Tom Ellis Reveals How He Ended Up On “Tell Me Lies” With Wife Meaghan Oppenheimer
Tom Ellis, best known for his role in Lucifer, has taken on a new challenge by joining his wife Meaghan Oppenheimer’s hit show Tell Me Lies. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the 45-year-old actor revealed that despite his close connection to the show’s creator, he never planned on being part of the series.
According to him, he has “been very much there since the start of the show.” However, he said that he did not envision being in the show at first.
It wasn’t until Meaghan, 38, began planning season two that the possibility of Tom joining the cast came up.
According to the actor, it was when his wife “started thinking about season two, and what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go with the characters, she had talked about [a certain] type of relationship being something that she wanted to explore. And then casually started saying, ‘Do you think you’d be interested in doing it?'”
Though unsure at first, Tom admits he became quietly excited as the idea became more serious. “…When they officially asked me, I was very much ready to jump on board.”
In the new season, Tom plays Oliver, a mysterious and cold professor whose storyline is being kept under wraps for now. But unlike many actors, Tom didn’t have to audition for the role.
“They didn’t [make me audition], thankfully. I think Meaghan’s seen enough of my stuff to realize that I’m probably capable of doing it,” he shared.
This isn’t the first time Tom and Meaghan have worked together. The pair previously collaborated briefly on Queen America in 2018, and Tom revealed it was surprisingly easy to separate their personal and professional lives.
“It’s never been a problem for us, really. I think we have a huge amount of respect for each other creatively. And I think she’s really, really talented at what she does,” he said.
The couple, who share an 8-month-old daughter named Dolly, have found a balance between work and family life that makes their collaboration feel natural. I know a few people have gone, ‘What’s it like working with your wife? That must be strange.’ It’s like, well, actually, it’s strange that it isn’t strange,” Tom stated further.
Though excited to join Tell Me Lies, Tom admitted he had some nerves, especially being one of only two new cast members, alongside Gossip Girl alum Thomas Doherty. “To come and join something always feels a little bit like a gamble, but with this one, I was just really keen to join it because I just felt it was so good,” he explained, adding, “And if I could join something and continue to be impactful — to be additive as opposed to just joining for just another character — I felt that it was a really good opportunity.”
Tom’s new role as Oliver posed a unique challenge for him. “He’s a much colder character than I’ve played in the past. And for me it was about working out how to desensitize myself a little bit and approach someone who really doesn’t give much away,” he revealed.
