Russell Tovey teases Looking reboot
10 years on, is the time right to check in on those beloved characters?
Russell Tovey is an actor who always has my attention, but he's recently revealed that the casting on Looking - a high-water mark for queer television - nearly went in a different direction.
It's 10 years since Looking hit our screens and Tovey has been reflecting on how he was initially auditioned for the central role of Patrick - played by Jonathan Groff.
“I remember there was two days where I knew it was between me and Jonathan Groff...” explained Tovey. “And I would go in with a Ritchie or I’d go in with a Dom or whatever and then he’d go in with all the others and it’d be back and forth.”
Eventually, it was Groff who scored the part.
“I found out via Twitter that I hadn’t got the role because they put it out online and I was having a wee in the middle of the night...” recounted Tovey.
But the good news was that all was not lost for Tovey in relation to this production created by Andrew Haigh.
“I remember [Andrew] saying to me ‘If it goes to series [after the pilot] we’ll write you in...'” recalled Tovey.
Tovey appears in the series as Kevin - the emotionally unavailable love-interest for Patrick.
But is there seriously any prospect of a reboot?
“I was begging [Andrew Haigh], saying, ‘Come on, let’s just have a special and come back,’ and he didn’t seem completely closed off to it..." Tovey said in media interviews. "So, who knows?”
Who is Russell Tovey?
Born in 1981 Essex, Tovey has been acting from a young age.
It was his role in the stage production of The History Boys that got Tovey a lot of attention - he originated the role of Rudge in Alan Bennett's play. Tovey toured internationally with the production and also appeared in the film adaptation.
Since then, Tovey has carved out an impressive career and always seems to be an in-demand actor.
Personal Life
Tovey has publicly discussed his sexuality throughout his career - he identifies as a gay man.
Current projects
Tovey has recently been on our screens in the British comedy series, Juice.
He also appears in the latest instalment in Ryan Murphy's Feud anthology.
FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans is an eight-episode series based on Laurence Leamer's book, Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era.
Tovey plays John O'Shea - Truman Capote's boyfriend. Capote will be played by Tom Hollander. The cast also includes Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Demi Moore, Chloe Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, and Molly Ringwald.
