Shirt: COS, Trouser: Dickies, Sneakers: Holmes’ own
Interview by Sydney Nash.
Tell me a bit about your childhood and where you grew up. Do you remember the moment when you were first introduced to acting?
I was born in Pensacola, Florida and raised on a little peninsula called Gulf Breeze just off the beach down there. The first moment I was introduced to acting was probably some childish thing where I learned to fake an emotion or something to get whatever I wanted from my mom. Kids learn that kind of thing quickly. After that, it was church plays and things like that. As soon as I realized I didn’t mind being in front of a crowd, it kept developing.
What characteristics do you look for when reading a script? What draws you into a project?
There are so many things I could say, but the best answer and the thing that absolutely has to be there is a character expressing themselves. I can’t stand characters that hold everything in. I need expression, no matter how sloppy it may come out.
Shirt: COS, Trouser: Dickies, Sneakers: Holmes’ own
Suit: Neil Barrett, Shirt: Vintage, Boots: Holmes’ own
What’s been the most challenging role of your career? The most enjoyable? The most transformative?
The most challenging was playing a trans woman who turned to prostitution in the wake of leaving her family. It was a theatrical adaptation of the Fassbinder film In a Year of 13 Moons that Doris Mirescu directed in New York. It’s an incredibly tough film and the play was no different, but it was one of the most illuminating pieces of theatre I’ve been involved in, for me at least. I’m not sure how the audience took it. The most enjoyable is High Fidelity. No contest. If you watch the show, you’ll get it. Transformative? It’s hard to say… The Mindhunter gig was big in that regard because it was such a heavy scene and working with Fincher made me feel like I was working at a different level from what I had been used to.
You star in Hulu’s reprisal of the 2000 cult film High Fidelity, which starred John Cusack. You play Simon, Zoe Kravitz’s character’s employee at the record store, close friend, and ex. Tell me how this role came about and what initially drew you to Simon.
Well it was just an audition at first, like a thousand others, and one that I actually felt I did terrible at. Usually, when I thought I nailed an audition, I’d never hear anything back. But as the callbacks came in and I dug more into Simon, I guess I found myself drawn to the strength of his devotion to Rob and how he holds that place in her life as a constant even when he’s still trying to figure out what he’s all about.
Sweater: Theory at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills, Jeans and sneakers: Holmes’ own
This reiteration is removed from the original in many ways. What do you think makes this series standout from the original 2000 version?
It’s a totally different thing. and it should stand on its own. I’m a huge fan of the film and book, and I’ve always thought that cinema and TV would benefit from the way folk music works. There are folk songs that have been passed down for hundreds of years, sung and re-orchestrated by thousands of players all with their own take on it. As an exercise in storytelling, I think it’s beautiful to see different artists telling their versions of a known story, finding their own truth.
The original version is set in Chicago, while this series is set in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Tell me about shooting on location in New York City and what role place plays within the series.
We were shooting not far from where I’ve been living in Brooklyn for the past 16 years, so I have such a connection to this area personally. I’ve had a lot of life happen here, so that was an added layer for me. Being able to walk to work some days and see my neighbors. To shoot in bars I used to work at. To basically participate in this love letter to a kind of Brooklyn that doesn’t get shown too often.
Shirt: COS, Trouser: Dickies, Sneakers: Holmes’ own
High Fidelity finds the main character reexamining her past loves, as well as your own character navigating his own way through romance. Love and heartbreak are a universal human experience. As an actor, how do you make your emotions as real as possible for the audience?
Oh man, just training. It’s never easy or fun to talk about process. An actors process should be invisible while you’re watching them, so it’s best to leave it a mystery.
High Fidelity is a romantic comedy, but it feels a bit removed from the typical genre tropes. What about the show do you think makes it an outlier?
Messiness and heart.
You worked with a stellar cast. What’s one of your favorite memories from filming?
There was one time we were shooting outside and it started to downpour, so filming was delayed for about two hours. Instead of everyone staying in their trailers, we all just sat in this huge dining room – directors, writers, actors – and just talked like a big family. Of all the fun times we had shooting, that really sticks out for me.
After High Fidelity, what’s next for you?
Back to the grind. Auditioning and hopefully a little travel.
Quick Qs
You’re not on set. Where can we find you?
What are you, the FBI??
If you weren’t an actor, what would you be?
I’d probably attempt writing but hard to say. I never really thought about being anything else.
Dream co-star?
He recently died, but I always wanted to work with Seymour Cassel.
Most rewarding aspect of acting?
When it’s actually seen and appreciated.
Most difficult aspect of acting?
None of it I’d consider difficult really… Maybe early mornings, but even that you end up getting used to.
The last show you binged?
A re-watch of Fargo: Season 3.
Most underrated movie?
Magic Mike. You think it’s just about a bunch of dumb strippers, but its told with like a Cassaveteian earnestness.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Go where the work is.
