It would seem that in order to expand the Arrowverse that the producers are starting to look a little further for their actors so that they might benefit from a greater wealth of talent. Russell Tovey will be coming to the Arrowverse as the Ray, a hero that was created in the aftermath of a light bomb and can use his light-based powers to great effect. Coming in as one of the openly gay heroes in the Arrowverse he’s set to be added to a cast that already features openly gay heroes, so he should be a pleasant addition to the roster. Tovey’s appearance will be set for November 27th and 28th.
Here are a few other things you might not know about Tovey.
5. He came out to his parents when he was 18.
For some people this is an incredibly tough moment in their lives. Tovey admits that he came to grips with his feelings when he was around 15 but didn’t come out to his parents until years later. He has stated that this made it official for him when he finally told his parents. They were more inclined to worry about him contracting HIV, but a little while after they reconciled.
4. He didn’t have a lot of solid gay role models.
Tovey admits that he didn’t have a lot of gay men around him that were something he considered to be a role model. Many of them he says were too flashy and too campy, feeding into the stereotype that all gay men were overly flamboyant. He’s stated that he never felt like he belonged to that world despite knowing that he was without a doubt homosexual.
3. He started acting at age 11.
He had a natural talent for acting but his parents were initially worried that it would take too much of his time and not leave enough for school. His father tried to get him to cut back but his mother insisted that he be allowed to act. It’s great to support your child in what they want to do but an education is something that nearly every profession can benefit from.
2. He quit school at age 16.
Tovey quit high school to attend Barking College to obtain a BTEC. Unfortunately he was expelled when he refused a part in the school play in favor of taking a paying acting job. On one hand it speaks well that he recognized an opportunity and took it, on the other he seems a bit too rebellious at times and foregoes the chance to excel at his education. Making choices though is all up to the individual, and it seems like he made the right one.
1. He’s also a writer.
He’s also an author, a playwright, and a screenwriter. It would definitely help to have some other skill under his belt if he is still the rebellious type that wants to do things his way. Being a rebel is not a bad thing, it’s simply knowing when to speak up and when to go along in order to get to the next goal.
Tovey should be an interesting if brief addition to the Arrowverse.
