It’s hard to argue that Edinburgh has been a wellspring of talent for both Scottish and global showbiz. So many unique individuals, born in this fantastic city, have gone on to achieve incredible career success. Read more on edinburghski.
This phenomenon is likely due to Edinburgh’s special atmosphere, which really nurtures young creatives. To see for yourself, just delve into the local cultural scene. The sheer number of festivals, projects, and initiatives helps new talents blossom, and they’re certainly making the most of these opportunities.
Thomas Anthony Doherty is one of Edinburgh’s brightest showbiz exports. Thanks to his training, he seamlessly excels in both musical and dramatic roles. This versatility has undoubtedly been key to steadily building his impressive career.
A Non-Creative Family, Education, and First Contract
Doherty was born in Edinburgh on 21 April 1995. He spent his entire childhood and youth in his hometown. Thomas has a brother and a sister, and both his parents work in banking.
However, despite no direct family ties to the arts, this didn’t stop Doherty from falling head over heels for creative pursuits and seeing his career path firmly within that realm.
After graduating from Edinburgh’s renowned Royal High School, he enrolled at The MGA Academy of Performing Arts to study musical theatre. This included mastering various dance styles; Doherty is proficient in both ballet and hip-hop. He’s also a skilled singer and guitarist.
After this stage of life, literally immediately after graduation in the summer of 2015, Thomas received an offer to sign a contract with Olivia Bell Management in London.
The Rocky Road to Stardom
But this didn’t mean Thomas was an overnight sensation, eagerly awaited everywhere. Quite the opposite, it turned out he still had a lot of graft ahead of him to achieve his initial professional breakthroughs, including taking on non-acting jobs.
So, to make ends meet, Doherty worked as a waiter in one of Edinburgh’s restaurants. On weekends, he fully dedicated himself to auditions for Disney Channel (for their project The Lodge) and working with The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The Long-Awaited Role and a Dialect Shift for the Audience
However, as the saying goes, persistence pays off. This certainly held true for Thomas. He soon landed a role in The Lodge, and to fully embody his character, Doherty began intensely learning mountain biking. The young actor successfully nailed the part, but during filming in Northern Ireland, he consciously softened his accent to ensure his character’s speech would be more accessible to a global audience.
It’s worth noting that Thomas’s efforts, along with the entire team’s, truly bore fruit. The Lodge was a huge hit with audiences, and by December 2016, a continuation was commissioned.
Further Film Work
It’s fair to say that from this point on, Thomas’s acting career took off rather rapidly. In the same year, 2016, he successfully auditioned for and secured a role in Descendants 2.
Filming took place in Vancouver, and the premiere aired on Disney Channel on 21 July 2017.
When Descendants 3 was greenlit, Doherty was naturally invited back to reprise his character.
Teenage Favourite Series and a Chilling Feature Film
One of Thomas’s longer-running projects was the series Legacies, where viewers could see him during 2019-2020. It should be said that this project was especially popular among teenagers. After all, the script harmoniously combined fantasy, horror, the supernatural, and, of course, drama.
2021 brought Doherty a role in the series Gossip Girl.
Then, in 2022, the actor starred in the horror feature film The Invitation. The movie tells the story of a young woman whose mother dies. Following this tragic event, she meets her relatives for the first time, uncovering a multitude of long-hidden family secrets. Thomas played one of the lead roles.
A Sporting Physique: One of the Actor’s Key Assets
When talking about Thomas Doherty, it’s impossible not to mention his fantastic physique. This is a significant draw for his numerous female fans and, of course, plays a considerable part in his professional acting career.
In fact, Thomas’s athletic build even caught the eye of the prestigious Vogue magazine. In 2017, the publication included Doherty in “The 50 Fittest Boys Of 2017”.
Ultimately, Thomas Doherty’s career is a prime example that genuine talent will always find its way. Despite not growing up in a creative family, it didn’t stop him from pursuing his passion and achieving great success.
It all boils down to one thing: no matter what happens, you absolutely must believe in yourself and your abilities. That’s the only way to achieve amazing results, especially in a field as challenging, and sometimes precarious, as showbiz.