Meet Tom Francis, the Bloodstained Beefcake of Broadway’s Sunset Boulevard

Tom Francis is several months into his Broadway debut in Jamie Lloyd’s hypermodern, retina-burning revival of the classic Sunset Boulevard, but he has already assembled a long list of shows he’d like to tackle next. Among them, he told Jeremy O. Harris earlier this month, is Dogfight, Company, Merrily We Roll Along and, maybe one day, a revival of Rent, because why not? But first, the 25-year-old, who won the Olivier Award and has now earned a Tony nomination for his seductive, stripped back turn as the striving Joe Gillis, is soaking up the accolades alongside his fellow first-time nominee, co-star Nicole Scherzinger. “I’m realizing how much this job has given me,” Francis said the morning after nominations were announced. Dripping in fake blood, he found a rare moment alone in his dressing room to take it all in. “I got a bit emotional after the show because it was just so loving and amazing last night. The audience was just generous, and it got me a little bit.” Below, he and Harris talk about getting swole, selling sweaty T-shirts (for charity, of course), and the pressures of reviving an iconic production.

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JEREMY O. HARRIS: Tom, you’re here. 

TOM FRANCIS: Hello.

HARRIS: You muted yourself again.

FRANCIS: Oh, hang on. That’s better. How are you?

HARRIS: Good. Babe, welcome to the Tony Nominee Club.

FRANCIS: What the hell?

HARRIS: It’s crazy. Did you cry?

FRANCIS: Yeah, I did cry a little bit. I cried when I was on my own at the end of the day.

HARRIS: It’s so wild to me that you would cry because you already have an Olivier. What made the Tony feel special?

FRANCIS: To do this on my first job, I’m realizing how much this job has given me. I got a bit emotional after the show because it was just so loving and amazing last night. The audience was just generous, and it got me a little bit.

HARRIS: What were some of the surprises from last night?

FRANCIS: Well, I can’t believe I got a cheer when I got out of the body bag.

HARRIS: You did?

FRANCIS: Yeah. That felt really special. There was so much energy in the room last night.

HARRIS: I adore that. I’m thinking about the audience and their hunger for you, and that cheer that happened, and I do have to tell you that when I was back in L.A., a friend of mine was like, “I need you to tell him that I’m the person that paid $7,000 for his t-shirt in the auction.” I guess you guys sold your t-shirt one night?

FRANCIS: Yeah. We’ve done it a few nights for the BC/EFA and the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

HARRIS: I think in his mind, he’s paid the most. I’m not sure if that’s true.

FRANCIS: He’s definitely up there. Someone came in and the bid was seven-and-a-half, eight. Then they paid an extra two-a-half on top because they thought it was a good charity. So it was like ten-and-a-half or something.

HARRIS: Whoa. For your sweaty T-shirt. Have you had crazier fans in New York or London?

FRANCIS: I would say that the more random stuff happened in London.

HARRIS: For real?

FRANCIS: Yeah. The cutest story is in London. There was a homeless guy who set up camp outside the front of The Savoy every single night. I used to take him food and stuff and chat with him, and I ended up building up this relationship with him. He used to, every single night, shout down the Strand, “He’s coming. Everybody, be quiet.” I thought that that was the sweetest thing in the world. I formed this relationship with this guy, like he was another person in the show. I just thought he was adorable. I only found out afterwards.

HARRIS: Wow. That’s insane. I also wanted to hear more about your relationship to Jamie [Lloyd], because this is the person that helped give you a platform to share your immense gifts to the world. What was that first meeting like?

FRANCIS: In the first audition, I was pretty nervous. He’s such a prolific director and I wanted to do a good job. He really championed me and believed in me in so many ways. I mean, this opportunity has completely changed my life. I owe a lot to him for trusting me, and letting me work with him on this project, because it’s a tough part. It’s a lot of singing. He’s been instrumental in helping guide me through everything that’s happened. I owe him a lot.

HARRIS: How old is the character in the story, and how old are you? Because when I imagine this story, it’s a man much older than you. 

FRANCIS: Yeah, but that’s why it makes it more heartbreaking, the fact that Joe’s completely and utterly over the industry at such a young age. I’m 25, and I believe our Joe’s around the same age.

HARRIS: One of the great revelations in this production is the youth that both you and Nicole have. The fact that everyone’s treating Nicole like she’s ancient, and you’re washed up. Yet you guys both have much more life and potential inside of you. It reveals the true heartbreaking nature of Sunset Boulevard in a radical way. 

FRANCIS: He’s getting turned down, left, right and center. In this industry, you get many no’s before you get yeses. To get to that point where he’s already questioning it at such a young age, it’s fun to play on. The fact that Nicole is an incredibly beautiful woman, and so youthful, it makes that story much more brutal.

HARRIS: I 100% agree. When I saw it, I was so immediately taken aback. It was Disney in a way, but in absolutely the right way. The minute that you are doing that opening number and driving in that car, it becomes a full-tilt IMAX movie. It gagged me unlike anything else.

FRANCIS: It’s always wild to see the audience’s reaction. That video screen is operating at 3% brightness, because if they went any higher it would burn people’s retinas. That screen is so unbelievably bright, so whenever it’s on you can see so much of the audience. In my periphery, I can see their jaws just drop.

HARRIS: And the reason their jaws are dropping isn’t just because of the spectacle of that screen coming down. It’s the awe you get from seeing someone who has an actual leading-man, cinematic face. What does it feel like to be making that transition now, from theater actor to movie star, because you’re in the new season of You and you’re about to be in this huge Peter Berg movie [The Mosquito Bowl]?

FRANCIS: I’m so excited about it. I’ve done a bit of TV and film stuff, and it’s such a distant cousin to the stage stuff that I’ve done. I love the stuff that Pete Berg does. I love the way that he shoots it. And I’m excited to learn from him, really, because he’s got much fucking wisdom in his mind that he can just impart on me while shooting. The other guys in the film are so talented. I’m excited to pick their brains and figure out what that looks like for me.

HARRIS: There are so many movies I can see you doing.

FRANCIS: You need to write one for me, Jeremy.

HARRIS: I have an idea, but you might be too busy. I remember my agent was talking about the boy that he had just signed from London. This Tom Francis, how he was the next big superstar. I went from being the apple in my agent’s eye to watching you become the apple of his eye. What has it been like navigating America? Most people come to New York with a suitcase and $5 in their pocket. You came with a steady job, and with this fun, integrated agent as one of the people to help you navigate it all.

FRANCIS: It’s been a ride, for sure. New York is quite fun. Going on trips with John has been perfect because I’m a country boy at heart, and John’s an outdoor guy, so we go on little fishing trips. I go upstate for the weekend and see him and get some fresh air and not have to hear a siren for the first time in a few months. He’s really taken me under his wing, and I appreciate him so much for that.

HARRIS: How many states have you been to in America?

FRANCIS: Two.

HARRIS: New York and Connecticut?

FRANCIS: Three, then, ‘cause I’ve been to Washington D.C. as well.

HARRIS: Wait, so you haven’t even been to the West Coast yet?

FRANCIS: No. I’ve not been yet.

HARRIS: So you’ve never seen actual Sunset Boulevard?

FRANCIS: No. I’ve been too busy, man. But Nicole lives off Sunset Boulevard, so I think I’m going to go out to see her at some point.

HARRIS: People who have these big successes on Broadway immediately get attacked by Hollywood and get pulled away. Then you don’t see them on stage again.

FRANCIS: I’m definitely going back on Broadway.

HARRIS:  I want you to have the Broadway marquee name that Jonathan Groff has, or Jeremy Jordan. These boys that, when normal theater people see them in a show, they buy a ticket no matter what. I heard your voice and I was like, “He’s the new gen.”

FRANCIS: I grew up listening to them. That would be a dream come true. Denzel Washington always says, “You have to always go back to the theater.” I want to follow the kind of thing that he’s done, go and dip your toe in the film world and then come back to the theater.

HARRIS: Denzel’s dipped more than a toe in. What are the shows  we can line up for you right now that’ll keep you there?

FRANCIS: I wanted to do Dogfight. I want to do Company. I’m upset that Merrily’s just happened because that’s my favorite show of all time.

HARRIS: Oh, yeah. You’re a big Sondheim freak.

FRANCIS: I love Sondheim. And I would love to do Rent.

HARRIS: Rent is one that we desperately need to come back. I don’t understand how we haven’t had a proper revival of Rent in a long time.

FRANCIS: It’s wild.

HARRIS: David Cromer apparently did a really cool production of it in Chicago.

FRANCIS: I think we should hook it up. I would also love to do Lungs.

HARRIS: Lungs, the play?

FRANCIS: Yeah.

HARRIS: What is up with that play and British people? You know who else wants to do that play?

FRANCIS: Who?

HARRIS: Paul Mescal.

FRANCIS: Maybe we’ll do it together.

HARRIS: Oh, that’s hot. I love that.

FRANCIS: It’s a brilliant play. And then, probably in 15 years, a revival of Slave Play.

HARRIS: Oh, shut up. Don’t do that. That’s crazy and very kind. You know my favorite musical is Jesus Christ Superstar?

FRANCIS: I’d love to do that part. That’s my main go-to audition song.

HARRIS: It is? So you’re a Judas. 

FRANCIS: [Laughs] Yeah.

HARRIS: Are you sleeping enough?

FRANCIS: I’m sleeping so much. I’m going to the gym a lot. Do you know Alex Fine? I’ve been going to the gym with him a lot recently.

HARRIS: I adore him. He’s amazing. He’s married to Cassie.

FRANCIS: Yeah.

HARRIS: Maybe I’ll go to the gym with you guys. I feel like when I met you, you were just becoming a gym person.

FRANCIS: Yeah, I was. And now I’m obsessed.

HARRIS: How did you become obsessed?

FRANCIS: I think it’s just the way it makes you feel. It’s like having a cold shower. It’s something that you know is going to wake you up, but it’s not going to be enjoyable. It stimulates you in a different way. Also, it’sthe one time I can completely turn off my fucking phone and just listen to some music and chill out. 

HARRIS: I love that. You’re the best.

FRANCIS: Thank you for your time.

HARRIS: Are you going out tonight?

FRANCIS: No. I went out last night, man. Now I’m dialing in because we’ve got to show up.

HARRIS: You’ve got to show up and show out.

FRANCIS: Show up and show out. All right then, my love.

HARRIS: Love you.