You’ve probably seen him. Maybe it was that sharp, slightly brooding gaze in a Netflix supernatural hit, or perhaps you caught him piloting an air ambulance over the rugged Canadian wilderness. Honestly, Thomas Elms is one of those actors who feels like he’s been around forever because he fits into his roles so naturally, yet his filmography is still in that exciting "rapid growth" phase.
He isn't just a face on a poster. He’s a Latvian-Canadian actor who actually studied philosophy before deciding that the stage was a better place to ask the big questions. That background shows. There’s a weight to his performances—a sort of "stillness," as he calls it—that makes him stand out in a sea of interchangeable TV leads. From the rowing shells of the 1930s to secret magic societies, the range of Thomas Elms movies and tv shows is becoming a masterclass in how to build a lasting career without being pigeonholed.
The Breakout: Hamish Duke and the Netflix Magic
Let’s be real: most of us met Thomas Elms through The Order. Playing Hamish Duke, the leader of the Knights of St. Christopher, Elms had to balance being a literal werewolf with being a cynical, alcohol-loving college student who’s been in school for way too many years.
Hamish was the "dad" of the group, but a cool, lethal dad.
What made that performance work wasn’t the CGI fur. It was the weariness Elms brought to the role. He played Hamish as a guy who had seen too many friends die and was just trying to keep his remaining "pups" alive. It’s a shame Netflix pulled the plug after two seasons, because the chemistry between Elms and the rest of the pack—especially Adam DiMarco—was the best part of the show.
Quick Credits: The Early TV Days
Before he was a werewolf, Elms was putting in the work on some big-name sets. You can spot him in:
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- Timeless (2017)
- Aftermath (2016)
- Project Blue Book (2019)
These weren't massive roles, but they were the foundation. He was learning the rhythm of a professional set, which would come in handy when he finally landed a lead.
SkyMed: Taking Flight and Getting Physical
If The Order made him a cult favorite, SkyMed proved he could carry a heavy drama. Playing Milosz Nowak, a pilot for an air ambulance service in Northern Canada, Elms had to get technical. This wasn't just "hit your mark and say the line." He and the cast spent time in actual King Air planes, learning the cockpit layout and the physical toll of flying in extreme conditions.
Nowak is a complex guy. He’s an immigrant with a chip on his shoulder and a work ethic that borders on obsessive.
During interviews, Elms has talked about how he used his own family history—his grandparents fled Latvia during WWII—to fuel Nowak’s drive. It makes the character feel grounded. In Season 2, we saw a much more vulnerable side of him, especially during the arc with his mother and the emotional fallout of his brother’s death. Elms described the filming as a "pressure cooker," and you can feel that intensity in every scene.
Entering the Big Leagues with The Boys in the Boat
Working with George Clooney is a "bucket list" item for most actors. For Thomas Elms, it became a reality with The Boys in the Boat (2023).
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He played Chuck Day, part of the legendary University of Washington rowing team that went to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This wasn't a "glamour" role. The actors had to undergo months of grueling rowing training to look like a cohesive Olympic unit. If they didn't look like they knew what they were doing, the whole movie would have crumbled.
Elms’ performance as Chuck Day showed he could handle the scale of a major historical epic. He wasn't just a supporting character; he was part of the rhythmic heart of the film. It’s a huge leap from the "CW-style" drama of his earlier work to a prestige film directed by an Oscar winner.
Beyond the Screen: What to Watch Next
If you’re looking to round out your knowledge of Thomas Elms movies and tv shows, you can't skip the indie side of his career.
He showed up in Spiral (2019)—no, not the Saw spin-off, but a terrifyingly relevant horror film about a same-sex couple moving into a small town with dark secrets. He also appeared in the supernatural thriller I Still See You (2018) alongside Bella Thorne.
Recent and Upcoming Work
As of 2025 and 2026, Elms has been branching out further:
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- The Thirteenth Wife: Escaping Polygamy (2025): A miniseries where he plays Ed Marston, showing a much grittier, more grounded side than his "pretty boy" roles might suggest.
- SkyMed Season 3: The show has built a massive international following on Paramount+, and Nowak remains a central pillar of the ensemble.
Actionable Takeaway: How to Keep Up
Thomas Elms is an actor who values the "physicality" of the craft. Whether he’s rowing a boat until his hands bleed or sitting in a sound booth trying to recreate the gasping breath of a pilot in distress, he puts in the work.
If you want to see the best of him, start with The Order for the charisma, then move to SkyMed for the acting chops. He’s active on Instagram (@thomasgelms), where he occasionally shares behind-the-scenes glimpses that prove he’s just as much of a dork as the characters he plays.
Keep an eye on his move into more "prestige" TV and film. The transition from George Clooney’s direction to leading man status is a path many have taken, and Elms has the discipline to make it stick.
Check out The Boys in the Boat on streaming to see the physical transformation for yourself—it’s probably his most impressive work to date.