The following interview is brought to you by Paramount+ FYC.
The success of Showtime’s “Fellow Travelers” extends beyond the Emmys recognition the series received this season. This period drama, spanning over three decades, provides a comprehensive study of character evolution.
Led by Emmy-nominated Matt Bomer, the show offers a heart-wrenching portrayal of the deeply passionate and caring romance between Hawkins “Hawk” Fuller (Bomer) and fellow Washington D.C. staffer Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey).
Based on the 2007 novel by Thomas Mallon, “Fellow Travelers” follows Bomer’s character, a closeted war hero turned political worker, and the religious optimist he falls in love with (Bailey). We see their journey from the start of the Lavender Scare and McCarthyism in the 1950s all the way through the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. It’s a vivid exploration of queer American history, brought to life by the fantastic performances of its leads.
“Fellow Travelers” picked up three Emmy nominations: Bomer for Leading Actor in a Limited Series, Bailey for Supporting Actor, and Ron Nyswaner for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series.
In this conversation, Backstage’s Editor-in-Chief Briana Rodriguez chats with Bomer about how he crafted Hawk’s arc over 35 years. They dive into the rituals the actor used to get into character, the research he did, and how he approached those intimate scenes.