PLAYING THE LONG GAME

In a world of Instafame, influencers and overwrought celebrity, Tom Hughes is a refreshing anomaly. Unfazed by the glittery appeal of stardom or the hype of social media, the 34-year-old acknowledges that he belongs in a bygone era and pines for a simpler time. His unaffected nature can perhaps be attributed to his down-to-earth upbringing in Chester, where he spent his youth “trapped in music and climbing trees and playing football”. A passionate musician first and foremost, his desire to act was ignited almost accidentally after unexpectedly landing a stint in a school play. He would go on to spend his Friday nights commuting to and from youth theatre in Liverpool before studying at RADA, which helped him secure several important parts, including the BBC drama The Game and Ricky Gervais’s film Cemetery Junction. The role for which he has become most renowned, however, is that of Prince Albert, whom he channels expertly in the popular ITV period drama series Victoria. It’s a part loaded with responsibility and expectation, but three years in, he’s found his groove.

Hughes has a lot on his plate. In his latest role, he stars alongside Dame Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson in Red Joan, a spy drama inspired by the story of KGB