Luke Thompson, best known for playing Benedict Bridgerton in the Netflix hit Bridgerton, has spoken about his career, extreme audience reactions to A Little Life, and his upcoming Royal Shakespeare Company debut. The 35-year-old actor, who trained at Rada and grew up in France, is currently rehearsing for Love’s Labour’s Lost at the RSC.
Thompson recently won a WhatsOnStage award and was nominated for an Olivier for his role in A Little Life, opposite James Norton. He described the recognition as 'a lovely cherry on the cake' and said it was 'incredibly meaningful' to be acknowledged for his work. The play, which features graphic content, prompted extreme audience reactions, including fainting and vomiting. Thompson recalled an incident where a person projectile vomited in the dress circle, causing a chain reaction of retching. He speculated that the rise in fainting incidents post-pandemic might be partly self-perpetuating, as audiences come expecting shocking material.
On working with James Norton, Thompson praised his co-star for keeping things simple and avoiding unnecessary embellishment in performances. He also discussed his RSC debut in Love’s Labour’s Lost, directed by Emily Burns, which reimagines the play in a modern context inspired by billionaire tech entrepreneurs. Thompson noted that the play explores themes of self-improvement and the struggle to distinguish reality from artifice in an online world.
Thompson addressed the issue of West End ticket prices, arguing that theatre should be more accessible and serve a societal function. He warned against theatre becoming an 'echo chamber' for a small elite and emphasised the importance of bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to share ideas.
With Bridgerton series three imminent, Thompson revealed that his character Benedict faces a turning point as he tries to determine what he truly wants. He described Benedict as a 'modern character' who is paralysed by choice and searching for meaning, despite his carefree exterior. When asked if the new series is as sexy as ever, Thompson confirmed that it remains true to Julia Quinn’s romance novels.
