'People We Meet on Vacation's' Tom Blyth on Rom-Coms, Risks, and Running Naked into the Sea

Fresh off his role in "People We Meet on Vacation," Tom Blyth is opening up about why he took a break from heavy drama to try something lighter. From unexpected physical comedy to real-life mishaps, the actor found that romantic comedies come with their own set of challenges — and surprises.

Tom Blyth has made a name for himself playing intense, complicated characters — from dystopian villains to brooding loners.

But in his new role as Alex Nilsen in "People We Meet on Vacation," the 30-year-old actor takes a hard turn into romantic comedy, and he’s the first to admit it wasn’t an obvious move.

“I’m knackered from playing these heavy roles, and I need to do something light and fun,” Blyth said, reflecting on a packed year that included several dramatic films released in 2025.

He originally passed on the rom-com adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, saying he wasn’t ready after back-to-back serious projects. But when the script came back around, the timing felt right.

Not as Easy as It Looks

Despite the genre’s reputation, Blyth found romantic comedy harder than expected. “As a viewer, I thought it was the easy gig for a long time. Then, I did one,” he said.

Playing the more reserved half of the central duo — opposite Emily Bader’s outgoing, free-spirited Poppy — came with its own set of challenges.

“Style is the challenge," he says. "You always have to try and work out what the style of the thing is that you’re doing and play into it, but still be authentic and true.”

His approach included trusting his instincts more than his training. In one scene, a subtle jaw clench during a moment of romantic tension caught the attention of both fans and author Emily Henry.

“That’s something I do naturally,” Blyth said, adding that he was taught in drama school to get rid of such tension. “It’s nice to be vindicated.”

Risk On Screen, and Off

One of the film’s standout scenes — Alex skinny-dipping in the sea — was a bigger ordeal than expected. The original book placed the moment at a calm lake.

On set, Blyth found himself diving naked into five-foot waves off the coast of Spain. “It was cold, and obviously that was a concern, when you’re nude. But it was a lot of fun,” he said. “All me, all the glory.”

Off-screen, Blyth faced another kind of vulnerability while filming in New Orleans. Trying to impress his then-new girlfriend over dinner, he choked on a piece of jambalaya.

Embarrassed, he excused himself to the bathroom — and nearly passed out. A waiter eventually performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved his life.

Moments later, a group of women recognized him from another project and asked for a photo. “I was like, ‘You just watched me almost die in the most embarrassing circumstances,’” he recalled.

No Boxes, No Labels

Blyth knows there’s a risk in switching gears. “Will people think I’m the rom-com guy now? Will I get pigeonholed?” he wondered before taking the role.

But he’s more interested in surprising people — and himself — than sticking to one lane. “There’s value in keeping people guessing. Then, they can’t pin you down because you’re not pinning yourself down either.”

For Blyth, doing a rom-com wasn’t a detour — it was a reset.