The craft of acting is no easy feat. With a single appearance, actors must portray a variety of personalities, delve into the minds of villains and heroes, and immerse themselves in their characters’ ideologies. This demands immense concentration and talent. Few young actors gain fame in their youth, but Tom Blyth is one of them. Though his filmography isn’t extensive, his roles have already become unforgettable. More on ibirmingham.
Talent in the Bloodline
Tom Blyth was born in Birmingham on 2 February 1995. As a child, he moved with his family to the Nottingham suburb of Woodthorpe. Growing up in a modest household, Blyth’s family wasn’t wealthy, but they also didn’t face significant hardship. His father, Gavin Blyth, was a renowned producer best known for the British soap opera Emmerdale and his involvement in Coronation Street. Sadly, Gavin Blyth passed away from cancer in 2010 when Tom was just 15.
Tom received his basic education at Arnold Hill Academy and Bilborough College. As a child, he moved several times and lived for a period in North Yorkshire. His mother, a career counsellor, worked extensively. After his father’s death, Tom’s grandmother took on much of his upbringing. She instilled in him a love for stories, reading him tales about outlaws and cowboys.
Gavin Blyth was the first to notice Tom’s acting talent, offering him early advice. However, it was his mother who enrolled him in the Television Workshop. From there, he joined the National Youth Theatre. Once he embarked on his acting journey, Tom began dreaming of New York and Juilliard. In 2020, he realised his dream and graduated from the prestigious school.
“Benediction”
2010 marked the start of Blyth’s acting career with small roles in Robin Hood and Pelican Blood. The latter, an independent and unconventional film, premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival. In 2018, Blyth starred in Scott and Sid, a semi-autobiographical story about the film’s creators, Scott Elliott and Sid Sadowskyj, alongside Richard Mason.
The 2022 film Benediction became a turning point in Blyth’s career. The film explores the complex life of Siegfried Sassoon, a British poet and World War I veteran known for his anti-war stance, which led to his internment in a psychiatric hospital. Blyth portrayed Glen Byam Shaw, delivering a poignant performance in this challenging role.
Billy the Kid
In April 2022, the first season of the Western series Billy the Kid premiered, telling the story of the notorious outlaw of the American Wild West during the 19th century. Filming took place in Calgary, Canada, and the eight-episode season followed Billy’s transformation from Henry McCarty, a New York immigrant’s son, to the most elusive outlaw of his time.
The series depicted the struggles of Billy’s Irish immigrant family as they moved westward in pursuit of a better life. Tragedy struck as his father and brother succumbed to illness, and his mother’s second marriage ended in misery. After her death, Henry turned to a life of crime, becoming the legendary Billy the Kid. Despite his efforts to remain law-abiding, circumstances drove him to flee from sheriffs and embrace his fate as a gunslinger.
Blyth quickly secured the role of Billy and undertook extensive training for the part, including horseback riding, gun tricks, and marksmanship. His portrayal won viewers’ sympathy and admiration for the character’s complex journey.
Coriolanus Snow
In 2008, Suzanne Collins released The Hunger Games, followed by two sequels. The series introduced a dystopian future where the remnants of America, known as Panem, were divided into 12 districts. Each year, the Capitol held the Hunger Games, a brutal event featuring tributes from each district as punishment for a past rebellion.
President Coriolanus Snow ruled over Panem. While little was revealed about his backstory in the original trilogy, a prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, published in 2020, delved into his origins. It portrayed Snow’s rise from a poverty-stricken orphan grappling with post-war struggles to a powerful, ruthless leader. Initially, readers empathised with the young Snow, especially due to his relationship with Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12. However, his transformation into a cold and calculating ruler evoked mixed emotions by the end.
The prequel also explored the origins of the Hunger Games, showcasing how they evolved into the macabre spectacle seen in the original series. Snow played a pivotal role in transforming the deadly battles into an entertainment extravaganza.
For Blyth, playing Snow required emotional depth rather than physical prowess. Through his performance, complemented by his appearance, including a white wig, he convincingly conveyed Snow’s evolution from a vulnerable youth to a cynical dictator. Blyth starred alongside Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, and others in the film adaptation.