RUSSELL THOMAS: THE QUIET POWER OF A LEADING MAN
BY EBBY MAGAZINE
He has built his career with intention, discipline, and a quiet power that stands out in a loud industry. Now, as President Eli Winter on The Oval, he steps into a role that mirrors the steady strength he carries in real life.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRANDIN SHAEFFER
“THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN THAT HELPS FOCUS THE MIND AND OFFER PERSPECTIVE.”
RUSSELL THOMAS, ACTOR
There’s a steadiness to Russell Thomas that arrives before he ever says a word, a grounded presence that feels rare in an industry obsessed with noise. It’s the kind of quiet confidence that doesn’t need to announce itself; it simply reshapes the room. That presence has carried him through years of thoughtful, deliberate work across television, from Jane the Virgin and New Girl to Candy and a series of grounded performances that shaped him long before The Oval ever called. Today, he brings that same intention to his role as President Eli Winter on BET’s hit drama, delivering a portrayal defined by strength, restraint, and an emotional clarity that feels both deliberate and deeply human.
Long before his rise in Hollywood, Russell lived an entirely different chapter: the focused intensity of a UCLA athlete, a world that demanded discipline, grit, and the ability to build something brick by brick. That history still shows up in his work. You can feel it in the way he prepares, in the roles he chooses, and in the quiet integrity that threads through every performance.
But what makes Russell compelling isn’t his résumé. It’s the internal composition, the mix of grit, grace, and curiosity that guides him. He’s not the kind of leading man who chases a spotlight; he’s the kind who earns it. And in a cultural moment hungry for authenticity, his grounded masculinity feels unmistakably refreshing. He’s risen, yes, but he’s rising with soul.
And now, in a conversation marked by presence and purpose, Russell sits with us to explore the journey behind the man, the discipline, the faith, and the quiet force that shape his rise.
“IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT ABOUT THE THINGS YOU SAY ‘NO’ TO; THAT’S WHERE THE DISCIPLINE COMES IN.”
There’s a calm steadiness in the way you show up on screen. Has that always been part of who you are, or is it something you grew into along the way?
I’d say having a calm disposition is a quality I’ve invested in for much of my life. And, in as much as it shows up on the screen when I’m playing Eli, it’s really a function of what personal characteristics of mine overlapped with what felt right for the character. As actors, we’re always trying to find the right mixture of personal qualities and invented ones to create performances that feel both real and interesting for audiences.
You’ve worked steadily for years, but this chapter feels different. What changed for you as you began stepping into leading roles?
What changed? Well, it’s allowed me to turn that voice in my head, the imposter syndrome voice, down from an 11 to a manageable 7.5. You spend twenty years paying your dues, putting in the sweat equity; it gives you some measure of confidence that hopefully shows up at auditions and on set. But even after all the years grinding and all the time I’ve already spent on set in this role, I still get the butterflies in my stomach. I don’t remember which god of acting said it, but I heard that once those butterflies go away, it’s time to change careers, so I think I just better just get used to their persistent presence.
Playing a President on The Oval carries its own weight. How did you approach the responsibility of stepping into someone who holds that kind of power?
My character’s nemesis, President Hunter Franklin, played by the ever-charming Ed Quinn, is impulsive and irresponsible. He seems more interested in satisfying his ego and desires than in running the country. This judgment was crucial in understanding the motivation behind my character, Eli’s, drive to wrest control of the country from him. The awesome responsibility of running the country is really at the heart of everything Eli does. I feel that if Eli believed that Hunter was wielding power responsibly, then he’d have no reason to pursue his quest to topple Hunter in the first place.
Eli Winter is composed, layered, and constantly under pressure. Which aspects of him feel familiar to you, and what parts force you to stretch the most?
I’m someone who enjoys people watching. I’ve always been curious about what makes people tick, on a large scale, and on an individual level. I think this characteristic is where I connect with Eli. He observes, he calculates and he moves when the timing is most advantageous. Where we diverge is in the way he fights with his wife, Simone, and keeps her in the dark in regards to his political machinations. Personally, I have this idealization of a married couple working in tandem, as partners, so it’s hard for me to feel like I can’t even trust my wife. Plus, I really like Kaye Singleton, who plays Simone. She’s sweet and warm, so I always end up feeling a little bad after a scene where we get into it, or Eli does something that Simone won’t like when she finds out.
When you take on a role, what helps you lock into your purpose for that character?
I find music is a powerful pathway to connect with a character. When I first got the role for Eli, I felt he listened to jazz, specifically Miles Davis. I would play “Sketches of Spain” when I studied my scripts. Then, with each season, when I hadn’t really been in contact with the character for a little while, I could quickly find him again just by playing the album. Additionally, I can’t discount the amount that the wardrobe and sets help me to get into the headspace of being President. There’s nothing that gets you into character like putting on a sharp suit and entering Tyler Perry’s White House set, which is just amazing. You walk into this familiar building that we’ve all seen and understand what it means. You stride through these corridors, full of pictures of past presidents, and make your way to the Oval Office and to the Resolute Desk, and you feel like you could make a call to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
How does your time as a UCLA athlete influence the discipline you bring to your work now?
UCLA is where my passion came into contact with discipline. I grew up loving football. Passion was plenty to find success playing in high school, but once I got on the practice field at UCLA, I quickly learned that passion wouldn’t be enough. I needed to develop a deeper connection to the game, and the only way to do that was to develop a discipline of gritty perseverance that could see me through the difficultly of competing at that level.
I love movies. But my passion for film and TV would not have been enough to sustain me through years and years of struggling if I didn’t have a foundation of discipline to stand on. That discipline kept me motivated, kept me pushing and making the choices to put energy into my career when I might have rather done something else with my time or resources. It’s not always about what you want to do, but about the things you say “no” to; that’s where the discipline comes in.
“PASSION WAS NEVER ENOUGH. I NEEDED TO DEVELOP A DISCIPLINE OF GRITTY PERSEVERANCE THAT COULD SEE ME THROUGH THE DIFFICULTY OF COMPETING AT THAT LEVEL.”
This season puts Eli through some intense situations. What has the role shown you about pressure, responsibility, or the emotional cost of leadership?
Eli has been through it this season. But when I think about the emotional price that he’s had to pay, I think more about the cost of ambition than the cost of leadership. Eli is finally getting what he wanted, but at what cost? He’s at the top, but he’s alone and estranged from the one he loves the most, Simone. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, and he may find in seasons to come that his victories may have been pyrrhic at best.
Strength looks different on everyone. What have you learned through this character about the kind of strength that’s quiet but steady?
When I consider the way Eli has expressed strength this season, I think about how sometimes it’s best to hide your strengths. That quiet steadiness can be camouflage, allowing his enemies to get comfortable and not notice as the traps are being set all around them.
When life gets loud or unpredictable, what helps you stay grounded?
Literally the Earth, being physical, outdoors, in nature. There’s something about the view from the top of a mountain that helps focus the mind and offer perspective. A trail run, a hike up a mountain, backpacking, scuba diving, even dancing on the beach at sunset, anything that gets me outdoors and moving, connecting with nature with awe and gratitude.
What feels like home for you right now, whether it’s a ritual, a place, or something small that helps you come back to yourself and reset?
Cooking. Especially for others. When I’m on the road, it’s often difficult to find a home-cooked meal. So there’s something about being back in my kitchen and cooking something nutritious and familiar. And this quality gets stronger when I can cook with someone or for someone, that human connection over a meal, that’s what life’s all about.
What is your “Luxury for the Soul” these days, something that restores you or brings you back to center?
This will likely sound funny, and I’m perfectly ok with that: New socks. Whenever I get a new package of socks, I always keep a pair off to the side, and when I have a meaningful victory, I break out the fresh ones. It’s this tiny luxury that has me feeling like a new man.
Do you have a mantra you lean on when you’re navigating a challenge or moving into a new season of your life?
I do, but I’m not sure it’s very polite or appropriate. I know negative self-talk is generally frowned upon, but I have a choice phrase that I mutter to myself before a tough run or a heavy set in the gym. I also find it quite effective when I need to stop procrastinating and study my scripts. But I feel the specifics of this choice phrase are better left to the imagination.
