From my place in Milan, connecting via Zoom to Tramell Tillman in the US, there’s something fittingly modern about discussing a franchise that has always pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in cinema.

Best known for his masterful portrayal of the mysteriously charming Seth Milchick in Apple TV+’s “Severance” – a character who dances between mentor and menace with unnerving grace – Tramell brings that same ability to navigate moral ambiguity in Mission: Impossible’s most likely final chapter. A couple of weeks after the glamour and excitement of Cannes Film Festival, where “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” made its spectacular debut, Tramell sat to reflected with me on his journey from the sterile, unsettling corridors of Lumon Industries to the claustrophobic depths of a submarine as Captain Bledsoe. As we settle into our conversation across continents, it becomes clear that whether he’s keeping corporate secrets or military ones, Tillman has an uncanny gift for making audiences question who they can really trust.

What’s your first cinema memory?

“The Lion King”, and I fell in love with it. It was myself, my sister, who’s four years my senior, her best friend and my best friend. I remember that my sister’s best friend had just got her hair done, braids, and during the film, there was a moment where we were laughing so hard that I noticed she had to put her hand over her head because the vibrations of her laughter were making her hair really sore [laughs]. It was so much fun, and I didn’t realize how much fun I could have in a movie theater until I saw “The Lion King”.

Yeah, movie theaters are the best places to be. Now, speaking of “Mission: Impossible”: this is probably the most iconic example of high-budget filmmaking. What was it like stepping into such a legendary franchise, especially for what might be its final chapter?

It was an honor to be a part of it. You know, “Severance” is a massive show, but “Mission: Impossible” is epic, and you feel how grand it is when you are stepping onto the set. When I was doing the scene in the submarine, and I was in the control room, I could feel how authentic the space was. I hadn’t had the pleasure of being on a submarine before, unless it was a submarine-themed restaurant [laughs], but being in that space, with the steel and the coldness of it all, it felt so magical. It was up to us, the actors, to fill in and bring the warmth and the magic into that space. I also had the opportunity to see the torpedo room in the Sevastopol where Ethan Hunt travels down underneath, into the water, and he opens the door, and he sees all these torpedoes stacked on there.

Seeing that in person, my jaw was on the floor.

“You know, ‘Severance’ is a massive show, but ‘Mission: Impossible’ is epic, and you feel how grand it is when you are stepping onto the set.”

What drew you to your character? Did you recognize parts of yourself in him – or was the appeal the total opposite?

I was intrigued by the fact that this man was the captain of a submarine, and he scouted or saw Ethan out in the sea, and brought him in, and was willing to help him once he got the cue from Admiral Neely. That level of trust and the commitment that the military has with each other, to really go about carrying on the mission and helping other people on their mission really spoke to me. It was all very new information to me.

The film seems to reflect deeply on transformation, and at the same time it sort of suggests how the “Mission: Impossible” franchise has changed its creators. Did working on this project change anything for you as an actor or artist?

Working with such talented actors like Tom Cruise and wonderful creators like Christopher McQuarrie really taught me a lot about removing the ego. This felt like a beautiful exercise in improv as many are the lines I received either on the spot or just a day or two before. I had the task of making it seem like all those lines came out of my mouth in an expert way – I had to let the audience believe that I was the captain of the ship and I’d been doing this for years. So, you wanted to talk about letting go of any ideas that you had of the character or how you wanted to play it? That was out the door – you really had to relax, breathe and just trust.

Director McQuarrie said each of his four “Mission: Impossible” films had to “look and feel different”. From your perspective, how does “The Final Reckoning” stand apart visually or thematically?

It feels heightened to me. Stakes are higher: there’s the threat of world collapse, and it feels as this character’s back is truly up against the wall because he’s having to convince people that he has never met to trust him and go out on a limb for him. With that, the stunts are even more insane. How Tom Cruise was able to dangle himself from an airplane thousands of feet in the air mystifies me. I’ve seen this movie four times and my jaw is on the floor every single time I see those stunts.

“I’ve seen this movie four times, and my jaw is on the floor every single time I see those stunts.”

He’s crazy, admirable, amazing, but crazy… Even McQuarrie joked that he’s now addicted to being in incredibly uncomfortable environments (deserts, submarines, etc.). What was the most challenging or surreal part of the production for you physically or emotionally?

Physically, it was pretty easy for me, I just got to tell people what to do, fill in a little bit of exposition. Emotionally, it was just trying to keep calm, even though my scene partner is Tom Cruise and this man I’ve watched for years and have appreciated his work for so long. I had to find a way to just breathe, keep calm and make sure I did not ruin it.

Did you ever walk on set thinking you were doing one thing only to be asked to try something completely different?

Oh yeah! [laughs] I didn’t know what I was getting in to do, I was terrified!

There was a moment where I thought, “Am I being hazed? Is this an initiation process and they’re just moving everything around?” [laughs]. But it was so much fun, and Christopher really led with a kind and instructive hand – he’s a teaching director, and taught me so much about camera work, angles, so I was able to relax a little bit. But it was still terrifying, day after day.

If you could describe this chapter of “Mission: Impossible” with one word, what would it be?

Exhilarating [laughs].

Speaking of “Severance”: I think there’s something choreographed about the way Milchick moves through Lumon: he’s like a dancer in a context of rigid rules. I’m curious, did movement or rhythm play a role in how you built the character? What do his iconic, eerie dances reveal about him?

I think 100% movement played a part in building the character.

I did a little animal study in grad school and that was a big part in building Milchik. It was finding a character that seemed to play along with the material that was given. Because this guy is a keeper of secrets, and because he has to be able to create an environment where people can trust him and be a disciplinarian at the same time, it felt that his moods are very stealthy and strong, but there’s a gentleness there as well. So, for me, that felt very cat-like.

“Cat-like”

Yeah, because he’s so charming but at the same time sinister, in a way – you never really feel like you can trust him. What did “Severance” and Mr Milchick teach you about control, or the illusion of it?

It reminded me that the only thing we have control over is ourselves.

How do you choose your characters? Or do they choose you?

I think it’s a little bit of both! Christopher McQuarrie reached out to my team wanting to talk about just wanting to meet me, so I didn’t have any idea of what he had in mind, but then I learned that he wanted to offer me a role in “Mission: Impossible”, and so I wasn’t going to turn that down! But I hadn’t really had a full grasp as to who this character was when he was proposing it to me.

When it came to Seth Milchik, I was intrigued because there was a mystery behind this guy, he felt like a puzzle that I wanted to solve, and I’m still working it out.

Of course. And what thrills you more: characters who hide, or characters who reveal?

There’s always fun in the mystery of hiding, right? The why and what they reveal, and when they reveal. But there’s also something interesting about a character who reveals because the writer is deciding what is being revealed and it’s up to the actor to figure out why they’re revealing this truth and why at this moment. Mystery is so intriguing to me.

“There’s always fun in the mystery of hiding, right?”

What song or record represents this very moment in your life?

That is such a good question! I’m listening to so much good music. I’m a music person, I usually start my day with music, and chances are I end the day with it as well. What song? I’m leaning towards Stevie Wonder. Stevie is such a beautiful artist to me, he’s an inspiration, and his song “Another Star” is incredibly celebratory. So, I have to say, “Another Star”.

Are you reading anything in particular right now?

Oh, I’m reading so much! [laughs] My brain is shifting from this place to another whenever I’m reading. I’m currently reading a story about Emile Griffith, who was a boxer in the 50s and his story is really compelling. I’m also reading “Sky Full of Elephants” by Cebo Campbell. You know, I pick up one book and then start it and then pick up another!

What’s the latest thing you learned about yourself thanks to your job?

I learned that I have to work on my trust issues! I have really bad trust issues. You know, they always say that cliché statement, “Trust the process”, and I always do an eyeroll when I hear that, but it’s really true. I think that eye roll comes from the fact that I have issues trusting and I don’t want to trust, I want to control everything. However, what I’m learning from the last few characters I’ve been playing is letting go and just trust.

Your greatest act of rebellion?

Living authentically as who I am and not apologizing for it.

What’s your biggest fear?

Honestly? Being forgotten.

What’s the best view in the world for you? If you had to open a window, what would you love to see outside?

The ocean on the horizon. It’s limitless and it’s strong and it’s so unpredictable.

What does it mean to you to feel comfortable in your own skin?

It’s when I can dance like no one’s watching.

What’s your happy place?

Any place where there’s music.

Photos & Video by Johnny Carrano.

Styling by Chaise Dennis.

Grooming by Venner James.

Location: Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel.