sweater. Brain Dead
shirt. GANT
trousers. Kenzo
shoes. Blundstones
opposite
shirt. Saint Laurent
Seattle-born and bred actor Dylan Arnold has perfected the art of playing the romantic and down-to-earth boy from next door. Now he tests deeper waters and delivers an astonishing performance as Stephen Zawadzkie in Lady in the Lake opposite Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram. Based on the novel of the same name by Laura Lippman, the American limited series streaming on Apple TV+ is directed by the marvellous Alma Har’el is set across seven episodes in the 1960s in Baltimore. The show focuses on investigative journalist Maddie Schwartz, played by Natalie Portman, who aims to uncover two separate killings.
Known for sweetheart Theo Engler in You and Frank Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer, Dylan knows his craft by heart. He studied at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and, following graduation, has amassed an enviable resume, establishing himself as one of the most promising and versatile young actors in Hollywood. He’s already shared the screen with the likes of Ray Liotta, Scott Eastwood, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Selma Blair, and worked with leading filmmakers such as Rick Rosenthal, David Gordon Green, Lynn Shelton, Greg Berlanti, and Matthew Lillard, among others.
Sitting down with Schön!, Dylan Arnold discusses his role in Lady in the Lake, his life outside acting and more.
sweater. Stüssy
shirt. Rag & Bone
trousers. Vivienne Westwood
opposite
sweater. Brain Dead
When did you know you wanted to be an actor?
I always loved playing pretend with my friends running around and pretending we were in the Lord of the Rings. I would do these theatre school shows when I was young, I got that same kind of excitement and feeling on stage that I did playing pretend when I was a kid. Fortunately, my parents were very encouraging and supportive of me so I was able to pursue that and as long as I can remember, there was no thought in my mind that I wanted to do anything else. Which is very, very lucky. I figured it out early on.
Hundred percent, you’re very lucky! Also, congratulations on Lady in the Lake. I loved watching it and I know you from You. Why don’t we talk about your role? You play Steven! How did you prepare for the role?
It probably was the most involved preparation process I’ve done so far. There was a physical transformation and the director wanted me to lose some weight for it, which I was able to do. That was a really interesting experience and she wanted me to do it healthily. That was something that I hadn’t done before. We wanted to focus on the physicality of the character. I was set up with some wonderful coaches that I worked with. I got to work with Kim Gillingham who was a dream coach and Beth McGuire, a wonderful dialect coach, and Moni Hakim, who’s a wonderful movement coach. I was able to work with all these talented, really incredible people leading up to when we were filming. I was able to create the character in this kind of trial-and-error safe space period before I got on set. I feel very fortunate about it, it opened up in a way that I didn’t expect. But the physicality was very important for us to get right with the character
And were there any challenges that you faced while preparing for the role?
Losing weight was probably the most challenging thing because we were filming for about six months. We’re filming seven episodes, and we’re block-shooting the whole thing, which means we bounce around from episode to episode and film all seven episodes like a giant movie, essentially. I had some downtime because of that. I had moments where I would go to Baltimore and film and then come back and I’d have three weeks and I would have to figure out how to maintain my body weight, but also make sure I was nourishing myself. So, I think that was probably the most challenging aspect of it mentally. It’s also the characters — it’s a very heavy story that I’m involved in. I think staying in that mental space was also pretty, pretty challenging. But it was wonderful as was challenging. I think that that’s always really exciting when you get opportunities to push yourself and grow.
Yeah. You always have to get out of your comfort zone.
Which I did! I only did that for this month!
sweater. TM
shirt. Alexander Wang
trousers. Polo
opposite
shirt. Saint Laurent
trousers. MNML
boots. Vintage
And when you read the script and the book, what drew you to play in Lady in the Lake and your character?
I read the book and I enjoyed that. I thought it was compelling for the show. When I first got the audition, I thought of the chance to work with Alma Morrell and Natalie Portman. I think those are two people that I wanted to work with since I saw Honey Boy, that was kind of on my wish list. So, I’m very happy and lucky that we worked together. Of course, Natalie Portman — who wouldn’t want to work with her. Those two were a really big draw for me. I think it’s always really wonderful when you get to work with people who’ve impacted you. You get to come on set and participate in this thing that they do so well. So, I feel like when you’re able to do that, it just sets you up for success.
And is there something specific that you want the audience to take away from the story or your character in particular?
There are so many twists and turns throughout it. It’s so visually compelling that I almost want people to go in with an open mind and just experience it and go along for the ride. There’s a lot packed into these seven episodes. I fear that if I give them a little something, they might miss something else. I think everyone’s going to take something different from it, which will be wonderful.
I think that’s the magic of storytelling, that everyone can just take something different from the story and whatever they need at the time.
Absolutely, because it can mean different things to different people. People can relate to some characters or others and that’s what’s special about it.
And as you said, it’s amazing to work with people like Natalie Portman and incredible directors. What is something that you learned from them?
I mostly worked with Natalie. I did learn a lot. I think it’s so wonderful to watch how she carries herself on set. You almost forget that she’s been doing this since she was 12 but she just has this wonderful grounded presence about her that you forget that she’s been in the industry since she was that young. She was just so generous, off-camera. It’s refreshing and lovely when you see a seasoned, wonderful actor be present with you through the whole process. I think that’s amazing to experience and just how she approached the work. There is this wonderful balance of humour and joy even in the dark moments, which I think you have to have because if you get too locked in the dark moments, it’s not going to be fun anymore. That‘s what’s important not to lose in this is that it is fun making movies and television is extremely fun and it can be very challenging but I think maintaining that balance keeps you safe.
And as I mentioned before, you worked on Oppenheimer and You previously. How was the experience working on Lady in the Lake different?
I think that every set is very different. I think the thing with Lady in the Lake, what was so lovely we had a lot of time. We filmed seven episodes over six months, we had that luxury. Especially on a TV show, it is very unheard of to have that much time. We had some scenes that I filmed with Natalie, we had all day to shoot. We did dozens and dozens of takes because all I wanted to get was to be able to explore and play around and she took moments with me to lead me through breathing exercises before we filmed so we had this wonderful and evolved process that you don’t quite get on a lot of other shows and movies. I mean, all the other experiences that I’ve had on set have also been wonderful, but they’re very different. I think the thing with this is, that we have this time to mess around and explore and try things which as an actor is always so exciting, to be able to fail because I think that’s when you discover some wonderful moments.
I can imagine there’s so much pressure as an actor to make it in the industry. I think you can be very proud of yourself and I’m sure that’s only the beginning of all the great things that are coming.
Well, I enjoy doing it, so I want to keep doing it!
shirt. Saint Laurent
trousers. MNML
boots. Vintage
opposite
shirt. GANT
trousers. MNML
boots. Vintage
What is one of the best advice you’ve ever been given throughout your career?
Probably, Matthew Lillard who directed me in my first movie. He told me to go to college and study so that was probably the best advice I’ve received. He directed me in this wonderful movie Fat Kid Rules The World up in Seattle, where I’m from, when I was 17 years old. I was deciding between going to college or just coming to LA. He told me to take my time and go study and I think that was probably the best piece of advice I’ve ever received.
Good that you followed it. [Laughs] And on the other hand, what advice would you give aspiring actors?
Well, yeah, maybe go to college. [Laughs] Study, if it’s for you, it’s not for everybody. I would probably say, maintain a curiosity about yourself and the world and other artists and watch movies. Pay attention to really great performances and ask yourself why they’re so good. And don’t forget to breathe while you’re doing it.
And who’s one of your biggest inspirations when it comes to acting?
There are so many wonderful actors out there, so many wonderful performances. I think that there’s a couple on my mind that I love. Sam Rockwell is someone who I look up to. I think he’s someone who delivers on every single thing he does, he creates these compelling characters. And he’s an inspiration of mine. But I think it’s wonderful when you get to watch an actor and ask yourself, how they did what they’re doing. I think when you’re almost at a loss of how they’re able to achieve what they’re doing on screen, it’s always so exciting. There are so many wonderful actors out there now and there are so many wonderful projects, and it’s really exciting to get to be able to continue and to discover new people as well.
And who are maybe three people that you’d love to work with?
Oh man, that’s tough. I’ll say, Sam Rockwell. I worked with him on a movie when I was about 19. But in one scene, I had no idea what I was doing at that point in my life. I’d love another shot with Sam. This is going to answer the question, but I think that I really would love to work with new people and I would love to have an opportunity to work with people that I’ve worked with again. I think it’s cool when you get to establish a creative relationship with someone and I would love to see what that would be like to enter that space again. Once you’ve already worked together, you have a creative language going on. You can kind of further explore what that process means to you. I think that that would be cool, to work with someone again.
And what would you say is the most memorable moment of your career so far? Everyone has their “I made it” moment. Do you think you had that already? Or is it still coming?
I hope not. I hope it’s still coming. I hope I have a lot more to look forward to in my career, but it’s been pretty wonderful. So far, I felt very fortunate. I think working with Christopher Nolan was something that wasn’t even on my bucket list because I didn’t think that it would happen so I’m grateful for that experience. And honestly, I think the whole process and working with Alma. I think that’s up there for sure. One of the defining moments in my mind.
And if you wouldn’t be an actor, what would you do?
I haven’t thought about doing anything else for my whole life. Realistically, if I could just pick anything and I can do it well, I would love to be an astronomer, I find that very fascinating. I also really wanted to be a professional baseball player when I was a kid. A baseball player or an actor or an astronomer. Do all those seem to go together? Not really. [Laughs]
You can still make it happen! [Laughs] And what does a day offset look like for you? So what’s the perfect day for you when you’re not working?
I think it’s so different which is very exciting. I love to play baseball, I play baseball for fun in LA. And I enjoy rock climbing, I love watching movies and I love travelling. I love reading. I think it’s a wonderful career because it’s challenging because when you’re working, you’re so focused on your work and you’re so busy all the time and when you’re not, there‘s very little structure in your life. So, that is a challenge but I think being able to make every day what you want, is pretty cool.
You mentioned that you like reading and in another interview, I read that you also like writing. What do you normally write about?
I think it depends. I enjoy writing in the form of screenplays, I enjoy writing poetry if I’m inspired, but I don’t share my writing with anybody. But you know, I feel like that will change eventually. I think that I would like to write something that gets made. I enjoy the process. I enjoy writing dialogue and the idea of collaborating with other creative people. I usually write in screenplay format. That’s also what I know the best. That’s what I read the most and it does change my mood.
suit. Prada
shirt. Raf Simmons
opposite
shirt. Saint Laurent
Are there any other endeavours that you would like to pursue in the future other than acting?
I think I would love writing. I would enjoy directing. I produced a short film last year that I had never produced before and I had a nice time doing that so I can see myself enjoying that as well. I just love this field so much and the possibilities that it holds so I think any and everything in this business I would want to tackle.
I have loads of respect for actors and the hard work they put in everything. It‘s challenging!
I have a ton of respect for people who finish a project because it’s not easy, but it’s easier to start a project than finish a project for sure.
And what is something that you would like to be remembered for? It can be acting related, but also as a person.
That’s a big question. I feel like I would just like to be remembered well by my friends and the people that I interact with in life. I think that is important to me.
What can fans be excited about and what can we expect from you in the future?
Hopefully, more interesting projects they can watch. Hopefully, one day something written by me, maybe directed by me. I think that a goal of mine in my career is to do as many different types of projects as I can and different types of characters. So, I think it’s always my goal to kind of keep myself surprised. The hope would be to keep everybody else surprised.
What’s your favourite kind of character to play?
I do find something that I love about each one. But I think whenever I’m able to enter a character that is very different from myself. I think that it’s really exciting to try to find the ways that you are similar and then also the ways that you’re different and kind of just get myself into a completely different headspace. I think that’s challenging, but ultimately very exciting.
What does fashion mean to you personally?
I think it’s a chance at self-expression. What’s cool about working with stylists and brands is that it’s a mix of self-expression as well as creative input from them. It is a collaboration. And when it comes to red carpet outfits, it almost does feel like a costume. It’s an elevated version of yourself. It’s not something that you would normally wear every day and I think that it’s cool to find that blend of things that feel like you but also feel out of your comfort zone and like a different version of yourself.
shirt. Raf Simmons
opposite
shirt. Saint Laurent
Lady in The Lake is now streaming on Apple TV+.
photography. Phil Chester + Sara Byrne
fashion. Emily Cavari
talent. Dylan Arnold
grooming. Rachel Burney @ The Wall Group using Balmain Hair + La Mer
creative production. Clara La Rosa
interview. Maja Bebber
