Luke Thompson, now a household name thanks to , has had quite the journey. At 35, he’s already made waves in both the theatre and on screen. Born in Southampton and raised in France, Thompson's passion for acting led him to train at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). His early career saw him shine on stage, even earning award nominations for his first major role in . However, it was playing Benedict Bridgerton in Netflix’s steamy period drama that catapulted him into global fame.

And with set to return for its third season, fans are eager to see where his journey takes him next.

Theatre’s Extreme Reactions

Recently, Thompson took on a much darker role as Willem in , a production known for its intense emotional and physical demands. The play pushed boundaries, both for its cast and audience.

When asked about the wild reactions it sparked, Thompson recalled a particularly shocking moment. “Someone was coughing loudly during a quiet part of the play. We had to stop the show. Turns out, they’d actually vomited in the dress circle—over other people!” he revealed. This incident led to a chain reaction of retching, making it one of the most chaotic performances he’s experienced. Thompson mused, “The more graphic the content, the more extreme the audience reactions seem to be, especially post-pandemic.

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