There have been a few Thomas Forresters before him — Patrick Dorn, Drew Tyler Bell, Adam Gregory, and Pierson Fodé — but since taking over as Ridge and Taylor’s son on The Bold and the Beautiful, Matthew Atkinson has become the quintessential actor to portray him.
A Bold and the Beautiful Man of Many Colors
Why do we love Matthew Atkinson so much as Thomas? There are many reasons, starting with his on-point portrayal of the troubled Forrester heir. Atkinson totally embodies the conundrum that is Thomas. He easily deviates from playing him cool, cunning, and coy one minute to sweet and sympathetic the next. He keeps viewers guessing as to which Thomas will appear at any given moment, always knowing that there’s an undercurrent of danger beneath his surface.
Matthew Atkinson: Designer Dude
Atkinson is also totally believable as a high-end fashion designer. Whether he’s seated at the drawing board sketching a Hope for the Future creation, examining a gown on a model, or suggesting a subtle tweak to a hemline or neckline, the actor talks the talk and walks the walk effortlessly. He’s got the jargon down and the attitude to match.
B&B: Playing with Others
Atkinson’s relationships with his character’s family members, foes, and the object of his obsession, Hope (Annika Noelle), are all intricately rich and well-fleshed out. He respects and admires his grandfather, Eric (John McCook), and father, Ridge (Thorsten Kaye), and looks to them for guidance and inspiration. He totally adores his mother, Taylor (Krista Allen), and strives to be her devoted well-behaved son, albeit falling short more times than not. And he has a strong sibling relationship with Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), the sister who constantly challenges him to be a better man.
Meanwhile, Atkinson shares a unique chemistry with Annika Noelle that fuels Thomas’s unrequited love story with Hope. Although she constantly keeps him at a distance, he continues to pine for her. It’s a devotion portrayed to perfection.
When it comes to his adversarial relationships Thomas’s long-time stepmother, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), and Hope’s true love, Liam (Scott Clifton), are at the top of the heap. The tension between Thomas and the pair is front and center in every scene they share, and the animosity he has for both of them is always simmering.
Thomas Forrester: Daddy Dearest
Last but not least, Atkinson has an incredible bond with young Henry Joseph Samiri, who plays his only son, Douglas. Viewers can easily feel Thomas’s love for the boy and his sincere desire to be a good father to him, yet he fails miserably. Time after time, he’s put the child in uncomfortable situations, either prodding him to lie for him or demanding he keeps an abominable secret. While Thomas never seems to learn from his mistakes, Atkinson’s fine portrayal of him gives viewers hope that he could one day see the light. Until then, it’s a joy watching him portray the perfectly imperfect character.
The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. For an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.
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