Tom Ellis and Meaghan Oppenheimer Talk Working Together onTell Me Liesas a Real-Life Couple: 'No Brainer' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Tom Ellis (left); Meaghan Oppenheimer.Photo:Daniele Venturelli / Getty; Stewart Cook/ShutterstockFans have been shocked to find out thatTell Me LiesnewcomerTom Ellisis married to the show’s creator,Meaghan Oppenheimer, in real life — but the couple didn’t find working together on the steamy series all that weird.“We really weirdly work very, very well together,” Oppenheimer, 38, told PEOPLE ahead of the season 2 premiere.“I think it’s funnier for other people because — spoiler — everyone is naked on our show and he is as well. And I think some people at first were like, ‘Is this weird for you guys?’ And it’s so not weird for us. But I think that was funny for other people. Then you get over the first day and people are like, ‘Oh, this is just another day at work.'“Ellis, 45, felt the same way. “It’s never been a problem for us really,” he says of crossing the professional line.“I think we have a huge amount of respect for each other creatively. And I think she’s really, really talented at what she does, and she’s really, really good at talking to actors,” he says.Taking the job, then, was “a no-brainer, really.““I know a few people have gone, ‘What’s it like working with your wife? That must be strange.’ It’s like, well, actually, it’s strange that it isn’t strange, I think is probably the best answer.“Tom Ellis as Oliver in ‘Tell Me Lies’.Disney/Josh StringerTell Me Liesisn’t the first time the couple — who got engaged in 2017 andwed in 2019— has worked together, either.“We actually got to work together on her showQueen Americaa few years ago. And it wasn’t such a prevalent character, but I did sort of sample how it was to work with her. And it was really a pleasant surprise for both of us, that we were able to separate church and state quite easily,” Ellis recalls.Meaghan Oppenheimer and Tom Ellis attend the 8th annual Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival at Harmony Gold on March 03, 2023.Michael Tullberg/GettyThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Tell Me Liesis admittedly a different beast, though. “Given the nature of the story, some people might think that’s extra weird,” he says, referring to the relationship Ellis’ character, a professor, forms with one of his students, Bree (Cat Missal). “But it’s work for us. And it’s about storytelling, and we both really love good stories. And they don’t always have to be lighthearted stories either.“Ellis admits that playing Oliver “was a bit of a challenge for me because he’s very much a colder character than I’ve played in the past.“Tom Ellis as Oliver, Cat Missal as Bree in ‘Tell Me Lies’ season 2.Disney/Josh Stringer"For me, it was about working out how to desensitize myself a little bit and approach someone who really doesn’t give much away,” he continues, before giving credit to his wife for her help on set.“I had a lot of questions for [Meaghan] when we were on set…but I was glad that she was there basically to hold my hand in the process.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.New episodes ofTell Me Liesseason 2 premiere Wednesdays at 12:00 a.m. ET on Hulu.

Tom Ellis (left); Meaghan Oppenheimer.Photo:Daniele Venturelli / Getty; Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Daniele Venturelli / Getty; Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Fans have been shocked to find out thatTell Me LiesnewcomerTom Ellisis married to the show’s creator,Meaghan Oppenheimer, in real life — but the couple didn’t find working together on the steamy series all that weird.“We really weirdly work very, very well together,” Oppenheimer, 38, told PEOPLE ahead of the season 2 premiere.“I think it’s funnier for other people because — spoiler — everyone is naked on our show and he is as well. And I think some people at first were like, ‘Is this weird for you guys?’ And it’s so not weird for us. But I think that was funny for other people. Then you get over the first day and people are like, ‘Oh, this is just another day at work.'“Ellis, 45, felt the same way. “It’s never been a problem for us really,” he says of crossing the professional line.“I think we have a huge amount of respect for each other creatively. And I think she’s really, really talented at what she does, and she’s really, really good at talking to actors,” he says.Taking the job, then, was “a no-brainer, really.““I know a few people have gone, ‘What’s it like working with your wife? That must be strange.’ It’s like, well, actually, it’s strange that it isn’t strange, I think is probably the best answer.“Tom Ellis as Oliver in ‘Tell Me Lies’.Disney/Josh StringerTell Me Liesisn’t the first time the couple — who got engaged in 2017 andwed in 2019— has worked together, either.“We actually got to work together on her showQueen Americaa few years ago. And it wasn’t such a prevalent character, but I did sort of sample how it was to work with her. And it was really a pleasant surprise for both of us, that we were able to separate church and state quite easily,” Ellis recalls.Meaghan Oppenheimer and Tom Ellis attend the 8th annual Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival at Harmony Gold on March 03, 2023.Michael Tullberg/GettyThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Tell Me Liesis admittedly a different beast, though. “Given the nature of the story, some people might think that’s extra weird,” he says, referring to the relationship Ellis’ character, a professor, forms with one of his students, Bree (Cat Missal). “But it’s work for us. And it’s about storytelling, and we both really love good stories. And they don’t always have to be lighthearted stories either.“Ellis admits that playing Oliver “was a bit of a challenge for me because he’s very much a colder character than I’ve played in the past.“Tom Ellis as Oliver, Cat Missal as Bree in ‘Tell Me Lies’ season 2.Disney/Josh Stringer"For me, it was about working out how to desensitize myself a little bit and approach someone who really doesn’t give much away,” he continues, before giving credit to his wife for her help on set.“I had a lot of questions for [Meaghan] when we were on set…but I was glad that she was there basically to hold my hand in the process.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.New episodes ofTell Me Liesseason 2 premiere Wednesdays at 12:00 a.m. ET on Hulu.

Fans have been shocked to find out thatTell Me LiesnewcomerTom Ellisis married to the show’s creator,Meaghan Oppenheimer, in real life — but the couple didn’t find working together on the steamy series all that weird.

“We really weirdly work very, very well together,” Oppenheimer, 38, told PEOPLE ahead of the season 2 premiere.

“I think it’s funnier for other people because — spoiler — everyone is naked on our show and he is as well. And I think some people at first were like, ‘Is this weird for you guys?’ And it’s so not weird for us. But I think that was funny for other people. Then you get over the first day and people are like, ‘Oh, this is just another day at work.'”

Ellis, 45, felt the same way. “It’s never been a problem for us really,” he says of crossing the professional line.

“I think we have a huge amount of respect for each other creatively. And I think she’s really, really talented at what she does, and she’s really, really good at talking to actors,” he says.

Taking the job, then, was “a no-brainer, really.”

“I know a few people have gone, ‘What’s it like working with your wife? That must be strange.’ It’s like, well, actually, it’s strange that it isn’t strange, I think is probably the best answer.”

Tom Ellis as Oliver in ‘Tell Me Lies’.Disney/Josh Stringer

Disney/Josh Stringer

Tell Me Liesisn’t the first time the couple — who got engaged in 2017 andwed in 2019— has worked together, either.

“We actually got to work together on her showQueen Americaa few years ago. And it wasn’t such a prevalent character, but I did sort of sample how it was to work with her. And it was really a pleasant surprise for both of us, that we were able to separate church and state quite easily,” Ellis recalls.

Meaghan Oppenheimer and Tom Ellis attend the 8th annual Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival at Harmony Gold on March 03, 2023.Michael Tullberg/Getty

Michael Tullberg/Getty

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Tell Me Liesis admittedly a different beast, though. “Given the nature of the story, some people might think that’s extra weird,” he says, referring to the relationship Ellis’ character, a professor, forms with one of his students, Bree (Cat Missal). “But it’s work for us. And it’s about storytelling, and we both really love good stories. And they don’t always have to be lighthearted stories either.”

Ellis admits that playing Oliver “was a bit of a challenge for me because he’s very much a colder character than I’ve played in the past.”

Tom Ellis as Oliver, Cat Missal as Bree in ‘Tell Me Lies’ season 2.Disney/Josh Stringer

“For me, it was about working out how to desensitize myself a little bit and approach someone who really doesn’t give much away,” he continues, before giving credit to his wife for her help on set.

“I had a lot of questions for [Meaghan] when we were on set…but I was glad that she was there basically to hold my hand in the process.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

New episodes ofTell Me Liesseason 2 premiere Wednesdays at 12:00 a.m. ET on Hulu.

source: people.com