Hexham man lands role in Boots Christmas advert

Tomás Azocar-Nevin, from Hexham, was overjoyed to be cast in the international pharmacy chain’s Christmas commercial where he appears both in drag, and also looking his more ‘typical’ self.

Filming took place in London in September and involved a full drag makeover which took two hours and two make-up artists, and aerial work as he appears upside down at one point.

The advert aired during the break in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here last night (Sunday, November 6) and Tom admitted that he was inundated with messages asking if it “was really him.”

To said he was over the moon to be cast in the advert (Image: Boots)

Tomás Azocar-Nevin on set (Image: Tomás Azocar-Nevin)

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The 24-year-old said: “I was actually really nervous at first because I’ve never done ‘proper’ drag before, no full-on performances or anything. For my self-tape (an audition video) I sent a short film I made while at drama school where I was in drag and they seemed to like it!

“Filming was really fun. It took two hours and it was basically a therapy session having a natter with the make-up artists.

“I love Christmas and when I signed with my agent I said 'Please, please get me a job on a Christmas ad, I love Christmas.'”

The graduate of Project A, a one-year professional acting course at Newcastle Theatre Royal, said he felt very lucky to be given the opportunity.

It took two hours and two talented make-up artists to transform Tom (Image: Boots)

Tom preparing moments before the shoot (Image: Tomás Azocar-Nevin)

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Tom said: “We went to a screening of it last week before it was aired on TV and it was the first time I’d ever really seen myself on screen and I felt quite emotional actually, more than I would’ve thought and I felt really proud of myself.

“And of course, the family Whatsapp group went crazy.”

The Manchester School of Acting graduate said: “I put a lot of effort into the short film I made where I was in drag, we weren’t even marked on it but I’m glad I put a lot into it because it got me that job.”

Tom is currently training with the National Youth Theatre’s REP company and will appear in three shows in the West End next year.

Tom admitted he was nervous about the shoot but enjoyed it as soon as he arrived (Image: Tomás Azocar-Nevin)

Tom on stage (Image: Tomás Azocar-Nevin)

The North East actor is set to appear in the West End next year (Image: Tomás Azocar-Nevin)

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