aThe Scottish heartthrob sits with Variety’s Up Next to unpack his upbringing, early hustle, acting grind, and the roles that changed everything.
Gossip Girl reboot alum and all‑around hottie Thomas Doherty drops into Variety’s Up Next podcast, delivering a warm, funny, and deeply personal look at the life that shaped him. From growing up in Edinburgh to navigating Hollywood, Doherty’s story is equal parts grit, charm, and pure Scottish chaos.
Thomas Doherty brings Scottish charm to the actor glow-up lane
From Edinburgh roots to screen-heartthrob momentum, Doherty’s Variety sit-down has that sweet spot of charm, ambition, and leading-man mischief.
He rewinds to his childhood in Scotland, describing a city built on dormant volcanoes, cobblestone streets, and a high school “three times older than America” . He laughs about odd jobs — paper routes, a car‑washing business, call‑center accents, and even working as a teenage hotel maid during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “It was amazing character‑building,” he says, remembering 5 a.m. shifts after nights out with friends.
Doherty opens up about his acting beginnings: amateur theatre, musical‑theatre school, and the moment he realized he wanted to pursue acting after watching Titanic at age 11. His first big break came with Disney’s The Lodge, followed by a leap to U.S. Disney — a moment he calls “insane” after gaining a massive following overnight.
He also reveals he hates acting in his own Scottish accent, preferring the looseness of American speech, and credits coach Michael Buster for helping refine his now‑famous U.S. delivery. Fans often assume he’s American — a compliment he doesn’t take lightly.
Reflecting on the Gossip Girl reboot, Doherty is candid: it was a “different show for a different era,” impossible to compare to a series that “defined a generation” tied to appointment TV and next‑day school chatter. Still, the experience gave him lifelong friends and a sense of home in New York.
He then shifts to Tell Me Lies, calling it a milestone and praising co‑star Grace Van Patten for their electric chemistry. Fans constantly thank him for “punching Stephen”, a fight scene he filmed for hours until his arm nearly gave out from fake‑punching air.
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And in one of the interview’s sweetest moments, Doherty gushes about working with Shailene Woodley, calling her a “generational talent” and naming Adrift as a “masterclass in acting.” For years, she was on his list of top three dream actors — long before they ever shared a set.
It’s Thomas Doherty at his most open: funny, self‑aware, grateful, and still very much the Scottish kid who hustled his way from Edinburgh to global screens.
