just simmers away under the surface.

but if you're there and you're working and things are working out for you yeah it's fantastic but it's it it's not ingrained in my heart in the same way that london is for example but you say there's competitiveness are you a competitive person are you able to handle it or are you competitive yourself oh i think i'm competitive to a certain degree but not like when it comes to working not particularly um i have been over the years and i've gotten you know that's been a learning process for me as well, because you're always kind of like, or I was always comparing myself to other people's success.

And I had a kind of like epiphany moment, I think like in my 20s at some point where I was like, hold on, it's not about everyone else. This is about my journey and stop trying to replicate other people's journeys and, you know, embrace my uniqueness and all of those sort of things. But it's hard to do because you work in an industry where you're consistently turned down and you're wondering, why not me, why them?

So, you know, it's a strange. So what keeps you going through that? I've always kind of, well, I mean, I've been, I've had enough success in my career to keep me going. And certainly, you know, at this point now I feel like I think that I'm going to work again after this job. Is there always that feeling for it? I think there's no doubt, yeah, yeah. But actors, you know, no matter how successful actors are, they've always got that thing deep down. and then I'm ever going to work again?

But I think, you know, I've had enough success to kind of warrant the fact that this is my career now. And also, I just love it. You know, that's the thing. I really, really enjoy the job that I do. And, yeah, I don't know. It seems to be paying off at the moment. That's good. I like that.

I like that you feel that. And it's actually the fact that you're remitting that in the past you let it get. to you and that you were competitive and you didn't understand it, that for all the actors that listen to this and think, I'll never get to that stage, of course you can, of course you can. You have to believe, don't you? What's interesting you're talking about Luke,

because Luke Evans and I had a chat a couple of years ago about it. And, you know, things happened relatively later on for Luke as well. And, you know, if he'd given up when the chips were down earlier in his career, he wouldn't be the person he is and where he is now in his career. And someone like Michael Fastbender the same, you know. It's really interesting how these things, you know, you've got to maintain that belief in yourself and you've got to continue getting better. I think that's the other thing. You know, you've got to be open to like not being, there's no kind of end game with acting.

It's just trying it better. And like age does that for you anyway, I would suggest, an experience outside of acting. But just, you know, as an artist and performer, just want to keep going and. getting better and improving. That's such a lovely, that's a great way to look at it though as well. You see, do you know what?

You sound much, I, because I interviewed such a long time ago, but, but you sound like you really chilled. It's such a weak way of describing it, but it's as if you know who you, who you are and what you are and what you want to do.

And you found a sort of a really, you said that you feel satisfied with the ending of Lucifer. Now it's finished. It's sort of that you, sound really grounded and very calm about life. Oh, thanks, Gabby. Do you feel that? I do.

I mean, I think there's, yeah, and I think maybe part of that has come out of this process of, like, seeing something from beginning, middle, and end to write through. And that does feel satisfying. And it feels like maybe for a long time in my career, I felt like I had so much to prove to people. And I just wanted that opportunity to prove myself. and I don't feel like that's burning away at me so much anymore. And I feel like, I don't know,

I feel like I've maybe sort of slowly gathered the respect of my peers. And that's kind of made me go, oh, okay, I feel like I belong now. How wonderful. Also, that you said you're not competitive anymore. I'm going to just say one word. And I think you may be competitive when it comes to golf. Oh, okay, yeah, definitely. Yeah, you see, you see the truth will out.

Oh, yes. I've had a little hiatus from golfing. I didn't bring my clubs to New York. And I'm really missing it. I love golf so much. I love it. It's just, I mean, it's something I've always loved, but obviously during lockdown, I found myself in a position where I couldn't get back to the UK to see my kids.

I couldn't go to work. The only thing I could do was play golf. And for the first time in my life, I could kind of play golf guilt-free without thinking I've got to be somewhere. And so I just kind of like got really into it and honed on my skills and maybe got a little bit obsessed. But yeah, and I do. That's my happy place on the golf course. And are you competitive on the golf course?

Have you actually played any proper games of golf now? I would tell you that, oh yeah, for sure. I mean, someone who I play with a lot now is Dennis Haysbert, who plays God in season five of Lucifer. Oh, wow. A hugely keen golfer. And so we play a lot and we are very competitive with each other. And the language is very... We're quite evenly matched actually, so it's very up and down.

It's like, depends who's playing best on the day. So that's what I like about it. But, yeah, that was, again, another kind of, like gift that came with the casting of Dennis. He's just turned into one of my biggest golfing buddies, which is great. Do you know, you do see the headline now, golf... sorry, God versus the devil on the golf course. On the golf course. And they're evenly matched, Lucifer and God.

There, love it. So on this podcast, we always ask everybody what makes them truly belly laugh. What makes you laugh a lot? Apart from falling over with Miranda, what makes you properly laugh? Honestly, my kids. Like, I mean, all my kids make me laugh.

Nora and Flo won't mind me saying that Marnie, my youngest, is essentially a stand-up comedian. Really? Oh my God, Marnie's nine years old now, and she has always been hilarious. And not just like hilarious, silly, but like witty. And I can see her humor developing and stuff. She just makes me laugh so much.

And just like calls me out and heckles me. She's really funny. So I'd say my children. Do you think they're going to be following you and their mummies into this industry as well? It sort of feels slightly like they're going to. I mean, all of my kids have got elements of performance that they're fantastic at and that if they wanted to do it, I would not stand in their way at all. I'm not going to be a pushy stage dad,

but at the same time, I'm not going to be the person saying, oh, no, I definitely wouldn't let them come into this industry because they're all really gifted in their own different. ways. So I would be surprised if one of the three don't, you know, follow in the footsteps. I think by the sounds of it might be Marnie. It may well be. Watch this face. Just the giggle itself gives it away that she makes you laugh and I love that. Laughing is the best medicine. Listen, good luck with all of it. I really, I do mean it. And as I said, you sound in a really good place. And if you're ever inclined, okay,

Can you, because I say this every time I see Sarah Hadland, who as I said I love, can you just drop a good word in with Miranda and say that we would all like a Christmas special? Oh, I will. I will. We'll do a phone call, actually, so I'll let it be known. Okay, thank you very much. It's funny. We always say never, say never on that show. There is still, you know, there's maybe things we can explore about those characters still later in their lives. So, watch this space. Yes! I'm going to take that as a yes. I'm going to take it as a yes. I'm going to have Miranda on the phone going,

what did you say to Gabby Roslyn? I'm going to email her now and say, oh, Tom's just said. Fantastic news. What good news. Anyway, listen, you take good care. Carry on enjoying your filming. And thank you so much for chatting.

It's really lovely to speak to you. You too. Thanks so much. Thank you so much for listening. Coming up next week, Ben Miller. That Gabby Roslyn podcast is proudly produced by Camie Productions. Music by Beth McCari. Could you please tap the follow or subscribe button? And thanks so much for your amazing reviews. We honestly read every single one and they mean

the world to us. Thank you so much.