From Hell to Heaven: Tom Ellis on Playing Godcat in 'Exploding Kittens' After Lucifer

Tom Ellis Has Gone From the Devil to… a Feline God?

Tom Ellis is no stranger to biblical roles. After six seasons as the charming Lord of Hell in Lucifer, the Welsh actor has now ascended to the heavens—albeit in a very different form. In Netflix's animated series Exploding Kittens, based on the wildly popular card game, Ellis voices God himself, who gets fired from his cosmic gig and reincarnated as a chubby house cat. Yes, you read that right.

Speaking exclusively about the role, Ellis admitted the transition felt natural. “When this job came around, I was like, ‘Well, I’ve just played the Devil. Do you think people will find it strange that I’m playing God?’ But the artwork and the concept were just too fun to pass up.” He added that his real-life background—as the son of a pastor—probably helped more than his previous demonic portrayal. “Growing up in the church gave me a different perspective,” he said.

How Tom Ellis Found His God Voice

For the voice of the Almighty, Ellis sought authority and bombast. Inspiration struck from an unexpected source: British acting legend Charles Dance. “I had just worked with Charles Dance, who’s got this incredible, intimidating voice. I found myself impersonating him—not in a mean way, but I was fascinated. Then Exploding Kittens called, and I thought, ‘If I voice God, he’s going to sound a bit like Charles.’” The result is a commanding yet slightly pompous deity who has clearly lost touch with his flock.

The Loneliness (and Liberation) of Voice Work

Recording an entire season of animation was a new experience for Ellis. “It was lonely at first, going into a booth alone and doing lines. But the more I did it, the more liberated I felt. I found myself going bonkers in there—making strange noises, trying different deliveries. I wish I’d filmed myself for content!” Unlike live-action, where you feed off other actors, animation requires imagination and trust in the final edit. “The showrunners were with me in sessions, so I knew if something landed. They wrote some really fun lines, so I could just play.”

His Kids Were the First to Tell Him About the Card Game

When the project was first offered, Ellis admitted he didn’t know about the Exploding Kittens card game. “I asked my kids, ‘Have you heard of Exploding Kittens?’ They were like, ‘Dad, it’s huge!’” Suddenly the stakes were higher. “I hope everyone who loves the game will tune in. It’s nice to do something my kids can actually watch—unlike some other projects where I’m naked.”

God and the Devil: Frenemies in Fur

In the series, Godcat and Devilcat (voiced by Sasheer Zamata) are archrivals forced to cohabitate as household pets. Ellis loved the dynamic. “They’re meant to hate each other, but secretly they really enjoy each other’s company. God keeps reminding himself he doesn’t like the Devil because he finds them alluring. It’s a fun take that underneath the rivalry, they’re actually good mates.”

Ellis also praised the show’s ability to find humor in existential questions. “Humans are fascinated by good versus evil. God and the Devil are the manifestation of that. It’s the oldest story, and we keep reinventing it.”

From Animated Cats to Dark Drama: Joining Tell Me Lies Season 2

Ellis is also venturing into new territory with Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, created by his wife, Meaghan Oppenheimer. After sitting out season one, Ellis joins season two as a mysterious new character. “Meaghan wanted to explore different relationship dynamics, and she asked if I’d be interested. I’d watched season one, loved it, and jumped at the chance. I can tell you categorically it’s the darkest character I’ve played—even darker than Lucifer.”

Working with His Wife

The actor has no qualms about collaborating with his spouse. “We’ve worked together before on Queen America. We can separate church and state. I have huge respect for her professionally, and personally I adore her. The acting notes she gives are brilliant. It’s a joy.”

The couple is also teaming up again for a new dark comedy series called Second Wife, which draws from their own experiences with blended families and mental health. “Meaghan suffers from depression, and she finds humor in the darkest moments. That’s the world Second Wife will live in.”

Reflections on a Career That Spans—and Defies—Heaven and Hell

When asked if the 18-year-old version of himself could have dreamed of this, Ellis smiled. “I’d be delighted. I never imagined playing both God and the Devil. But from the moment I decided to be an actor, I just felt it would be all right. And it has been.”

One thing is certain: whether as the seductive Devil or a pompous tabby God, Tom Ellis knows how to keep audiences—and his own career—surprisingly divine.

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