“I feel like I’m only just getting started”: Oli Higginson Talks Bridgerton Season Four, Painted Toenails, and His Creative Vision for Modern Oli

As the world of Bridgerton expands downstairs in season four, the British actor sits down with Man About Town to discuss the growth of his character, Footman John, over the years, the joys and pinch-me moments of being part of one of his generation’s biggest TV shows, and finally feeling ready to release his music to the world.

British actor Oli Higginson has been busy – you can currently find him in London’s West End at the Almeida Theatre with the cast of American Psycho (eight times a week). But if leaving the house isn’t on the cards this week, he might already be in your living room, as Netflix’s latest chapter of Bridgerton hits screens. As Footman John, Higginson has grown from a small part in Season 1 to the best friend of Sophie Baek (played by Yerin Ha), the love interest of Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton. And now, as he slowly but surely finds his feet in the industry, Higginson feels ready for the next step – spreading his creative wings wide enough to release his own music under alias, Modern Oli.

Hot on the heels of the release of Bridgerton Season 4, he links up with Man About Town to discuss the journey of becoming Footman John, bringing the character closer to centre stage, and what’s next.

Walk us through your early days. When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career in the arts, and who were some of your earliest influences in the industry? I grew up in the suburbs of London, taking the train into Waterloo whenever I could to get a £10 young person’s ticket at the Old Vic, Young Vic, Almeida, the Globe – whatever theatre would have me. I was that wide-eyed kid in the front row. I had an insatiable appetite for theatre – still do. That’s what got me hooked on acting. It felt so exciting and dangerous and cool to be up on a stage in front of loads of people, living out the most extreme moments of human life – romance, battles, love, hate, sex, drama. I was addicted. I wanted to be a part of it.

I also loved films. I’d have movie nights at home with my mum – we’d usually watch classic musicals like The Sound of Music and Oliver!. But then I quickly wanted to see all the films I wasn’t allowed to watch… I think my earliest film obsessions were pretty intense dramas – Titanic, Gladiator, The Talented Mr Ripley. Then it was American Psycho and Requiem for a Dream.

I was also obsessed with music. The first record I bought was The Bends by Radiohead and that sparked a huge love of Radiohead as a teenager. Also, the album Takk… by Sigur Rós undoubtedly changed my life. I self-taught myself the piano so I could write these Thom Yorke-esque ballads when I was about 12 or 13. That was the beginning of my songwriting journey. I used to skip maths class to go and write songs.

Congrats on Bridgerton! How did it feel joining the cast of one of our generation’s biggest shows? It’s crazy, honestly. I don’t think I can properly begin to comprehend the scale and size of it all. The sheer international impact the show has is just madness. I really do feel so honoured to have been ushered into a series that means so much to people. I feel a huge sense of responsibility to the fans and the creators of the show, and it fills me with so much joy to know that the hours of work and dedication are received with such open arms by the Bridgerton community.

How did this part come your way? Do you remember your first reaction to the script? What are some of your favourite memories from set? I’ve probably had the strangest journey out of everyone on Bridgerton. I initially auditioned for a Lord in season one – back when no one really knew anything about Bridgerton. It didn’t necessarily look like it would grow into the worldwide phenomenon it has become. I didn’t get the Lord role, but the casting team liked me and instead offered me the part of Footman John, another small role who appeared in a couple of nice little scenes.

It was my first proper time on a set, my first time on screen, and we all just assumed it would come and go and be an amazing first job. Then after the first season came out, my agent got a call saying they wanted to bring me back for season two with a slightly larger part. Then the same happened for season three. And then in 2024 they sent over the scripts for season four, and I sat down with the lovely Jess Brownell and she talked me through her new plans for Footman John as we expanded the world of Bridgerton into the downstairs.

So it’s been a really special and surreal evolution for me – from a couple of little moments in season one to a series which has taken over my life (for the better). I’ve met so many gorgeous people. I adore the cast and creative team. All the American team are so dedicated and hardworking and supportive and welcoming. It is the warmest bunch of people. A true family.

I remember doing the Theo / Eloise / Footman John scene on Chancery Lane in season two. We shot it at Hampton Court Palace with Calam Lynch and, of course, lovely Claudia Jessie. There’s a moment where Eloise verbally takes down Theo – kind of embarrasses him in front of me – and I couldn’t help but let out this cheeky little smile. It’s always been important to me to humanise John and let people see glimpses of his personality underneath the hard-working, postured façade.

I always think back to that choice to let out that little bit of personality, and how the director on the day, Tricia Brock, saw it and wanted to do a spontaneous close-up. That close-up made it into the final edit. And it kind of blew up amongst the fans. It was the beginning of a really lovely fandom around Footman John that has meant so much to me, and I think it was the start of the show wanting to humanise the downstairs of the Bridgerton house and bring them closer to viewers.

What’s something about the Bridgerton set that you think fans would love to know? I paint my toenails a specific Footman John colour for each season. It’s my little character secret (or not anymore…). So fans will be pleased to know that underneath all that costume – those white tights and black shoes – my toes are painted in a very chic pale pink this season.

Alongside acting, you’ve also been carving out a career in music. Tell us a bit about your experience with Sofar Sounds – and how does it feel to start releasing your new music?

Music is such an important part of my life and who I am. I’m beyond excited – and a little bit terrified – to be sharing my songs with the world. It’s so unique because, since I’m releasing it all independently right now, I get to have complete creative freedom with it. Modern Oli gets to be entirely my creative vision, from the music videos to the artwork to the way the songs sound and the type of shows I get to do.

I loved playing Sofar Sounds last year. It’s such a lovely way to test-drive your songs in front of an audience, and the spontaneous nature of the show is exactly how I like my Modern Oli shows to feel. In fact, I’m playing a stripped-back acoustic show at the iconic St Pancras Clock Tower on March 1st, and I just spontaneously decided to put it together and put some tickets on sale. It’s stuff like that which gets me really excited. The tickets sold out in a few hours. It was crazy. I already feel like I have the most incredibly supportive fans in the world – I’m so lucky.

How has it been working on new material, and what’s inspiring you at the moment? I love working on new material. I think that moment is so special – when a song goes from being just a little voice note I’ve recorded on the Tube to a fully fledged track that sounds so real and full. It’s such a raw experience writing and recording songs, but so rewarding, and I find I learn so much about myself in the process.

In terms of what’s inspiring me right now, I would have to say the people around me. My work schedule has been so intense that I haven’t had the time to watch films and TV, travel, read, watch sport or even listen to as much music as I usually like to. But I have been spending so much time with brilliant collaborators and colleagues – my acting team, my music team, my Bridgerton family and my castmates on American Psycho, some of whom I share a dressing room with every day.

It’s all these people who have been inspiring me. Their vision, their work ethic, their talent. In many ways, they’re the reason I get up in the morning – to be in their presence, feed off their incredible energy and take on the world together. I like being in a team.

Does music give you something acting doesn’t – or is it just a different language for the same feelings? I think both acting and music have unique qualities to them but also so many overlaps. Both can feel universal and transcendent. But both can also feel hyper-real and hyper-specific. Both can make me feel free and full of optimism. And both can make me feel vulnerable and alone.

The biggest difference for me is that music is ultimately a more solitary process. I can wake up in the morning, sit down at my piano, open my notebook, write a song and make music. But with acting, the nature of the work necessitates collaboration. I can’t just wake up in the morning and do a play or scene from a TV show on my own – at the very least you usually need one other actor, then ideally a director too. In that sense, music and acting play very different roles in my day-to-day existence and lifestyle.

What are you obsessing over right now – film, book, album, restaurant, anything? I rewatched Requiem for a Dream the other day. It’s one of my favourite films and I hadn’t seen it in ages. It’s so dark, so stark, and yet so oddly beautiful and haunting.

Then, whilst I’m working at the Almeida Theatre right now, I’m down the road from one of my favourite bars in London, 69 Colebrooke Row. It’s a gorgeous, intimate wine and cocktail bar, with an upright piano usually being tinkered on by a brilliant jazz pianist.

Book-wise, I’m reading The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. It’s a must-read for any artist – or anyone, for that matter.

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future? The unknown. I’m buzzing with a sense of adventure. I feel like I’m only just getting started. I’m excited to keep challenging myself – digging deeper, working harder. Time to buckle in, but most importantly, to enjoy the ride.