Brandon Flynn

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Photography | MARK SQUIRES
Fashion Editor | DEBORAH FERGUSON

Brandon Flynn is an American actor. Originally from Miami, the 26-year-old came onto the scene in the groundbreaking Netflix series “13 Reasons Why,” which just aired its fourth and final season. In June, he made his feature film debut as the lead in “Looks That Kill” (now available on-demand) and he will appear later this year in Ryan Murphy’s much anticipated “Ratched,” based on the American classic, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” ContentMode spoke with Flynn about saying goodbye to a character, fame in the era or Instagram and the current state of the world.

Jacket, belt, pants: DSquared2; Sneakers: Les Hommes

Interview by Sydney Nash.

Q: I would like to acknowledge that this interview is taking place in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the protests happening across the nation (and the world) following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. So first, how have you been doing? Where have you been in your headspace recently?

A: I have been okay. I’ve had a lot more time to be alone with my thoughts and feelings. We all have. There’s a lot more space and time to work on myself, and honestly, today, I’m tired in many ways and inspired and grateful in many ways. It’s really easy to slip into spirals and worry and fear. The past couple of weeks I’ve tried to give myself some credit; focusing on presence, possibility, forgiveness, accountability, and gratitude. We are all in the middle of history, and I think a lot of people are asking the most important questions there are: “How do I show up for myself, how do I show up for others, and how do I show up for justice?”

Q: I’ve noticed you’ve been an active advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement and have participated in some of the marches in Los Angeles. Do you have any thoughts to share regarding the movement and momentum it has gained nationally in the last few weeks?

A: I have thoughts on my own involvement; I’m really late. But better late than never. I am extremely grateful for BLM. They have been there for a community of people who have lost their family members due to murderous cops and law enforcement systems that have held an unbearable lack of justice for Black People and Indigenous People and People of Color. BLM has also been there for people like myself who have JUST begun to understand the heaviness and reality of how racism has shaped major parts and aspects of my life, my work, my wallet, and my privilege.

Q: Tell me about your introduction to acting. What was your first role?

A: I was forced into it 🙂

In elementary school, if you were in the honors program, you did the play in your final year. So there I was, auditioning for Peter Pan with my friend who wanted to be Captain Hook. So, I stuffed a pillow in my shirt, found an old pair of glasses and became her Mr. Smee. I pretty much fell in love right away. I knew at ten years old, I was not destined for sports, so I remember being relieved I had found something that I liked.

Turtle neck: Stylist’s own; Sweatshirt: Artform; Pants: Marcelo Burlon; Belt: DSquared2

Q: Arguably your big break into acting came in the role of Justin Foley in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. Tell me how this role came about and what drew you to the character initially.

A: I just graduated college and was living in Brooklyn; auditioning by day and catering by night. 13 Reasons Why was one of my first auditions but they brought me in first, for Clay and Bryce…both of which I felt wrong for. But I was getting glimpses of the copy, and the script seemed to have really great dialogue, in my opinion – like teenagers were sort of speaking the way they actually speak about things that I hadn’t really seen tackled on television before. Finally, they called me in for Justin and I remember, while reading the sides, I called my agent at the time and just said “Dude, this is me.” Justin and I have grown up differently and similarly, but really where I connected so deeply with him at the time, was this person’s need to be accepted and looked after. A person who put so much into survival and approval, a person whose intentions might have been good, but he was so disconnected from self that his moral compass was almost beyond repair… I felt like I had a lot to learn from Justin from the moment I auditioned for him. I was not wrong.

Q: The first season garnered a lot of press and online chatter (of both praise and some critique). Before it premiered, did you have any sense of the impact it would have?

A: Honestly, yeah. It might have been a naive guess at the time… but it felt like something special was being made during that first season. From the way the creators were ensuring the story was being told in a specific and informed way, from the way the actors on set were handling the material and relationships, and the way the directors would be excited to be on set…it really did feel like magic. I hate to sound played out, but there is a reason a show like this received the amount of critique it did… there is so much of it that feels like “HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?” It is upsetting. It is not a comfortable feeling to realize that children are so unprotected and without resources, especially at school. It is hard to realize that there is a large amount of cruelty amongst people, amongst kids, that the pressures of growing up get more intense generation to generation. While people might call our show wild, untruthful, enabling, romanticizing… but as someone who is less than a decade out of high school, a lot of the issues tackled on the show were very prominent for me. And while I never experienced some of it myself, it wasn’t absurd to think I could turn the news on and see a lot of the narratives we dove into being discussed and reported on within our communities. SO, to answer the question, I didn’t think people would have such a difficult time with certain matters that already felt extremely prevalent within our society… but it feels like a powerful conversation, and I am happy people are having it.

Suit & Belt: DSquared2; Turtle neck: Stylists own; Loafers: Sebago

Q: The success of the series has very much put you into the media spotlight and you have gained a large following on social media. How has the show’s success affected your life?

A: So little has changed, and so much has changed. I feel like there is the more obvious fact that I am a financially stable 26-year-old, something I thought would not be possible as an actor. I do feel out of the public eye for the most part, unless I am dating someone…then media really cares about THAT… but for the most part, I feel like I still have a lot of privacy. And maybe that is because we have Instagram now and there is already an invitation into all our lives with the click of a “Follow” button, but I still have a growing sense of responsibility to be someone in the public eye that wasn’t there for me when I was younger. So in many ways, my success and the show’s success has pushed me to be much more thoughtful about my life and my actions. I realize that my thoughts and my beliefs can be an inspiration for someone – and I don’t mean that in a boastful way – I mean it in a very real way. It wasn’t until recently, as I’ve been approaching turning 27 this year, that I realize most of my idols have passed away at this age. That is what I had as a kid: a bright light with talent that will burn out by 27. Success has encouraged me to keep that light shining, doing the tough work that makes it shine brighter than even I thought was possible so others can see it’s possible to “be the light.”

Q: The show has been a part of your life for almost 4 years now. Tell me how you’re feeling that the show has come to an end.

A: There is a relief. I think the story ended at a perfect time. As far as a show living on, this has the perfect element. It delves into an extremely deep and formative chapter in most people’s lives, and when that chapter closes, so does the show’s. I hold this show very close to my heart. I watched my life change, and I watched other lives change because of it. I’ve made friends that I would call family. I am grateful for what has come and ready for what comes next.

Q: Justin goes through a tremendous amount of growth through the series. Did you ever feel like you were personally growing along with him?

A: ALL THE TIME. I wish I could properly explain how bonded I feel to Justin. I always understood him, because I was him and that would scare the fuck out of me, because I feel similar to him. “How much longer can things stay good, how much longer till everyone starts to hate me?”… These are questions about Justin’s experience I asked myself often throughout filming. Justin held my hand through major life experiences… and that is my hope for the show: that people will continue to watch it while they are in high school and feel like these kids are holding their hands, too. No one has the answer to “how to do life”, and at a time when you are young and scared and quite frankly…allowed to be dumb, it is really easy to look around and feel like everyone else has this “answer.” I don’t think anyone has it. People now will tell me “oohhh when you’re thirty, everything will click.” “OHHH no, wait till you hit 40, life just simplifies”….life doesn’t. You simplify. Justin taught me to simplify, look around and take in the things that I need to care about, that I want to care about, and make sure that I am on that list of people, places and things.

Turtle neck: Stylist’s own; Pullover Windbreaker: Les Hommes; Jeans: Iceberg; Sneakers: Fila

Q: Without spoiling any of the last season, what were your emotions when you read the script for the final season?

A: As a creative, I was stoked! I get to play all that. I get to “experience” what it would be like, and I think it is really strong storytelling. But also, if you’ve watched the final season, you will understand: I was heartbroken.

Q: What’s one thing you’ll take with you from your experience being on the show? Did you take any real mementos from the set?

A: I learned and realized what family looks like. I took one of Clay’s sweaters and an Alien Killer Robot comic book. If anyone finds Justin’s jacket, I’ll gladly take it.

Q: Your film Looks That Kill is now available on VOD. Can you share with us a little about the project and your role?

A: It was a really fun movie. It’s a wild storyline that feels very fantastical. Max is quite a special kid with a lot to figure out. It’s a really interesting coming-of-age story.

Jumpsuit and Boots: DSquared2

Q: How does it feel to transcend from the television arena to your first starring role in a feature film?

A: Great! I really like filming movies because you have a clear arc that you just can’t have in your head for a four season series. It excites me to sort of be able to plant storytelling devices as an actor that help pave the characters progression.

Q: We’ll be seeing you return to television later this year in Ryan Murphy’s Ratched for Netflix. While we know that many details are still under wraps, is there anything you can share with us about working alongside this incredible cast?

A: It Is the wildest thing I’ve done in front of the camera, that is for sure. It’s a very Ryan Murphy show, with a big cast and a twisted storyline, and I feel really grateful to be a part of it.