An actor from the North East has starred in the Boots Christmas TV advert this year.
The 'Joy for All' film tells the story of Holly who finds a pair of magical spectacles on the bus. The glasses allow her to see what brings people joy whenever she wears them.
Tomás Azocar-Nevin plays a character who transforms into a drag queen. The 24-year-old is using his phone while sitting on the sofa. When Holly puts on the glasses, he transforms into a drag queen with a hairdryer.
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Tomás who is from Newbrough in Northumberland, said he bagged the role in the festive advert after his agent sent the director part of a short film which he created at drama school during the covid-19 lockdown.
He said: "When I had my first meeting with my agent I said these are my aspirations. At the end of it I said I'd love to be in a Christmas advert'. I'd made a short film in drag, my agent saw that and sent me the tape through. They sent my film director part of my short film I made and I got a recall.
"I did put a lot of effort into it, I was really proud of it. I didn't do anything with the film. A year later I sent it off and it got me the part. I'd put a lot of work into it and I think that really helped."
The festive advert aired for the first time during Gogglebox on Channel 4 on Friday, November 4. It involves Tomás, who is wearing a pink dress and a blonde wig, flipping upside down before putting on lip gloss.
He said: "Because I grew up in the countryside, I spent so much of my time as a kid climbing trees, falling out of trees, and climbing up hay bales. So I feel like I have always been quite good at that type of stuff. I was winging it and hoping for the best.
"Luckily I had a day of rehearsals doing it with a really good team of people who have done it before so it was not a problem at all. It was so much fun, I felt like a little kid."
Tomás said he always wanted to be either an author or an actor as he "always wanted to tell stories". He studied drama and attended youth theatre while growing up in Northumberland. He graduated from a BA Acting course at Manchester School of Theatre in Manchester this summer.
Tomás said that he got to see the 'Joy for All' advert before it was released during a special screening. He said he was in the theatre when it was aired on TV and came out to find loads of messages on his phone
He said: "I think Christmas adverts especially are a whole new level. They really go all out for them. I didn't realise until I got on set. There were lots of people there and there were lots of staff.
"I genuinely had so much fun. I was getting paid for something that I genuinely loved doing. I was sad when I finished filming. It's been really cool and a really cool experience.
"Everyone has been super nice. I was really excited for my sister and mum and dad to see it. There was part of me that was quite emotional. I never have thought, three years ago, I would be comfortable enough to do that in drag on TV. It felt like a really special moment."
Tomás was working in the Stranger Things shop in Hexham, Northumberland, over the summer when he received the call to tell him that he has be given the part in the Boots advert. He said the support which he received from the bosses enabled him to follow his dreams.
He said: "I think it's so hard as an actor because you need to work multiple jobs because you're not always working. I wouldn't have got the Boots ad without them, they have let me have the days off that I needed to go down to London. I'm really appreciative of that. They have been really supportive and I'm working for them again at Christmas."
Tomás is now set to appear in three West End shows in London next year - Much Ado About Nothing, Gone Too Soon and Bakkhai. In the future, he would like to continue working theatre as well as TV.
He said: "I'd love to do more theatre and I'd love to be in a British TV comedy, something like Derry Girls, Flea Bag, Fresh Meat, I'd love to do something like that. My dream is to work with Meryl Streep. I have always liked her since I was about nine. She's always been the person that I've just thought 'wow!'
"I feel so grateful to be in London and doing what I really love. I have worked hard for it but I think luck is also a big part of it. Meeting the right people and being at the right places at the right time."
When asked what advice he would give to other people who are looking to break into the industry, Tomás said: "I would say find what makes you feel happy and special and nurture that and celebrate that part of yourself and that's all you can do. Celebrate your unique self and don't give up, make sure you're having fun!"
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