The Rakish Gent Paper 5 - Tom Prior
Editor - Tajinder Hayer
Design - Josh Bristow
Photography - Nicholas Andrews
Styling - Benedict Browne
Grooming - Gorgi Sokolov
Full look - CHÉ
Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), English Tom Prior’s acting work includes The Theory of Everything (2014) and Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014). In 2022 he has co-written, produced and stared in the critically acclaimed film Firebird.
2022 has been an epic year for Tom Prior. Firebird is a critical success and one of the most exciting independent films in recent years. For one that has been at the heart of it’s story since inception, Prior has “been humbled to receive many messages of how the film has touched people, fostered greater understanding for same-sex relationships, and yet also delivered as an entertaining film”. No mean feat for a film which he acknowledges “has been duped ‘the film which Putin doesn’t want the world to see’ especially since we were basically banned at the Moscow International Film Festival last year”. Based on a true story, Prior plays Sergey, who he describes as “a soulful young soldier, who embarks on a clandestine affair with a fighter pilot on a Soviet Air Force Base at the height of the Cold War”. The soaring film follows the fight of the couple to stay together, within the confines of the military and beyond.
Despite taking on the mantle of co-writer, producer and lead, Tom, who was originally approached to play the lead, “never thought I’d end up being involved in so many processes in the film, including being the music supervisor”. The process of filming was “challenging to juggle so many roles at times, yet it was also like an incredible and relentless version of going to film school”. Having always loved “James Bond, Jason Bourne, Tintin and action adventure”, Firebird was an opportunity for Tom to tell the courageous love story, against the backdrop of the Cold War. The film was also the chance for Prior to tell “a truthful story in an entertaining way” and encourage the telling of more diverse stories in cinemas around the world.
For Prior, a career in the creative industry was always on the cards for him. Having always loved theatre and film, he describes “that anticipation, that magic which is going to unfold” when entering the cinema. His love of the fusion of “light and sound and emotion. What you can show in film with the smallest and simplest look by an actor, or a note of music for example” showcases a real love of the craft. That love did not come from training at art school (“one of the hardest times in my career. I didn’t feel supported or creatively that free in that environment at the time. I actually came out of acting school not wanting to be an actor anymore”) but instead was nurtured by working on film sets. Highlighting working on Kingsman: The Secret Service, and alongside a number of acting coaches, much of what was taught was undone and instead on the job acting took its place.
Jacket and trousers - M.C. Overalls, Shirt - Mr P at MR PORTER
Following the success of Firebird, Prior has commenced work on Blood on the Crown, which tells the story of “how the citizens of Malta fought for independence from Britain in 1919. The Army was sent to calm the riots and the British government covered up what ended up being a murderous encounter”. Tom plays a soldier, and without giving too much away he does not end the movie as so timid a solider as at its start.
Firebird is out now.
A full version of this feature can be found in The Rakish Gent Paper Issue 5.