At Schön!, we love all things #ICE, and with Issue 23, we delved into all things skiing and snowboard related. With the season of Winter Sports reaching its peak, Schön! picked out the key skincare products for skiing. From lip balms to muscle soaks, here’s what should be in your luggage when you head off on your Winter Holidays!
With the high altitudes you’ll be reaching whilst out on the piste, the sun will be considerably stronger. Every thousand metres gained in altitude brings with it an increase of 5 to 10% in radiation. Add the reflection caused by the snow and you could get a nice sunburn in no time.
Long gone are the days of thick, sticky suncream. Lancaster have come up with a Winter Sport range which will be the first port of call before heading out into the cold. The Wind & Cold Protection Cream is a comforting SPF 50 sunscreen: with extracts of babassu oil, shea oil and edelweiss flower, this soothing sunscreen is perfect for protecting your skin without any greasy side-effects.
Already layered up with the & Cold Protection Cream? Don’t forget to take the Lancaster All Terrain stick with you, which uses the same protective formula as the Wind & Cold Protection cream. With its ergonomic applicator, this life-saving SPF 50 lip balm is to be kept in pockets at all times when out on the slopes.
On a similar vein, This Works have devised a long lasting Turbo Balm which will help alleviate the symptoms of dry, chapped skin. You can use this miracle combination of Tahitian Monoi Oil and Cocoa Butter to strengthen dry lips or irritated hands.
For skin which has had a bit of a traumatic experience in the snow, Dermalogica’s Ultracalming Barrier Repair will be sure to soothe irritated skin. This Barrier Repair will help shield against any extreme temperatures or radiation, and for sensitive skin, this is a perfect solution which comes without any artificial fragrances or colours.
After an intensive day of skiing, your skin will need to be looked after. With sub zero temperatures and intense sun, you’ll need to replenish and protect your skin in preparation for the following day. For the guys, we suggest packing Kiehl’s Heavy Lifting Facial Fuel in your luggage. This staple has a moisturising and firming effect on the skin, and contains caffeine and Vitamin C to help regenerate the skin. Alternatively, we recommend Biotherm Homme’s High Recharge Energy Shot which helps combat the signs of fatigue. This moisturiser will help you look wide awake and will make any signs of wear and tear disappear in a tick.
Elemental Herbology’s Biodynamic Facial Soufflé is a moisture replenishing cream which will improve the hydration levels of your skin. Perfect for use after a day out in the sun, this repair mask with extracts of Rose Damask and Calendula will restore and repair the barrier functions of your skin.
What better than a hot bath after an exhausting day of Winter Sports? Molton Brown’s Thermal Muscle Soak will do just the job you need – and will soak away all the strains and tiredness of skiing as you relax in your bath. With Silverbirch extracts and skin-conditioning thermal salts, Molton Brown will be sure to replenish your energy levels and get you ready for an evening of relaxing in the mountains.
Whether you’re into skiing or snowboarding, whether you enjoy vertiginous speed or a more relaxed pace doing long distance skiing, taking good care of your skin is a must. Schön! has your back covered, and with this selection of skin and body care products, you needn’t worry. Time to hit the piste!
jacket + skirt. Huishan Zhang
jewellery. Lady Grey
For many, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ is more than a movie, it’s a cultural touchstone. It’s a story about belonging, loss, and unconditional love for family, wrapped in the spirit of Hawaii. It is arguably one of the most successful and celebrated Disney animated films of all time, so when the live-action remake was announced, expectations were high. Enter Sydney Agudong, the Kauai-born actor who took on the role of Nani, Lilo’s older sister and guardian, with a depth that’s felt throughout the entirety of the film.
What makes Sydney’s version of Nani so resonant isn’t just her acting chops, but the profound personal connection she brings to the character. Raised in Hawaii, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ was the first film she ever fell in love with. As a toddler, she dressed up as Lilo for a local pageant, unknowingly planting the seed for a full-circle moment later. Her early love for storytelling and performing has followed her from small stages to the big screen, where her performance is now showcasing what sisterhood, love and Ohana look like on and off screen.
Now with the film out in the world and the recent announcement that Lilo & Stitch 2 is currently underway, Sydney’s full-circle moment is resonating far beyond the islands. After the film’s release, Schön! sat down with Sydney to chat about sisterhood, her favourite Disney songs, and her special connection to ‘Lilo and Stitch’.
First of all, congratulations on the massive success ‘Lilo and Stitch’ has been – holding the number one spot for the third week in a row…
It still is?! I actually didn’t know that, that’s so cool!
With filming having wrapped over a year ago, how does it feel to see the success now that it’s been out for a few weeks?
It feels very validating not just for myself and all the creatives – Maia, Dean, and everybody surrounding the project – but it’s also very validating to see so much support in Hawaii specifically. It’s been incredible. Knowing that I believed in Nani in a way that was kind of refreshing, and we were able to go deeper into Nani’s character because it wasn’t just an exact animation to live action. They wanted to take a little more of a spin on it and give way to Nani’s arc and the parenthood aspect of things, she was a caretaker, and I grasped onto that.
Seeing the amount of comments, reviews, and people coming up to me and DMing me and saying, “I don’t think you understand how much this means to me / I felt like I saw myself as a mom.” I’m getting moms coming up to me, and that’s been so huge because my parents have sacrificed so much for me. All of this just makes me feel like everything was worth it, beyond the fact that this is a dream role.
Before we get into Stitch, I want to go back a little bit. What was it like growing up in Hawaii? At what point did you decide you wanted to pursue acting?
The first time I was ever on stage was for a ‘healthy baby contest’ and it was at the Kauai County Fair on a little small island and I was like one and a half years old. I had just watched ‘Lilo and Stitch’ for the first time, so this is just a huge full-circle moment for me – that was the first time I had ever been on stage. I was in love with Lilo and I dressed up as her on stage, and she gave me this confidence.
There’s a picture of me from that night, kind of almost letting go of my mom’s hand, and it was the first time that my mom had ever realized that I wasn’t afraid of being on stage, and I genuinely loved it. I didn’t really realize what was going on, but there was some sort of connection there. Growing up we did pageants like that one and we also did sports during the day, and so there was always some type of stage. I think I was around 8 or 10 years old when I started pursuing acting and theatre, and I brought my sister along with that too.
cardigan. Dodiee
opposite
blazer + shirt. Anteprima
shoes. Dries Van Noten
jewellery. Christina Caruso
Do you remember your first ever audition?
Yeah, I do! I was in a dinner theatre show on Kauai as well, and it was for South Pacific. I was 7 years old when I first auditioned for it, and I think I ended up doing it when I was 8. I was one of the little French daughters. I had to go and figure out French, and I sang a song, and I would do that every Wednesday night. It was my first paid gig, and it was so much fun. I was surrounded by a bunch of people whom I looked up to, and they took me in like a little sister. I remember each night I would go return my mic and then look around at all the tables to see if there were any untouched desserts [laughs].
Oh my gosh, that’s adorable, and in a way kind of reminds me a bit of Lilo!
Oh my gosh, totally. You’re so right!
I read in another interview that Lilo and Stitch was the first film you ever fell in love with– what is your earliest memory of the film?
There are a few, but the one that always comes back to me for some reason is the moment that Lilo is leaving and waiting for Nani, and then Myrtle and her friends come up and make fun of her because they all of their dolls, and Lilo has Scrump and she loves it. She realizes Nani isn’t coming, and the next thing you know, the sequence is Nani running towards and realizes Lilo isn’t at school, and she ends up kicking Cobra Bubbles’ car.
I feel like that was the moment that I realized I really understood Lilo and I understood Lilo and Nani’s relationship then. I think, especially with the Myrtle moment, it was a very big moment for me in school when you get bullied, and feel that the things that you loved aren’t okay. Now I have my own Scrump that my sister made for me [laughs].
Can you talk to me about what you felt the moment you learned you’d be playing Nani in the live-action?
I say this in other interviews, but I can’t come up with any other word other than surreal, and eternally grateful. It’s one of those things where you count your blessings. It’s such a full circle moment for me because I wanted to quit acting right before, and I got this audition in November of 2022, which is around my birthday. I was in a low place at the time and feeling lost. I had just gotten so many rejections, and then this came along and I just laughed, because I thought there was no way. It was just funny, the thought that this would be the audition that I would turn down and quit acting.
It was daunting. It’s such a huge role in a huge beloved movie, and I didn’t want to do it a disservice. I think the only thing that made me turn around and want to pursue the audition was the fact that I had been Lilo, and I understood that. I saw Lilo in my younger sister, and when I read the breakdown for Nani, I connected to it in a way that I couldn’t explain. I realized that she loved the same way that I did, and she wasn’t perfect. She needs things to get done in a certain way, but she does it with the utmost love and strength, and she’s so fearless. Those were the things that I’ve always strived to be as a sister, and I just wanted to do this audition for me. I didn’t expect to get anything out of it. I didn’t expect to get a callback, nothing.
Wait – sorry to derail the conversation for a minute, but you mentioned your birthday is in November – are you a Scorpio?
Yes!!!
I’m also a Scorpio!
Oh my gosh, I love that!
It’s funny because it’s obvious that Nani has a lot more depth in the live-action, but I was watching the film and I thought to myself at one point “Nani must be a Scorpio.”
Oh my gosh, I LOVE THAT! That’s so cool, wow. I mean, you saw something, right?
We know! Scorpios have a hard exterior but we’re so soft and emotional.
Totally, and there’s so much passion there and strength. They’re misunderstood, and sometimes they can be quiet, but at the same time, we want to share it. That’s so cool. I don’t think I ever thought about that with Nani, but I totally agree.
‘Lilo and Stitch’ is arguably one of the most iconic and successful Disney animated films of all time. Did you feel a lot of pressure taking on such an iconic character, especially since the film means a lot to you personally?
A lot of when I was filming felt like ‘art imitating life, life imitating art.’ And that was going through my head the entire time because I think that, had I not had the experience I had before filming, I wouldn’t be here. Or I wouldn’t have been able to get the roles that I have gotten, including this role. During the time that I was filming, there was a massive load of pressure, for sure. It was one of those things that just made me a better person, and it made me a better actor.
I think the reason I was able to overcome that was from the support that I had on set and off set – I was at home, in Hawaii. All of my fears were stemming from my childhood and being bullied, or the internet. As soon as I let go of that and looked around, I realized I was home and had everything that I needed. I ran with that. And Nani taught me a lot too, and that was a really big thing. I think just being able to pour myself into the relationship itself and hang onto my relationship with my sister Siena throughout the whole film. To be able to focus her character on her relationship with Lilo, and the relationship that Maia and I created is its sister bond that I will forever hold, it made everything just blissful.
Disney made the right choice casting you and Maia together– your chemistry is undeniable.
I know, I am so grateful. Thank you.
Do you remember the first time you met her? Did the two of you connect right away?
Yeah, we did! I remember the first time I saw her I thought to myself, “Oh my gosh, she looks just like her [Lilo].” Recently, our chemistry read photo resurfaced, and I had no idea how young she was! I always said I was so afraid to see her again because a lot of time had passed, and I thought I was going to cry or vomit [laughs]. I was just not ready to see her so grown up. But she’s still got the same type of spirit and energy and love and joy in her heart, it’s just been so nice to see her again.
I remember when we walked into the chemistry read together, I think one of the first things I noticed was that she was just so goofy and confident. I remember her leading her mom around, she was the one that was owning the show. Dean and I were in the chemistry read, and Dean said, “Okay we’re going to do a little bit of Improv,” and she said, “What’s that?” Dean said, “It’s like make believe, and we’re going to create this experience together and you’re going to play with Stitch, and this is your sister.” She was endless in her imagination. There was never a moment where she said “Okay that’s all I have…” No. That, for a kid, is incredible. That taught me a lot, I was so immediately blown away by her. And then we’re in the green room, and she gets bored and asks her mom to turn on her Tahitian music and starts dancing Hula in the green room [laughs]. I was like, “This girl is the best, I love her.” And her hips do not lie [laughs]. She’s insane.
dress. Dolce & Gabbana
jewellery. Lady Grey
opposite
blazer, shirt + shoes. Ralph Lauren
denim shirt. Jean Paul Gaultier
shorts. AKNVAS
jewellery. Ritique Jewelry
You have grown up with a younger sister, and this story means so much to those of us who have grown up with such a special bond with our sisters. What was it like bringing this story to life in a new way with Maia, and what do you hope people take away from this film?
I hope they see our real relationship on screen. I hope that they can see that, while I know it’s a movie, all of us on and off screen who were a part of this movie, not just Maia and I, really created a true family in the process. I think it shows. I hope people take away the fact that family is not perfect and it doesn’t have to look a specific way, and that you feel like you belong somewhere.
I think it shows in the arc that Maia and I have with Nani and Lilo – they aren’t perfect, but I hope that people find the little moments where it was just Sydney and Maia on screen and it was captured. I hope that people are able to see themselves in that, and maybe appreciate their family a little bit more and realize that nobody is perfect and that is okay.
The hammock scene where you sing to Lilo was so beautiful. I know you’re a musical person as well, and Disney has a way at pulling on heartstrings through music. Other than ‘Lilo and Stitch’, what are some of your favourite Disney songs or soundtracks?
Oh my gosh! Before I had gone through everything and before I had done any of the interviews, I had been saying ‘Mulan’ a lot. That is still true to this day. The song where she’s learning with bamboo – and then “Reflection” was a huge one for me growing up. I didn’t know who I was, and I still don’t, hence the whole Jane Doe thing with my music. I think there’s something to be said about opening up the truth in that sort of way and being authentic in that sort of fear. I think there are colours on the other side of the grey. Now, I think it was Courtney who reminded me of ‘Tangled’, it was “When Will My Life Begin,” so good! So bittersweet, so hopeful, pulling at your heartstring type of song. And Mandy Moore is incredible!
I know you have some other projects in the works, do you hope to take on more acting roles where you can sing as well?
Funny you say that, Yes! I just recently finished a project called “Ripple,” I was lucky enough to do it with some of the most beautiful and talented souls. We just finished this last fall/winter in Toronto, and it’s basically about these four strangers who live in New York City, and they all have their own struggles. The log line is basically how everyone is intertwined, and how you can create a ripple effect on someone else without even knowing that you’re doing it.
My character is Aria, she is a struggling twenty-something-year-old who is trying to pursue music, and has the utmost social anxiety and impostor syndrome. She is very self-sabotaging and it cripples her. At the same time, she has found her love for wanting to feel like she has a purpose in the world and feeling like she’s connected, and she thinks that she wants to be a mom. It’s a wonderful series that I hope we get to see soon on screen. Frankie Faison is in it. Ian Harding from ‘Pretty Little Liars’, Julia Chan – they play the other 3 of the core 4. It’s just a beautiful story of interconnectedness and feeling like you’re a piece of a puzzle, but still a big piece, and at the end of the day, you matter. I think it’s a needed series, and I got to bring in some of my original songs, and that’s been insane.
What are you most looking forward to this year and beyond?
One of the biggest things that this project has brought me is confidence, becoming a better person and having a wider scope on life. Feeling like I can take back my control and my place of belonging. I am excited to see where this sense of bliss and peace takes me. I feel like a new person in the way of re-gauging my ability to achieve, and I am excited to put fear down. I am excited to work on music, and put music out, which has been a huge dormant thing for years. I feel like I have opened my eyes up again, and I am excited to take gratitude with me everywhere I go, really, and be home while I’m doing it, which is kinda cool.
dress. MMK by Michael Kors
shoes. Sergio Rossi
jewellery. Ritique Jewelry
opposite
top. Versace
jewellery. Ritique Jewelr
In a game of Russian roulette between life and death, a couple confronts the fading echoes of the love they once shared. What was once vibrant now flickers like a dying star—fragile, fleeting, and powerless against the pull of inevitable endings. ‘Love is a Gamble’ is a surreal and haunting editorial that navigates the fragile boundary between love, fate, and mortality.
Fate rarely makes itself known. Sometimes it feels more like a prophecy – cosmic and unavoidable – slipping through the side door disguised as coincidence, wrapped in chaos. Other times, it lurks within calculated choices that shape everything. For Richard Harmon, fate didn’t arrive with a grand reveal, but in quieter moments: a childhood sleepover movie, a lifelong love of horror, and a steady pull toward characters who live in the grey.
Now starring in ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’, he’s reshaping the mythology of fate with wit, depth, and a technical sharpness that anchors even the wildest plot twists. Behind the scenes, Richard is far from the intense antiheroes he so often plays. Raised by filmmakers, he learned early on that being a good actor isn’t just about performance – it’s what happens between takes.
In conversation with Schön!, Richard Harmon takes us behind the scenes of ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’, building confidence, and the value of being a crew cast member.
Congratulations on ‘Final Destination’! A huge franchise with a serious cult following. What drew you to the project?
I was part of that cult. I saw the second one when I was 11 at a sleepover, after that, I went backwards and watched them consecutively. I’m a horror movie fan, and a huge fan of ‘Final Destination’. In a weird way, it sort of makes light of death — you root for death for an hour and a half, which we never do because it’s the thing we fear the most. So, in making a fun franchise serious, I think that’s why it works.
As a horror fan, how did it compare being an actor versus the audience?
It’s the best because I know what I would want to see out of certain types of horror movies. Being a part of actually making a horror movie, I’ve made so many over my career now. It seems like some sort of magnetic pull between me and loving horror movies. Maybe my auditions are better when I’m doing a horror because they always seem to cast me. Maybe it’s just my face. I have no idea. But for some reason, we keep coming back together, which I have no problem with.
full look. Zadig & Voltaire
opposite
suit set. H&M Studio
shirt. ORTTU
ring. Sterling Forever
‘Final Destination’ is all about fate and trying to outrun it. What’s your take on fate?
I believe we make our own fate. That might be my Catholic upbringing, but I don’t want to sit here and think that everything laid out in front of us is already fated to be done. Why would we try to do anything then? We’ll just be lulled into a sense of, I guess, whatever the universe has in mind. We all wake up every morning in the centre of the universe, I think. From our own set of eyes, we see what we see, and we perceive the world in our own way. And I think only you can kinda make what you want out of your life. And then, you know, death will get you when it gets you. [Laughs]
Like life, the movies have these crazy plot twists, and your character was part of quite a few. I found you played Erik Campbell quite differently after each twist. Was that intentional?
That’s a good catch. I think after the first one in the tattoo parlour, Erik’s still under the impression that none of it is real. How could it be? It’s not part of our reality that death could be doing this just because you can’t cheat it. I think Erik thinks this is just a wild coincidence. He’s also grieving from the loss of his father, whom he loved very much, and then he almost gets hit by a truck. At this point, it was actually a really good point that the directors made to me, that he’s probably manic. That Erik’s like, “Maybe I’m invincible,” so he gets that into his head. From then on, he really believes there’s no possible way death could get him until death gets him.
full look. H&M Studio
shoes. Marc Nolan
jewellery. Sterling Forever
socks. Wax London
Did you have any theories on how you were going to die before you got the script?
I had zero idea. My audition was the scene leading up to my death, of me trying to convince my little brother to eat a peanut butter cup. Which, when I was talking to my little brother, I thought he was, like, a 12-year-old when I auditioned, and maybe that added something to the scene — I was unaware that Bobby was also an adult. I had no clue that was, in fact, the scene where I would die.
I read the script as if I were watching a ‘Final Destination’ movie. I kept hoping I would make it further and further, then thought, “Wow, this is incredible, how far I’ve made it.” And right when I thought that, I died. But I think I would have been disappointed if I made it out alive. No actor wants to come into ‘Final Destination’ thinking they’ll make it out. You want to die. You want to die horrifically because that’s your imprint on the franchise. And I think I made a pretty darn good one.
Truly a fantastic way to go. Huge spoiler, but you had a near-death death, then the final one where you had all of the metal extracted from you. Just seeing that there were more than the standard piercings was quite comedic.
That was actually my idea. It was in the script that I got my earrings ripped out, my nose ripped out, and my nipples ripped out. Two days before we filmed that scene, I came up to Zach and Adam, our directors, and I said, “Looking at my character, I don’t think he would have stopped.” And they said, “We had a similar thought a couple of days ago. You wanna do it? You wouldn’t be embarrassed?”
I should be embarrassed by death — it’s ‘Final Destination’. I didn’t know if they were gonna do it or not when I showed up on that day. Danny, one of my friends in the wardrobe, came up to me and said, “Come here, we gotta go to the bathroom.” They had a fishing line with a little ball that they put through my jeans. So all it is, is Danny standing behind the camera pulling the line, which makes the impression that the jeans are being stretched by, well, something else.
Something else that made me laugh was at the tattoo parlour where you switch from heavy metal to more mellow, moody music. Which mood is more like you?
Erik’s ‘Sad Mix’ is definitely more me. I respect the heck out of metal, I think it’s impressive music, though it’s never really been my style. I like everything, but I’m a blues and jazz guy myself if I had to choose. I love folk. That’s why I loved ‘Sinners’ so much, there were two of my favourite types of music — blues and Irish folk. I just wanna go on the record and state there’s not a single evil thing about Irish folk.
It’s interesting hearing that you love folk so much, considering you’ve played quite a few antiheroes. Do you gravitate to those roles because they’re perhaps more villainous in nature, or is it something else? The challenge, the director, the script?
That’s a great question. ‘Final Destination’ was an actual dream of mine to be able to do that. If I got to, I would have chosen ‘Final Destination.’ That’s not true for every one of the roles I’ve ever played, but I love every single thing I’ve ever done. Truly. Except for maybe me with the streaky blonde hair, while I don’t say anything in ‘Percy Jackson’, but that’s not here or there. I just didn’t speak.
These antiheroes that you speak of, again, it might be my face. I have a little bit of a rougher look. My mum and dad are angels. I don’t know how they made me. But the things I do sometimes can come off as comical, which can levity someone who’s not exactly a hero. If you are villainous, but you want to make him an antihero, probably the shortest way to do that is comedy. I do have the capability of doing comedy, I think. I like making people laugh. Whatever it is, I’ll say this:
Whether it be John Murphy on ‘The 100’, or Erik Campbell in ‘Final Destination’, or this villain I played in ‘Van Helsing’, I love playing these villains, these antiheroes. Heroes are the ones with morality. You have to check in before you do anything if you’re playing a hero because they wouldn’t do most things. They’re like, “Oh, there’s no way they would do that, they’re such a kind person.” As an antihero or as a villain, you never need to check in with yourself before. You let yourself do something because why wouldn’t they do it? And to me, as an actor, that’s the most fun character to get to play. I hope they keep casting me as this type of thing.
full look. H&M Studio
opposite
jacket + trousers. Rhyan Rhyse
Yes, your characters have been quite unpredictable at times, intense, sometimes a bit dark. How do you stay grounded when living with those characters for a while?
Oh, I’m a guy who leaves work at work. I’m sure there are probably method actors that don’t, but I leave a character the second you call cut. I’m just there to have fun. My job is the most fun thing in the world to me. I’m there to make sure everyone else around me is having fun. I’m certainly not in the middle of a scene playing a villain, making the other actors scared. They know they’re safe. I know they’re safe. We all know we’re all safe.
That’s one of the most important things about working on a film. Even when it’s not a villainous storyline, film sets can be dangerous places. There’s a lot of heavy stuff moving around. There are a lot of egos. Making sure everyone knows everyone else is safe is one of the most important things. A great run film set, which doesn’t start with me, it starts with other people — your directors, your first AD, everyone — a safe film set, which ‘Final Destination’ undoubtedly was, is not a rarity, but it’s an important thing. It’s something that should be applauded. They had that on ‘Final Destination’.
I also wanted to say, just quickly going back to your perhaps ‘rougher face’, I don’t know if you’ve seen, but you’ve got a huge fan base that make these drool-worthy compilations of you.
We got a lot of sickos out there. No, I love it, I’m so happy there are people out there — I hear you, and you’re appreciated. It’s amazing to have people behind me who have enjoyed me for not just one show but in many different roles, and have stuck with me, supported me. It’s an incredible feeling. I’ve been doing this for twenty-four years, and it certainly wasn’t always like that, albeit I was a kid. To have that feeling and to be supported, it’s pretty awesome. I live a pretty surreal life. Again, I don’t think I’m on that A-List, but to me, I’m living it. I’ve been on a seven-time victory lap as far as I’m concerned.
Has knowing that you have this huge fan base behind you, that energy, changed how you see your work?
That’s a good point. I don’t even know if I realised that, but I would have to say yes.
I don’t think that it has had no effect. In probably the last seven years, I think I’ve gotten a lot more bold. I used to just do whatever the script says. Now I first do whatever I feel, and then they can rein me in, which leads to a lot of fun things that get left in the script that weren’t there. They can also tell you, “Rein it in, we need it to be more on script,” and we can do that, too. I’m sure it probably has more to do with me being more comfortable and confident in myself. Also, the choices I’ve been making have led to people enjoying my work and [creating] that following you speak of. That undoubtedly leads to more confidence — that what I’ve been doing has been working because people seem to like it.
I’m glad that people have been, from what I’ve seen, enjoying Erik because it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing anything. A big part of that is to do with the amazing set they created, Craig and Sheila, Zach and Adam, everyone, and the rest of my cast, who are across the board, the nicest cast I’ve ever worked with. I’ve been lucky enough to work with plenty of amazing people over the years, but there was not a single problem with any person on this cast. They were incredible. I was literally texting them. We have a group chat together, ‘The Final Dipshits’.
Love the name. Have any standout moments or lessons from set stuck with you?
Oh, god. It’s endless. You need to learn from every single actor put opposite you. Thankfully, most of them have been good lessons, but you learn just as many lessons from the bad actors as you do from the good ones — and I don’t even mean bad actors as in that guy’s a hack. He’s got no talent. I really don’t mean that. That would be rude because everyone’s just trying to get better. I mean bad as in, you treat people like shit, and I’m not going to do that in my career. You learn those lessons real fast.
I learned a lot from Michael Eklund, who’s like my big brother. We worked together when I was 19, and we’ve been friends since. I’ve had that a million times with William Miller and JR Bourne and all these dudes who were on ‘The 100’ with me. Usually, the villains, I learned more from them. Adina Porter on ‘The 100’ — you wanna know what a boss looks like as an actor? That woman’s it. She’s become a friend of mine. That’s the great thing about acting is the people that you learn from, a lot of the time, can be around you in life afterwards.
I’ve been lucky enough to fill my life with people I look up to and lucky enough for them to return that sentiment and say that they look up to me, which to me is a wild thing. I’m not saying that any of the people I just named have ever said they look up to me [laughs].
I’m sure they do — you’ve talked about technical acting before, being situationally aware and connected with the crew makes a whole world of difference.
Technical acting to me is the most important because, at the end of the day, you get in there after the crew does, and you go home before the crew does. These people have families. I grew up with crew members. My dad was a first AD when I was young; he’s now a director. My mom was the same thing, a producer. You’d never get to see them growing up. So, as an actor, I think your job is just to get the crew home to their family. Don’t waste anyone’s time. Don’t stay in your trailer for an extra second after they tell you they need you. Be where you need to be when they call you. Be ready to say your lines. Get this day done and send people back to their kids, because that affected me when I was a kid.
jacket. Rhyan Rhyse
opposite
full look. Zadig & Voltaire
That’s so refreshing to hear. You have a lot of empathy.
I hope so. You do it for the crew. My mum and dad taught me that when I was young. They said, “It’s better to be a part of the crew than it is to be a part of the cast.” So be part of the cast that’s a part of the crew. If you gain their respect on the crew, then you’ve done your job. If the crew is just placating you because they feel like they have to, then you haven’t done your job, no matter how good you were in the scene. You need to be a part of the crew, to have their acceptance somehow, and that can take time. Show up early, shake everyone’s hands. Yes, sir. No, sir. Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am. That’s it. Those were the four things my parents taught me to say when I was a kid.
Really good advice for people who are getting into acting. You don’t hear this side from actors and actresses enough, how much the crew really does play a huge role.
Literally, they’ll make your entire scene. You think you’re the one making your scene because you dropped that tear at the right moment, then the crew’s like, “Did you notice you were a foot in front of your mark? None of that’s usable.” If you’re good with that and you’re good with communicating with the crew, then they’ll steal you scenes from places that aren’t your take. If the camera’s looking at this person and they’re leaving, I’ll just dawdle over to react, and I’m in their shot. If I’m friends with that cameraman, they’re going to follow. If I’m friends with the focus puller, they’re gonna pull focus. And then look at that, I got an entirely extra shot that nobody else planned for and nobody else wanted. And then, editors, I love you. I’ve done horrible jobs in scenes, then I’ll look at the scene and be like, “How the hell did they pull that off? Or, wow, that was a great scene. I don’t know how the editor did that.”
So you mentioned that you leave work at work. What do you do outside of set? Any hobbies? Obsessions?
Well, here’s the thing. I leave work at work, but then have a couple of beers with some of the people after work. Then I love watching movies, honestly, I try to watch two a day. I think I’ve seen over 200 movies this year so far, which is actually low compared to last year, but I’ve been working and stuff, which is good. I’d rather be working than watching movies.
I also love golf, love to cook. I love cooking with my girlfriend. We do it together and enjoy beautiful meals. We’ve gotten pretty good at it. I just like hanging out with my friends and family. I think just spend all the time in the world you can with the people you love. That’s my hobby. That’s it. That’s all I need.
‘Final Destination’ is all about unexpected turns. So, looking back at your own journey, what’s one twist you didn’t see coming but are now grateful for? And what’s next?
I mean, I can get mushy with it. That a dear friend of mine for ten years became the love of my life. I’m shooting something right now, I’m not allowed to say what it is yet, but I’m very excited. It’s a great script, and has a bit of a connection to my father’s life. It’s a period piece. Other than that, I’m just gonna keep enjoying my time.
full look. H&M Studio
shoes. Marc Nolan
jewellery. Sterling Forever
socks. Wax London
Final Destination: Bloodlines is in theatres now and is available on digital now.
