Tom Ellis on Playing a 'Quietly Sociopathic' Professor in 'Tell Me Lies' Season 2: 'Hardest Time Breaking In'

Tom Ellis, best known for his charismatic portrayal of Lucifer Morningstar, has traded celestial charm for something far darker in Hulu's Tell Me Lies Season 2. The actor reveals he had the 'hardest time' breaking into his new character, Oliver—a 'quietly sociopathic' professor whose manipulative affair with a young student sets off a chain of emotional devastation.

In an exclusive interview tied to the release of the new season—detailed in Screenshot (550).png—Ellis confessed that Oliver was unlike any role he'd tackled before. 'Of all the characters I've ever played, I probably had the hardest time trying to understand his choices and his motivation,' he said. 'He’s someone who is quietly sociopathic and someone who doesn’t really think about consequence, someone who thinks solely of themselves.'

The Challenge of Oliver: Broken, Cold, and Calculating

Ellis explained that Oliver is a professor at Baird College, married to fellow academic Marianne (Gabriella Pession). Introduced as a mentor figure in Season 1, Oliver's true nature emerges in Season 2 when he begins an affair with Bree (Catherine Missal). The actor described Oliver as 'broken, cold and someone who keeps his cards very close to his chest.'

To build the character, Ellis clung to a single piece of backstory: Oliver's first wife died. 'For me, that was the one bit of information to cling on to, not to excuse him, but to me, it suggests this person’s broken,' Ellis noted. 'He is simply broken and he’s not been fixed. Unfortunately, he becomes a vacuum that Bree falls into.'

Why the Affair Feels Predatory

Ellis delved into the mechanics of Oliver's manipulation. 'When you’re talking about someone older who has seen more of life, he’s able to understand what she’s looking for and then say what she needs to hear. That forces a connection that maybe isn’t there naturally.' He emphasized that Oliver doesn't think about consequences—only his own appetite. The actor also revealed that showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer confirmed Oliver has likely done this before, adding a chilling layer to his behavior.

Working with Wife Meaghan Oppenheimer: A Seamless Partnership

Ellis and Oppenheimer, who are married, collaborated closely on the role. She created, wrote, and executive produced Tell Me Lies, and previously tapped Ellis for a recurring role in her series Queen America starring Catherine Zeta-Jones. 'A lot of people ask what it’s like working with your wife, but it’s quite the opposite of strange,' Ellis said. 'It feels very seamless. We have a healthy respect for each other’s creativity and creative process.' He acknowledged he likely wouldn't have been the first pick for Oliver had the scripts not been written by Oppenheimer, calling the opportunity a huge privilege to play 'something completely different' from his Lucifer days.

Behind the Scenes: Crafting a Sociopath Without Redemption

Ellis admitted he struggled to find empathy for Oliver, yet knew he had to present the character without judgment. 'I don’t think he’s evil out to destroy lives, but he doesn’t think about the consequences of action.' The actor noted that Oliver is 'very quietly clever'—he gives people 'enough rope to hang themselves.' This passive-aggressive approach makes Oliver all the more unsettling, as he never actively pursues Bree; instead, he creates situations where she comes to him.

The Age-Gap Dynamic: Red Flags Ignored

The Tell Me Lies narrative revolves around characters ignoring obvious red flags. Ellis pointed out that Oliver lays out boundaries clearly—he tells Bree he won't leave his wife—but as an older, wiser man, he should know better. 'If I’d been there, I would have stepped in and said no, but Oliver doesn’t think about that.' The showrunner and cast explore the problematic nature of the relationship, with many characters recognizing the age difference as predatory. Yet Oliver remains oblivious, or perhaps indifferent, to the damage he causes.

Teasing the Rest of Season 2: A Difficult Watch

Ellis hinted that the season's climax will subvert expectations. 'Not just this storyline, but a lot of the storylines in Tell Me Lies are about red flags and ignoring them. People might think they know where it’s going, but we will surprise them at the very end. It’s not everything you expect, but it is something that is a difficult watch.'

The actor's careful analysis of Oliver's psyche—drawn from the dialogue in Screenshot (550).png—reveals an artist committed to making even a villain compelling. For fans of Tell Me Lies, this season promises to be the most unsettling yet, as Ellis's 'quietly sociopathic' professor demonstrates that the most dangerous people are often the ones who blend in seamlessly.

New episodes of Tell Me Lies premiere Wednesdays on Hulu.

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