Meet Lucas Till: Top freshman in ‘X-Men: First Class’

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The jampacked ensemble of ‘X-Men: First Class’ leaves little room for a breakout story when January Jones’ baby bump rages, Michael Fassbender‘s romance with rock royalty Zoe Kravitz is in bloom and audiences have the task of reorienting themselves with James McAvoy as a leading man.

Yet Lucas Till, the 20-year-old Southern blond who stands beside Jennifer Lawrence as the younger generation of mutants in the film, can hold his own. The Ministry had a chat with Lucas, and here are some essentials:

Too small for ball: Acting is his passion now, but he originally started because he couldn’t make the cut on the field. ‘I was really just too small for football,’ he said of growing up outside Atlanta, ‘and I needed an outlet.’

Making the grade: After landing the role of Havoc, an able-bodied mutant with the power to send out energy blasts, Till took every chance to learn from his older costars. ‘Fassbender is a great guy to look up to, not just as an actor but as a man. And McAvoy is very charming. He’s got the dirtiest jokes, but that accent makes everything sound good.’

January the matriarch: Though Jones wasn’t pregnant during filming, Till said he’s definitely seen her softer side. ‘She can be very nurturing,’ he said. ‘It’s great seeing her now at stuff like the junket because it’s a whole softer side of her. I think she’ll be a great mom.’

Body of work: As a budding action star, fitness is a priority. Lucas’ problem lies in his inability to keep weight on, so he found a novel solution while filming ‘First Class’ in London. ‘I drank a lot of beer,’ he said. (Till may legally drink in the United Kingdom.) ‘But as a rule, I go back to military basics — situps, pull-ups, pushups. That’s how they measure strength, and that keeps the bulk on.’

‘X-Men: First Class’ is currently in theaters.

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— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Lucas Till attends the New York City premiere of ‘X-Men: First Class’ on May 25. Credit: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images.